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How to Plan the Perfect Grand Circle Tour

Explore cherished national parks on a road trip to remember.

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Commemorate the National Park Service's centennial by hitting picturesque trails and admiring storied sites and dramatic rock formations at iconic national parks across Utah and Arizona.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service , and to celebrate the occasion – and inspire the next generation of visitors to visit America's prized parks and historic sites – the parks will be offering free admission through Sunday. So, now is the perfect time to pile the family into the car, and head to Utah to embark on a Grand Circle Tour of top national parks. Popularized in the 1920s, when the Union Pacific Railroad created the route with the then newly developed National Park Service to encourage visitors to get outside and admire the plateaus and peaks of southern Utah and northern Arizona, this iconic route is not to be missed. If you're ready to embark on an epic road trip , packed with striking scenery, storied sites and plenty of time in great outdoors, here's how to plan a memorable tour of four inspiring national parks.

[See: 15 Must-Visit National Park Attractions ].

Zion National Park

Utah's first national park – established in 1919 – Zion sprawls across the southwestern Utah desert. There are many regions within Zion National Park, but the park is best known for its dramatic red rock cliffs. Visitors can stroll along the Riverside Walk hiking trail and wade into the water to cool off or, for a thrill, climb to top of Angels Landing for striking 360-degree views of the valley below. Not up for hiking? Take a scenic drive through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel or the less-visited Kolob Canyons section of the park. Keep in mind cars are not allowed in the main Zion Canyon during the busy spring and summer months, when visitors must ride the free shuttle system to get to the hiking trailheads. However, visitors can drive their own cars through the Zion Canyon as the crowds diminish, from November to March.

[See: 7 Affordable Ways to Experience America's National Parks ].

Cedar Breaks National Monument

A hidden gem in the mountains above Cedar City, Utah, Cedar Breaks National Monument is a fantastic way to get away from the crowds of Zion and Bryce Canyon. Cedar Breaks' prominent feature is a majestic 2,000-foot-deep amphitheater of reddish-orange rock carved with intricate fissures, and hoodoos (skinny spires). Situated at 10,000 feet elevation, Cedar Breaks offers much cooler visiting conditions than Zion National Park's desert heat. Plus, nights are punctuated by dazzling stars speckling clear skies. Be sure to stick around after sunset when park rangers offer lessons about our solar system via telescope. And don't forget to take notice of the trees along Cedar Breaks' rim – the bristlecone pines are some of the oldest living organisms in the world. Along the Spectra Point/Ramparts Overlook Trail, you'll pass the oldest such bristlecone pine tree in the park, which dates back more than 1,500 years.

Bryce Canyon National Park

An otherworldly expanse of hoodoos and arches make up the geology of Bryce Canyon National Park. Easy access to Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point allow visitors to watch the shadows creep over the land at sunrise or sunset. Hiking is a must in Bryce, and you need to get below the rim to experience the wonder and awe among the hoodoos. There are many paths leading into the network of formations, and one of the most popular and scenic combines the Navajo and Queen's Garden trails for one of the most spectacular 3-mile hikes in the world. After passing the entrance sign to Bryce Canyon National Park, before you reach the entrance toll booth, make sure to take the road to the left, which leads to the Fairyland Canyon section of Bryce. You'll find spectacular views of the orange-tinged spires without the crowds (or the park fee if you're planning a trip after Aug. 28).

[See: 12 State Parks That Should Be on Your Bucket List .]

North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Over 1,800 million years of geologic history stand before you at the strata of the Grand Canyon . The North Rim is less accessible than the South Rim and 1,000 feet higher in elevation but worth visiting. You can take your pick from hiking to Bright Angel Point for a spectacular view of the Grand Canyon, or sit in an Adirondack-style chair on the back porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge and partake in one of the ranger-led programs. Mule rides into the canyon date back to the 1920s and range from an hour to a half day. Prices start at $45 per person for a one-hour ride to $90 for a half-day trip. For a meal to remember, dine in the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge's main dining room, which affords unparalleled park views. Just remember to make reservations ahead of time online as spots tend to fill up quickly.

While the Union Pacific Railway may not lead Grand Circle Tour trips anymore, an RV makes for a great family-friendly option, even while tooling down the highway. For more information about how to plan an RV road trip on your own, visit GoRVing.com to learn how to get started, where to go, what to bring and more.

Tags: National Parks , National Park Service , Travel , Vacations

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Contributors have experience in areas ranging from family travel, adventure travel, experiential travel and budget travel to hotels, cruises and travel rewards and include Amy Whitley , Claire Volkman , Holly Johnson , Marsha Dubrow , Lyn Mettler , Sery Kim , Kyle McCarthy , Erica Lamberg , Jess Moss , Sheryl Nance-Nash , Sherry Laskin , Katie Jackson , Erin Gifford , Roger Sands , Steve Larese , Gwen Pratesi , Erin Block , Dave Parfitt , Kacey Mya , Kimberly Wilson , Susan Portnoy , Donna Tabbert Long and Kitty Bean Yancey .

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Grand Circle – Western National Parks

• Destination: United States RV Tours
• Duration: 31 days

Surround yourself with beauty and history

as you hit the highlights each park has to offer. Towering red-rock spires, river-carved canyons, sandstone cliffs, hoodoos, cascading waterfalls, and desert wildflowers await your discovery. Grab your cameras and a seat for a picturesque view to the rim of the Grand Canyon in a First-Class Observation Dome Train Car. Enjoy a scenic boat ride to the Rainbow Bridge on Lake Powell. A Navajo guide takes us out to witness extraordinary rock formations rising from the valley floor. Share stories and dessert around a campfire. Drift down the Colorado River at night, as dancing lights illuminate the canyon walls. Visit beautiful Sedona, with its energy vortexes, and stroll through Jerome and imagine life as it was over 100 years ago.

Tour Highlights

– Zion National Park – Bryce Canyon National Park – Capitol Reef National Park – Arches National Park – Canyonlands National Park – Mesa Verde National Park – Grand Canyon Rims

– Professional Adventure Caravans Staff – 30 Nights RV Camping – Tickets, Admissions and Gratuities for Shows, Events, and Activities Listed – 9 Meals Provided and 30 Events – 2 Days of Motorcoach Transportation – Local Step-On Guide for Area Tours – AVC Apparel, Name Badges & Tour Pins

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– Comfortable Walking Shoes Recommended – Total Miles 1,240 – Longest Travel Day 195 Miles – Frequent Caravan Miles Earned Upon Completion of Tour $65

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Buckskin Gulch Guided Tour

The Buckskin Gulch is an extraordinary slot canyon located just inside the Utah state line with Arizona. It is also located in an area called the Paria Canyon.

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Grand Circle Travel/Grand Circle Cruise Line - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Grand Circle Cruise Line is a family of Grand Circle Corporation, a global enterprise. See also: Grand Circle Travel

What Makes Grand Circle Cruise Line Stand Out?

They offers a value small ship cruises and river cruises for travelers seeking to discover their destination. The trip duration ranges from 5 to 30 days and its fleets cabins and other features are designed to meet American taste.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Grand Circle Cruise Line? 

Grand Circle Cruise Line caters exclusively to older Americans

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While the Grand Circle Cruise Line offers their small ship cruises globally their river cruises are focused on Europe.

Grand Circle Cruise Line Travel Style

It focuses on providing value tours by having low per diems and yet focuses on providing rich experience through inclusion of local program directors and activities that deeply engages in discovering the culture of the destination.

Why Choose a Cruise with Grand Circle?

If you are looking for an enrichment tour that gets you in-depth knowledge of culture, history and traditions of the destination you are travelling to and are open-minded to try new things then Grand Circle Cruise will be a perfect solution.

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About the company.

Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Tour (OAT) brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

Grand Circle Foundation

Grand Circle Foundation was established in 1992 as a means to give back to the world that had already given us so much. Since its inception, our Foundation has donated or pledged more than $50 million to educational, humanitarian, and cultural organizations worldwide.

Grand Circle Travel—Worldwide Discovery by Land & by Ship

Traveling with Grand Circle is about more than sightseeing. It’s about immersing yourself in other cultures, sharing the warm camaraderie of like-minded American travelers, and feeling comfortable, safe, and well-cared for every step of the way. It’s not simply a destination you’ll find, but a profound awareness of the life-changing joy of cultural connections, and we’ve been creating those connections for more than 50 years.

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Traveling for change: One village, one leader, one life at a time

Travel with the Leader in Worldwide Learning & Discovery

Bring your travel dreams to life: witness the breathtaking expanse of China from atop the Great Wall … visit centuries-old windmills in Holland, and meet those who call the iconic structures home … ride a donkey to the top of ancient isles in Santorini, Greece... Visions like these are everyday realities for Grand Circle travelers, thanks to the principles that ground every one of our vacations: value, choice, discovery, and careful pacing.

Our VALUE puts your travel dreams within reach

Grand Circle can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you ever thought possible. That’s because each of our Small Ship Cruise Tours, River Cruise's, and Land Tours includes full-service accommodations, included tours, exclusive Discovery Series events, and so much more. And, because we work with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to  solo travelers , too! In fact, we offer the best value and benefits for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The CHOICE is yours

You’ll always have plenty of choices with Grand Circle. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from Europe’s great, culture-laden capitals and the lush vineyards of French and German wine regions, to the scenic natural beauty of Chile's Lakes District and Australia's Great Barrier Reef. You’ll also enjoy more optional trip extensions—such as excursions to Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat, Cambodia or Prague, Czech Republic—enabling you to enhance your regional discovery and maximize the value of your already included airfare. You have plenty of choices within each vacation, too, enabling you to follow your own pace and tailor your experience to your own interests with our optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries gives you the opportunity for independent exploration. You can shop, linger at a sidewalk cafe, visit an art gallery or museum, or perhaps explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on Grand Circle vacation—the choice is yours.

DISCOVERIES that enrich and inspire

Wherever you travel with Grand Circle, you can always count on us to provide a rewarding, discovery-rich experience. With regional offices around the globe, we maintain a strong local presence in all the regions you’ll visit. Being a part of local communities means we offer the most illuminating cultural encounters and widest array of learning activities that reflect your destination. Participate in a discussion about life under communism in Eastern Europe. Try your hand at painting in Impressionism’s homeland. All these experiences, and others, have been designed to offer you a deeper understanding of the places you’ll visit—even as you have fun in the process. And because we know you’ll want to experience local life through the people who call your destination home, we’ve arranged for you to meet them where they live, work, and play. From Home-Hosted meals with local families and demonstrations by regional artisans, to touring a family-run winery or visiting a local school, we make sure you enjoy firsthand perspectives on everyday life, while forming connections you’ll never forget.

Well PACED—with an emphasis on comfort

Travel shouldn’t feel like a race from one site to the next. We know that you enjoy both visiting memorable locales and the chance to enjoy them at your own pace. We’ve planned itineraries that blend regional discovery with “down time,” during which you can explore as little or as much as you like—at your leisure. With well-located accommodations on land and conveniently situated docks for our small ships, you’ll be poised for discoveries of all kinds. While walking is our signature mode—allowing access to many of the most unmissable sites, we always balance any lengthy walking tours with plenty of time to refresh and rejuvenate. Plus, you can always rest assured that your safety and comfort are our top priority, with a resident Program Director along, and our local staff in a regional office nearby.

It's included with Grand Circle ...

• Choose to purchase Grand Circle's airfare, and your airport transfers and government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements
• The services of expert, resident Program Directors who speak fluent English, as well as the native language
• Accommodations at comfortable hotels and on private, Grand Circle-owned or chartered vessels
• Most meals, including all meals during the cruise portions of our Grand Circle Cruise Line vacations
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• Exclusive Discovery Series events
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Now included for 2016

• Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on all Grand Circle main trips, most optional tours, and most optional pre- and post-trip extensions
• Beverages during lunch and dinner onboard Grand Circle Cruise Line ships, including beer, wine, and soft drinks
• All port charges—a value of up to $250 per person

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The earlier you reserve and pay in full by check or electronic funds transfer, the more you'll save. Plus, you'll protect your investment from fuel surcharge increases, currency increases, or other unexpected costs. It’s guaranteed savings—and peace of mind.

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YOUR SAVINGS off your total trip price**

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Make your final payment by check before final payment is due* *Final payment is due at 90 days prior to departure

**You will save a minimum of $50 when you pay in full by check.

No other travel company guarantees your trip price and offers savings of up to 10% when you pay early.

Please note: To receive your eligible savings, you have until the applicable Good Buy Plan deadline to pay in full by check or electronic funds transfer. Eligible savings are calculated on your entire trip price after any non-cash payments have been deducted (credit cards, vouchers, credits, certificates) based on how many months prior to departure you have paid in full. Grand Circle’s Good Buy Plan is not applicable on reservations where credit card payments exceed the initial deposit plus Travel Protection Plan amounts, or inside of 90 days of departure.

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