Your bucket list probably contains a series of overseas adventures: a river cruise in Eastern Europe, an African Safari, or a cruise around Japan. Don’t overlook some of the spectacular destinations we have on THIS continent. It’s ironic that the Europeans come in droves to experience United States National Parks, when we often overlook them.
WHY a US National Parks Vacation?
- There are 63 National Parks & more than 400 sites covering 85 million acres in 50 states.
- Each park has its own personality, and there might be different motivations to visit.
- National Parks Tours can include glaciers, geysers, red rock canyons, forests, deserts, waterfalls, volcanoes, coastlines, and scenery to meet any taste.
- California has 9 National Parks; Alaska has 8; and Utah has 5.
- President Grant designated Yellowstone as the FIRST US National Park in 1872.
- The largest US National Park is Wrangell – St. Elias in Alaska, and it is larger than the 8 smallest states combined! That’s a lot of wilderness!
- The most-visited US National Park is Great Smokey Mountains NP in North Carolina.
Ways to Visit American National Parks
- Do-It-Yourself: Road trip! Could be fun, but the logistics of timed entry reservations, accommodation, parking, crowds, and driving distances should be on your radar.
- National Parks Luxury Tours: We call them land-cruises, but there’s a disappointing lack of ocean in most of them. They manage logistics. You marvel in the majesty of it all.
- National Parks Tour by RAIL – Great for the 5 NPs in Utah, and Moab is your hub.
- Underscoring all of this is figuring out what experience is going to be best for you, and then matching you to the appropriate experience in our National Parks.
WHO National Parks Tours are Perfect For:
- Outdoor people… but you don’t have to be one. Some people like to hike to the floor of the Grand Canyon and go camping. Others stand on its rim and marvel at its beauty.
- Photographers, as well as scenery and wildlife lovers.
- National Parks Passport Holders. I was introduced to the National Parks Passport a few years ago in Denali. I aspire to get my passport stamped at all 63 National Parks!
- Those wanting a contrast to urban travel experiences that are about man-made moments and historical sites, with what Mother Nature has created closer to home.
ALSO – Canada is right next door, and they have 48 National Parks whose combined area is even bigger than the US National Parks. Many of those NPs are right near the US border too!
US National Park Vacations offer some of the most impressive natural travel experiences available in the world. They are vast, varied, beautiful, and really easy to underestimate. Best of all: no passport, no jet lag, no forex. Just extraordinary landscapes, thoughtfully planned.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
Are National Parks only for serious hikers, campers, and rugged outdoor travelers? Not at all.
In this episode of UNPACKED, Kim interviews Bob about why U.S. National Parks deserve a serious look from travelers who love scenery, wildlife, photography, well-planned itineraries, and meaningful bucket-list experiences.
In Case You Missed It:
TAUCK TOURS: If you want to take a premium guided land journey to the National Parks in the US or Canada, the Tauck has lots of options for you… with the best available accommodation.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/why-tauck-tours-are-different/
DYNAMIC PRICING: The cruise lines are changing their pricing practices. Here’s what you can do about it:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/cruise-dynamic-pricing-explained-why-waiting-can-cost-you/
MULTI-GEN TRAVEL: The National Parks are on the list of places we want to share with our grandchildren. Perhaps this will give you some other ideas of how to connect with your own grandchildren:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/only-18-summers/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
GREAT LAKES with VIKING: If you’d like a bucket list trip close to home, but prefer a cruise option, here our video blog from when we travelled the GREAT LAKES with VIKING:
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
NATIONAL PARKS with TAUCK
You COULD explore our National Parks on your own, but why not let someone else take care of all the details. Here’s a summary of TAUCK’S itineraries to our National Parks:
- Canyonlands — Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Zion, March to October from $5290.
- Death Valley & Joshua Tree – from Las Vegas to San Diego for one week from $6390.
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton – Jackson to Rapid City (also includes Mt. Rushmore) for one week from $5390.
- Canyonlands & Arches NP – from Salt Lake City to Denver for 1-week from $7990.
- Sequoia & Yosemite – RT from San Francisco for 1-week from $7290.
- Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, & Canyonlands – from Grand Junction (CO) to Las Vegas for 10-days from $8390
Because of Tauck’s long-term relationships and partnerships within the parks, you’ll stay at hotels and lodges INSIDE the parks, and you’ll visit the must-see places at the best time of day and with fewer crowds. Tauck takes care of all the details, so there’s no planning, no organizing… and best of all, no driving.
Learn more about visiting the National Parks with Tauck here: https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/national-parks?insider=mmjy-sue-bob-bradley-the-pampered-cruiser
LUXURY RAIL to the NATIONAL PARKS
CANYON SPIRIT: National Parks with Moab from Salt Lake City to Denver for 5-nights
- Start in Salt Lake City and visit Moab, Canyonlands NP, Arches NP, Glenwood springs, and finish in Denver.
- Departures April through November from $7444
CANYON SPIRIT: 5 National Parks from Las Vegas to Denver for 5-nights
- Visit Bryce Canyon, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonland National Parks, and then hop on the luxury train for two days to Denver. The rail journey includes an overnight at Glenwood Springs where you can visit the hot springs.
- Departures April through November from $10,999
CANYON SPIRIT LUXURY RAIL In-Person Events
If you’d like to learn more about CANYON SPIRIT and its cousin ROCKY MOUNTAINEER in Canada, then let us know and we’ll register you for one of these in person events:
- September 15: Sun City West AZ
- September 17: Novato CA
- September 23: Thousand Oaks CA
- September 28: Cleveland OH
- October 1: Naperville IL
- October 5: Kansas City MO
- October 7: Des Moines, IA
- October 8: Milwaukee WI
- October 13: Boston (North) MA
- October 13: Philadelphia PA
- October 14: Boston (South) MA
- October 15: St. Louis MO
- October 20: Charlotte NC
- October 22: Minneapolis MN
- October 22: Danville CA
- October 27: Scottsdale AZ
- October 29: Nashville TN
COLLETTE Premium Guided Land Journeys to the NATIONAL PARKS
South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore & the Badlands for 7-days
- In this tour, you are stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota, where you hub and spoke numerous sites.
- Learn about Native American Lakota and Sioux culture. Visit Mount Rushmore, Badlands NP, see Kevin Costner’s Tatanka, and do wildlife spotting and scenery by jeep safari in Custer State Park. Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the Indian Museum, and the Geographic Center of the Lower 48.
- Departures May through October from $3199
NATIONAL PARKS of AMERICA from Phoenix to Rapid City, SD for 12-days.
- Visit the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Buffalo Bill Center, Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse monument, Lake Powell.
- Departures May through October from $5699 per person.
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Today’s OTHER Travel Opportunities
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Remote Explorations
Here are some places NEAR National Parks if you are a photographer, or just like scenery and nature.
OREGON & WASHINGTON: Columbia River from Portland to Clarkston for 6-days
- Visit Portland, The Dalles (for Multnomah Falls and fish hatchery), Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, Palouse River. Traverse the locks by river boat right here at home!
- Go hiking, kayaking, ride on the zodiacs, visit museums and wineries
- 2026: September/October from $4778
PACIFIC NORTHWEST: US San Juans & Canadian Gulf Islands for 8-days round-trip Seattle
- Visit Victoria BC, Desolation Sound for kayaking and hiking, Alert Bay for First Nations immersion, the Gulf Islands to visit quaint communities, Friday Harbor for the Whale museum, and other islands in Puget Sound.
- This corner of the country is a well-kept secret. Visit remote islands to see the sea lions, eagles, humpback and orca whales. Go for a bike ride in Victoria; kayaking, zodiacs, and paddleboarding in remote bays.
- 2026: Departures in October from $5061
- 2027: Departures in October from $6150
EXPLORA JOURNEYS
If you’re looking for an elevated culinary experience, and a unique entertainment concept, all while enjoying a luxury small ship experience, then Explora is worth looking at. The entry level room is a 380 square foot veranda – bigger than the suites on the mega-ships!
ALASKA: Vancouver to Anchorage departing July 16, 2027 for 7-nights
- Visit Tongass and Kenai Fjords NPs. Optional post-cruise extension to Denali NP.
- Start in Vancouver and visit Ketchikan, Prince Wales Island, Sitka, Juneau, sail past Hubbard Glacier, and finish in Seward.
- Veranda Fares from $6055 on the brand new Explora III
- Denali NP extension available.
PORTUGAL & SPAIN in Quiet Season: Lisbon to Barcelona departing December 21 for 7-nights
- A great opportunity to visit Europe when it’s less busy.
- Start in Lisbon and visit Gibraltar, Málaga, Alicante, Ibiza, and finish in Barcelona.
- Fares from $5565
- OR stay on board for a second week, and disembark in Rome with fares from $10,850
EXPLORA I SHIP TOUR VIDEO: https://youtu.be/LHjAS0JKCQ0
EXPLORA ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT: https://youtu.be/9ELX0zxNjZ0
AZAMARA Small Ship Experiences
Remember Pacific Princess? She’s now Azamara Onward, along with her three identical sisters carrying just 680 guests. They offer an affordable way to get on board a smaller ship for a more intimate experience, and better destination immersion:
GOLF CRUISE in JAPAN: Kobe to Tokyo departing May 6, 2027 for 14-nights
- This one is great for golfers, OR those really wanting to explore Japan.
- Visit Kobe (overnight), Kochi, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, Busan, Sakaiminato, Kanazawa, Niigata, Akita, Aomori, and Toyko (overnight)
- Verandas are currently priced at $10,089, but we’ve blocked 2 more staterooms available for $7409. Once these two sell, they’re gone.
- GOLF: 5-rounds with all the logistics managed for you: $4395 per person.
NEW ENGLAND & QUEBEC: Boston to Montreal departing October 4, 2027 for 12-nights
- Start in Boston and visit Portland, Rockland, Saint John, Halifax, Corner Brook, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Sept-Iles, cruise Saguenay Fjord, Saguenay, Quebec City, Trois Rivieres, and finish in Montreal.
- Saguenay, Havre Saint Pierre, and Saint John all are near National Parks
- Veranda fares from $6379
SEA CLOUD Salt-Water River Cruise Experiences
You may have been to these places before. This time see them up-close, and get to where larger ships can’t take you.
Eastern CARIBBEAN: round-trip Philipsburg departing December 6 for 8-nights
- Visit Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Iles des Saintes, Nevis & Antigua.
- Sail the scenic Eastern Caribbean islands, and get into small coves and harbors on board the 136 guest Sea Cloud Spirit.
- Fares from $7995
IRELAND, ENGLAND & FRANCE: Dublin to Honfleur departing July 6, 2027 for 6-nights
- Start in Dublin and visit Cork, Scilly Islands, Dartmouth, Guernsey, and finish in the Normandy Village of Honfleur.
- Fares from $6855
REMEMBER: On ANY SEACLOUD sailing, we can offer an additional $50 per person, per day on board credit to spend on Spa Treatments, an elevated Shore Experience, OR a great bottle of wine!
RIVER CRUISING with TAUCK
Tauck is the MOST inclusive of the River Cruise Lines in Europe, and have 35% fewer people on the same sized ship as competitors.
TULIP CRUISE: Amsterdam to Brussels for 9-days
- Visit Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, the Hague, Kinderdijk, Rotterdam, Keukenhof Gardens, Enkhuizen, Amsterdam (overnight).
- Departures in March and April from $5790
GERMAN OKTOBERFEST: Amsterdam to Munich for 10-days in September
- Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf (to visit local craft breweries), sail the Rhine Gorge, Heidelberg for a beer-paired lunch, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, Lake Konstanz, and then on to Munich for 2 nights for the world’s largest festival!
- 2027: Depart September 15 or 22 from $8990
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line, that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation (even if you booked ON BOARD).
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
