Beyond The Rails

Day 1 WEDNESDAY (Westbound) Spokane, WA
Arrive in Spokane, Washington at your leisure. Tonight will be spent at the WestCoast Grand Hotel in beautiful downtown Spokane. This evening gather for the welcome reception and introductions hosted by the Tour Director.

Day 2 THURSDAY Spokane to Whitefish, MT
After a continental breakfast board the motor-coach and travel east to Wallace, Idaho. This region claims several of the world’s largest and deepest silver mines. Tour the Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum this morning before heading to St. Regis for lunch (on your own). Continue on through the Flathead Valley, a wildlife-rich region inhabited by wild horses and falcons. Stop this afternoon in Bigfork, Montana; the unhurried pace of village life provides leisurely opportunities for strolling, shopping and browsing through art galleries. Then it’s off to Whitefish, Montana, nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains where you will enjoy an evening at the Rocky Mountain Lodge. (B)

Day 3 FRIDAY Whitefish to Glacier National Park
Begin our day with continental breakfast before boarding our coach and heading to Glacier National Park, the Crown of the Continent. This million-acre wilderness park contains more than 200 mountain lakes, 30 to 40 living glaciers and more than 1,800 species of plant life. Glacier is refuge for nearly every large mammal species native to the United States. The excitement begins upon boarding the touring van for a ride over the Going-to-the-Sun Highway, acclaimed as one of the outstanding scenic roadways of the world. It crosses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,680 feet and includes the Weeping Wall and Birdwoman Falls along with many spectacular mountain vistas. This evening stay at the beautiful St. Mary Lodge. (B)

Day 4 SATURDAY Glacier Nat’l Pk to Great Falls, MT
Enjoy the continental breakfast before boarding the coach for Browning, Montana. Our first stop is the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the Museum of the Plains Indians. Founded in 1941, this museum exhibits the creative achievements of the Native American artists and craftsmen of the United States, past and present. Stop for lunch (on your own) in Choteau, Montana, before continuing on to Great Falls, Montana, where famed Western artist Charles M. Russell chose to live and work. We tour the C.M. Russell Museum, which owns the most complete collection of Russell art and personal objects in the world, including Russell’s log cabin studio that he built in 1903. Following the museum, tour the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Journey back nearly 200 years and relive the adventure of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Enjoy this evening at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls. (B)

Day 5 SUNDAY Great Falls to Missoula, MT
After a continental breakfast, board the coach and travel south to the Gates of the Mountains. This area was named by Meriwether Lewis in 1805 and is accessible only by boat or trail. Cruising in an open-air boat on the Missouri, experience the 1,200-foot-high cliffs much the same as Lewis and Clark did. Reboard the coach and continue south to Helena, the state capital of Montana. It’s time to board the Montana Daylight for our historic journey westward. A freshly prepared lunch will be served upon boarding. Cross the Continental Divide and traverse breathtaking trestles. See the Last Spike marker where in 1883 East met West in the track laying for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Overnight at the Holiday Inn Parkside. (B, L)

Day 6 MONDAY Missoula to Spokane, WA
Following continental breakfast, board the Montana Daylight for another day of rail adventure. The forested green landscapes of Western Montana and Northern Idaho greet you as the train travels along the rushing Clark Fork River. Enjoy lunch onboard the train featuring fresh regional cuisine.

Day 7 TUESDAY Spokane, WA
After continental breakfast the tour ends following a transfer to the Spokane Airport. (B)

REMEMBER TO PACK A CARRY-ON OVERNIGHT
BAG FOR YOUR STAY IN MISSOULA.