Experience the brilliant colors of Colorado in autumn on this scenic Rocky Mountain getaway. Travel by motorcoach and Amtrak through golden aspens, dramatic canyons, and historic towns, with relaxing stops in Glenwood Springs and the iconic Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the way, enjoy unique attractions like the Museum of Independent Telephony, Glenwood Adventure Park, and Estes Park’s charming shops. It’s a warm, welcoming fall journey filled with stunning views and memorable experiences.
• Sept 29 – Oct 5, 2026
• Oct 8 – Oct 14, 2026
After lunch, we’ll visit the Museum of Independent Telephony, filled with telephone history including the first phone installed in Kansas in 1877. We’ll spend tonight in Salina, KS. On Day 2, we visit the Limon Railroad Museum, where you can board the caboose and dining car to picture yourself riding the rails in the 1940s. Then we board a modern Amtrak train tomorrow in Denver, CO. (B,L)
We’ll board the Amtrak California Zephyr and travel through the mountains and gorges on our way to Glenwood Springs, CO. We’ll see yellow aspens from a beautiful viewing car, have lunch, and enjoy the scenery. After arriving, we’ll get ready for a night of rides and a comedy show at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue. (B,D)
This morning we’ll take a scenic gondola ride to the top of Iron Mountain and visit Glenwood Adventure Park. You are free this afternoon to explore this resort town known for its hot springs and mineral baths. Bring your swimsuit! (B,L)
Today we’ll see more of Colorado’s fall color as we drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. In the north side, we’ll stop at the visitors center and the quaint town of Estes Park, CO. We’ll spend tonight near Denver, CO. (B,L)
On Day 6, we visit the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Salina, KS. On Day 7, we return home to Missouri, ending our trip with a picnic lunch and great memories of our fall adventure. (B,L)
These cross country trips are designed so that you can see and do a lot of things in a relatively short time. We use custom built full size touring coaches which are designed to accommodate 22 passengers very comfortably with a lot of special amenities. Some of these amenities include card tables for the avid players, a kitchen, wi-fi, 110 volt outlets, and a couch in the back. Just being able to get up and walk around or lie down and take a nap is a great advantage. We also prepare hot lunches on board and carry our own tables and chairs so we can have picnics at some of the most beautiful places in America. The idea is to create a “family” atmosphere which is easy to do with so few people on each tour. These are not ordinary bus trips.
On all the trips, except those with special exclusions, we have vans pick up passengers within 130 travel miles of Rolla and then meet up with the motorcoach to head out toward the destination (see next section for more details). Each day we will typically see or do one thing in the morning and then another in the afternoon. Since there is so much to see and do, we usually depart by 8:00 am and arrive at our destination city around 6:00 pm that evening. Dinner is on your own; however, we will drive to a neighborhood restaurant if there’s not one very near the hotel. On the last day, we arrive back in Missouri in the late afternoon. If we picked you up, we will take you back home, and everyone else will go to Rolla to get their car.
The price of each trip includes the motorcoach, lodging, hotel breakfasts, lunches and the cost of all venues shown. It also includes the shuttle to and from your home if you live within 130 travel miles from Rolla (if there are several people at the same location, this 130 mile criteria will be extended). Everyone living outside the 130 miles receive a $100 discount. If you live inside 130 miles and choose to drive to Rolla, you will receive a $50 discount.
The price is based on two persons per room. If four people share a room, the price will be reduced by the cost of the saved room divided by four. If you would like your own room, please call our office for a quote. To reserve a seat, you must send a $200 deposit per person. The remainder is due 45 days prior to the trip. The price does not include gratuity for the driver and hostess.
If you cancel more than 45 days prior to the beginning of the trip, you will receive back all but a $50 per person processing fee and any credit card fees that may apply. If you cancel between 45 and 15 days prior, you will receive a 50% refund. If we are able to fill the spot you vacated, you will receive back all of your money except credit card and processing fees. If you have to cancel less than 15 days prior or have to leave during the trip, you will receive a refund of any hotel costs and venues we are able to cancel. If you want a cancellation waiver to cover the potential loss if you have to cancel inside of 45 days, the cost is $100 per person (or $75 for the 5/6 day tours). Our cancellation waiver provides no coverage once the trip begins. If you have previously been on 5 or more of our tours, you will receive the cancellation waiver at no cost.
**Itineraries and arranged sightseeing are subject to change at any time due to circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to operate tours as planned, but alterations may occur after the itinerary has been published.**