Passengers who have purchased their airline tickets from Your Man Tours, Inc. should proceed to the baggage claims area for meet and greet service and transfers to your hotel.

 

This morning you are off to Vancouver via your spacious motorcoach. Your friendly and knowledgeable driver guide will be sure to show you all the highlights. Enroute you will pass through Washington's evergreen forests, view her mighty Cascade Mountains, and be amazed at the great lumber mills that harvest the nearby forests. Then, it is only a short distance into Vancouver, B.C.. Vancouver is a place where the mountains and the oceans seem to have had a love affair and given birth to this wonderful city. Enroute to Canada Place Pier you will experience the ambiance of this cosmopolitan city. There is ample time to meander through the most glamorous districts. A stop in Gastown, which is the most fashionable and interesting part of Vancouver, is planned just prior to arriving at the pier. Next, it's Bon Voyage as you sail from Vancouver Harbor and under Lion's Gate Bridge to your awaiting Alaska experience. Holland America's stellar five-star service will soon take your breath away.

 

When explorer John Muir first sailed the Inside Passage he could hardly tear himself away from the rail for fear of missing some new marvel. "Never before, he wrote, "have I been embosomed in scenery so hopelessly beyond description tracing shining waves through fjord and sound, past forest and waterfall, islands and mountains...". All this while you're gliding along in the lap of luxury aboard Holland America Lines.

 

In Alaska's capital, taste salmon baked over an alderwood fire, pan for gold, flight-see the Juneau Ice Field or, walk right up to the Mendenhall Glacier located just outside the city limits. Juneau is nestled at the feet of snowcapped Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts and is nicknamed "Little San Francisco" because of its narrow streets and flights of wooden steps hugging the hillside on which its multicolored houses are built.

 

Where the Gold Rush began, Skagway was the turbulent staging point for prospectors hell-bent on getting to the Klondike gold fields. Go ashore. Stroll the weathered boardwalks and drop in at old-time saloons or shop for gold nuggets. You may opt for a ride in a vintage parlor car up the historic White Horse Pass, via the narrow gauge railway. Skagway has preserved the atmosphere of the 1898 gold rush better than any other town in Alaska.

 

One of Alaska's noblest and most impressive natural beauties is the climax of your cruise. The overwhelming grandeur of glaciers, exotic wildlife, and pristine environment combine to offer a breathtaking view of raw nature. You'll spend the entire day cruising a 60 mile passage, passing glaciers galore, abundant wildlife and scenic beauty, unique in all the world. Great chunks of the glaciers are continually falling into the bay, with a deafening roar which enhances this fascinating spectacle.

 

Nicknamed "the salmon capital of the world," this important fishing port is also home to the world's largest collection of Native American totem poles. You will enjoy your stroll through the picturesque waterfront district of this quaint boardwalk city built on stilts, as well as the historic and former "Red Light" district amid gold shops, gift shops and restaurants.

 

Day 8 - Cruising the Inside Passage

By now you have been totally spoiled with your way of life aboard ship. So why stop now? Make the most of the Holland America's stellar service, spacious staterooms, dining varieties and premium cuisine, the spectacle of magical nights and the magnificent vistas which surround you.

 

Today you are off on your land cruise through the scenic beauty of the Cascade Mountains. Upon arrival in Penticton you'll see that it is a resort city for all seasons. Cradled within tree trimmed mountain slopes, dramatic clay cliffs and bordered by Okanogan and Skaha Lakes, Penticton has the natural beauty visitors seek.

 

This morning you will have time to visit Penticton's famous wine country and stop at a leading winery. There will be a tour of the winery and of course a chance to sample their world class wines. On highway 20, which is one of the most spectacular highways in the state of Washington, is the Grand Coulee Dam. This is a must stop for pictures of this 555 foot high, 5,223 foot wide engineering marvel.

 

Today, as you leave Spokane, we will tour it's downtown area for a visit to Riverfront Park and the sites of Expo 74. Then into northern Idaho and a fantastic stop in Coeur d'Alene. Lake Coeur d'Alene is the center piece for this resort city and a very worthwhile stop. Then, on to Butte, Montana and "Big Sky" country.

 

Today, your eyes will be filled with the breathtaking beauty of two of our greatest national parks. Yellowstone, a masterpiece of unspoiled nature is the most beautiful in the U. S. and probably in the world. With its boiling geysers, hot springs, steep canyons, mud volcanoes, deep pine forests, dizzying waterfalls, and fossilized trees, Yellowstone is a glorious untamed cross section of North America. Your highlight will be seeing Old Faithful gushing 100's of feet in the air.
Grand Teton National Park adjoins Yellowstone to the south and is just as impressive. This high alpine valley, with abundant wildlife, has some magnificent views across to the granite crest of the Grand Teton Range. This will be one of the most awesome sightseeing days of your trip.

 

This morning, we will explore Jackson Hole. You will have plenty of time to enjoy the pristine beauty while looking for that perfect souvenir. Later today, we travel a short distance to Idaho Falls which is located along the beautiful Snake River. From your hotel, you can walk to Idaho Falls for a spectacular view of the town's namesake.

 

Today, you will travel south toward Salt Lake City through Pocatello and into Utah. Just outside of Salt Lake City you will view the Great Salt Lake at the base of the beautiful Lakeside and Terrace Mountains. Then into Salt Lake City for an interesting city tour. Sights you will see include Temple Square, the Beehive House, Delta Center, Salt Palace Convention Center, the State Capitol Building and much more of this extremely interesting city.

 

Today it's on to the airport where you will catch your flight home. Although your adventure is ending, you will take with you new friends, memories, stories to share and excitement in planning your next YMT Vacation adventure.