Trips/Tours

The Lakes of Prescott  
June 2nd, Friday…………………………..$110 
There are four beautiful lakes in Prescott: Goldwater, Watson, Willow and Lynx.  We’re going to visit them all, with a stop first on Prescott’s famous Whiskey Row for lunch on self. Once a block of 40 saloons driven by the gold rush culture, Whiskey Row drew cowboys, gamblers, prospectors, bawdy girls and outlaws. Today Whiskey Row is home to not just its saloons, but also galleries, charming shops, antique stores and several wonderful restaurants.  After lunch we’re off to Goldwater Lake, the jewel in the crown of the Prescott National Forest. From here we’ll head northeast to enjoy a spectacular driving tour of Watson and Willow Lakes. Known as the twin lakes, Watson and Willow are in the Granite Dells of Prescott, an area so scenic that it has seen more than its fair share of western movie shoots and was once home to the very popular Garden of the Gods Resort. An otherworldly stretch of gigantic boulders, Granite Dells runs along Granite Creek, with Watson and Willow Lakes sitting right in the middle making for the most remarkable of vistas. From here we’ll make our way to Lynx Lake, in the cool and pine-scented Bradshaw Mountains. So completely different from the twins, Lynx Lake is heavily wooded, and surrounded by tall Ponderosa pines, scrub oak and Manzanita. This lovely area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, offering a fantastic connection to nature and a dramatic ending to a Kindred Tours Classic! 
  
Walnut Canyon National Monument  
June 14th, Wednesday…….………………$115 
We’re beating the heat this summer with a journey into Arizona’s High Country to explore Walnut Canyon.  Established as a National Monument in 1915, Walnut Canyon preserves numerous cliff dwellings located along the limestone ledges of this deep canyon in the Flagstaff region.  Evidence of human use of these dwellings can be traced back 2,000 years, when the presence of water in this dry land made the canyon rare and valuable to its early human inhabitants.  Today Walnut Canyon is a beautiful and fascinating place to explore.  We’ll also enjoy lunch on self in historic downtown Flagstaff, home to many wonderful little restaurants. Join us!  
 
The Prom at Phoenix Theatre 
June 18th, Sunday…………….………$135 
The most anticipated night for every high school teen has never been so glittery, or inclusive. Variety says that The Prom is “so full of happiness you think your heart is about to burst.”  When Emma wants to take her girlfriend to the prom, the PTA cancels the dance and her story goes viral on social media. Little does she know, four faded and eccentric Broadway performers are on their way to transform her small town of Indiana and throw her the prom of her dreams – albeit in an attempt to improve their own PR. What begins as selfish insincerity results in a fabulous story of growth and a whole lot of zazz! You will cheer for love with these over-the-top, fun characters in this hilarious musical comedy that entertains with show stopping dance and Broadway spectacle. We’ll also enjoy dinner, on self, before the show  in the Downtown Gilbert Heritage District, where a collection of over 30 fantastic restaurants line a very walkable main street. 
  
White Mountain Cool Off 
June 20th-22nd Tuesday-Thursday 
$499 (Double Occupancy) $110 (Single Supplement)  
  
Day One:  Run away with us this summer to Arizona’s beautiful White Mountains and escape the heat of the Valley! We’ll enjoy several great stops—including one for lunch on self in historic Payson—as we journey to Pinetop, Arizona. Late afternoon we’ll check in to the Hon-Dah Casino Resort—our headquarters for the next two nights. Nothing fancy, the Hon-Dah hotel rooms are clean and cozy, with brand new bedding. Dinner is on self tonight, at the Indian Pine Restaurant, where the very affordable menu offers something for everyone. Enjoy a free evening with a cocktail at Spirits Bar, or relax in the heated pool, spa or sauna. Hon-Dah’s casino offers over 800 slots and live poker, if you enjoy a little gambling.  
  
Day Two:  Breakfast is included at the hotel, then we’re off to explore a land of thick pine forests, crystal mountain lakes, lush green meadows and abundant watchable wildlife. This high-country destination offers scenery much like Canada or the Pacific Northwest—and at elevations of 6,500 to 9,000 feet—temperatures that average 30 degrees cooler than the Phoenix area. Arizona’s White Mountains are also home to ten sparkling lakes—our focus for this scenic driving tour. We’ll explore as much as time allows, with a stop along the way for lunch, on self. Late afternoon we’ll return to our hotel to enjoy dinner, on self, at the Indian Pine Restaurant and a free evening.  
 
Day Three:  Breakfast is included at the hotel, then it’s bags out and we’re headed for home. We’ll enjoy a scenic loop on our return to the Valley, taking us through the Salt River Canyon—a 2,000-foot-deep river canyon, so  
gorgeous and loaded with history that it is often referred to as the Little Grand Canyon. This stretch of highway is broad and well-paved, offering some of the most dramatic views ever seen from a window! We’ll make our way into Globe, where we’ll stop for lunch on self at Guayo’s Mexican Restaurant, where the price is right and the food is great. After lunch we’ll hightail it for home with plenty of great sightseeing along the way. Arizona’s beautiful White Mountains offer a fabulous and affordable summertime escape! We hope you’ll join us! 
  
The 40th Annual Prescott Bluegrass Festival  
June 25th, Sunday.………………….........$110 
Whether you are a bluegrass lover, or new to the genre, the Prescott Bluegrass Festival should not be missed! Prescott’s elm-shaded courthouse plaza is the perfect venue for this incredible show. What started in the 1980’s as a fiddle contest dedicated to the local fiddlers has grown into one of the most prestigious Bluegrass Festival’s in the nation. The Prescott Bluegrass Festival offers their audiences quality entertainment with a line-up of performances that include traditional and contemporary, as well as bands that are national, regional and local. We’ll arrive early and make a little nest of our lawn chairs. Settle in for the show or venture out to explore Prescott’s historic Whiskey Row. Lunch is on self, with several great restaurants to choose from. This is a Kindred Tours annual trek that should not be missed!    
 
Bearizona  
June 27th, Tuesday…..…………….....$137 
Journey with us to Williams, Arizona, home to Bearizona—Arizona’s premier wildlife park! We’ll enjoy a remarkable close-up experience with a wide variety of animals from the comfort of our own Transit vans, winding our way through 160 acres of Ponderosa pine forest. We’ll view bison, black bears, wolves and more—animals that are indigenous to North America—living comfortably in spacious, natural environments. Later enjoy a leisurely stroll through Fort Bearizona, a beautiful 20-acre walk-thru, offering an up-close experience with playful smaller animals. Lunch is on self, with two very different eateries to choose from, including Canyonlands—a 6,000 square foot themed restaurant—featuring soaring canyon walls and ancient ruins, a 25-foot waterfall and breathtaking views of Bearizona’s jaguar exhibit. Canyonland’s menu runs from hickory smoked BBQ to fresh garden salads, gourmet burgers and more. If a quick bite is more to your liking, consider Bearizona Grille, offering outdoor deck dining and stadium favorites, such as hot dogs, cheesy nachos, soft pretzels and adult beverages. This tour is always a total blast and can be enjoyed all summer long! Don’t miss it.   

 

South Rim of the Grand Canyon 
June 29th, Thursday………………….$115 
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  Visited by millions of tourists annually, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most accessible and offers the deepest and widest views.  We’ll arrive at the Grand Canyon in time for lunch on self, with several dining options to choose from—ranging from fine dining at the El Tovar, to the Maswik Food Court—you decide.  After lunch we’ll explore spectacular views and other points of interest.  This is a remarkable one-day tour, leaving a little earlier and arriving home a little later, but well worth it!    
  
4th of July in Santa Fe Motorcoach Tour 
featuring Historic Las Vegas, New Mexico 
July 3rd-6th Monday-Thursday 
$957 (Based Upon Double Occupancy) $306 (Single Supplement)

 

Day One:  We’re on our way to Santa Fe, with a quick stop for lunch, on self, at the Painted Desert Diner at the  
Petrified Forest National Park. Later, back in the coach, we’ll hightail it for Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino. Just 15 miles north of Santa Fe, the Buffalo Thunder is New Mexico’s largest entertainment hotel—merging the excitement of a Las Vegas casino with the amenities of a world-class spa and golf hotel. Our headquarters for the next three nights, the hotel is a perfect starting point to explore the Santa Fe Trail. We’ll check into our rooms, take a moment to refresh and then enjoy dinner on self, followed by a free evening.   

Day Two:  Get ready to celebrate Independence Day in Santa Fe! We’ll enjoy breakfast on self at the hotel, with  
several eateries to choose from, before setting off for the Santa Fe Plaza. Founded as a Spanish Colony in 1610 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Plaza is the heart and soul of the city. We’ll board a comfortable open-air trolley to enjoy a brilliantly narrated tour— an eight-mile loop that includes the most important historical areas in Santa Fe—including Canyon Road with its colorful art galleries, Santa Fe’s Museum Hill area, the Palace of the Governors, and other notable locations in the heart of the oldest capital city in the United States. Afterwards we’ll return to the plaza, where we’ll enjoy lunch on self at the restaurant of your choice, in a city that is famously foodie! Feel free to lose yourself to the fiesta-activities happening around every corner, as you explore one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Late afternoon we’ll return to our hotel for a refresh before dinner on self. The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Return with us to the fiesta on the Plaza and the annual fireworks display or enjoy your evening at the resort.  
       
Day Three: Breakfast is on self at the hotel, then it’s back in the coach and we’re headed for Las Vegas, New  
Mexico—a city seemingly frozen in time! Upon arrival to the town once known as the “Wildest of the Wild West,” we’ll enjoy a remarkable 2-hour trolley tour, narrated by a local historian. With over 900 buildings on the historic register, Las Vegas, New Mexico is a place where “landmarks, legends and lore” are on full display. Early afternoon we’ll enjoy lunch, on self, before setting out to explore some of the spectacular scenery that surrounds this fascinating 1880’s railroad town on the historic Santa Fe Trail. Late afternoon we’ll return to our hotel for dinner on self and a free evening.  
  
Day Four:  We’ll enjoy breakfast on self at the hotel, then it’s bags out and we’re headed for home, with a stop for lunch on self at the historic La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona. Don’t miss this fantastic holiday tour!  
  
Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway 
July 10th, Monday...…………………….$110 
With the first hint of summer, we’re ready to travel the Sky Island Scenic Byway—Mount Lemmon Highway to the town of Summerhaven, Arizona!  This breathtaking 25-mile paved road takes us along one of Arizona’s most scenic byways, and winds us up a trail that ascends 9,157 feet through the rugged Santa Catalina Mountains into a much cooler climate.  Along the way there are many pull-off points for photo opportunities, or just to enjoy the magnificent landscape.  Nestled into the rocky peak of Mount Lemmon sits the tiny town of Summerhaven, home to the Iron Door Restaurant, where we’ll enjoy lunch on self.  A charming eatery offering delicious homemade soups, a variety of fresh salads, sandwiches and more, the Iron Door is most famous for their chili & cornbread combo and fresh baked pies.  Pull up a chair on the patio surrounded by flowers and hummingbirds and treat yourself to a day away from the heat of the Valley.   
 
Lowell Observatory 
July 13th, Thursday……………..…..$155 
Experience the famously dark skies of Flagstaff, Arizona, home to Lowell Observatory. Our Dark Skies Program will include 1.5 hours of private stargazing, using the new 24” (0.6m) Dyer Telescope. We’ll also enjoy a laser-guided constellation tour in the adjoining McAllister Observing Plaza. When not observing, we’ll be free to explore other parts of the observatory on our own, including:  
¨ Giovale Open Deck Observatory, with six telescopes of varying sizes, including a 32” (0.8m) reflecting telescope.  
¨ Historic Clark Refractor, which mapped the moon for Apollo.  
¨ Pluto Discovery Astrograph and Zeiss Blink Comparator.  
We’ll arrive in Flagstaff in time to enjoy dinner, on self, at the restaurant of your choice. Don’t miss this exciting tour! 
   
San Francisco Peaks Scenic Loop  
& Diablo Burger  
July 18th, Tuesday……….....................$129 
Here’s a Kindred Tours Classic, a journey that kicks off in historic Flagstaff, with a stop for lunch at Diablo Burger, an Arizona local foods-based burger joint. Lunch alone is worth the drive!  Diablo Burger partners with local farmers, ranchers, bakers, cheese makers, brewers, vintners…  to create “landscape-scale conservation that you can taste.” Which is just a lot of fancy talk for the best cheeseburger in the American Southwest. We’ll order off a huge menu, then settle on the patio with our award-winning burgers, fries and soft drinks, and it’s all included!  Later we’ll head north on Highway 180, better known as the San Francisco Peaks Scenic Road, one of Arizona’s most beautiful scenic byways—a loop that takes us all the way around Arizona's highest mountain—winding through a land of pine forests and aspen groves, open prairies and rustic homesteads.  This incredible tour offers a great escape from the heat of the Valley! Make a reservation and join us—you’ll be glad you did!  
 
 Silver City, New Mexico 
& the Trail of the Mountain Spirits  
July 27th-29th Thursday-Saturday 
$579 Per Person (Based Upon Double Occupancy) $134 Single Supplement 
 
Day One: We’re traveling the Old West Highway, on our way to Silver City in southwestern New Mexico, situated just east of the Continental Divide. This boyhood town of Billy the Kid is rich with Old West Heritage, a vibrant arts community, and incredible scenery. Along the way we’ll enjoy several stops, including one for lunch on self, in a region that is famously home to some of the most delicious Mexican food in the country. We’ll check into our hotel and after a refresh and our own Happy Hour, head into downtown Silver City for dinner, on self, with several restaurants to choose from.    
  
Day Two: We’ll enjoy breakfast, included, at the hotel, and then it’s back on the Transits to drive the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway. We’ll travel through the beautiful Mimbres Valley, into San Lorenzo, a quiet village and home to the historic San Lorenzo church, said to be the site of an actual miracle. Further into the Mimbres Valley, we’ll take the cut-off to beautiful Bear Canyon Lake and head for the famous Gila Cliff Dwellings. For thousands of years nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. By the late 1200’s, people of the Mogollon Culture settled into this region, building rooms in the cliff dwellings for a brief period of about 20 years, then moving on. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch, included, at the Gila Cliff Dwellings trailhead, a gorgeous setting overlooking the ruins. If you’re feeling ambitious, a 2-minute walk will take you to a wall of pictographs, a 5-minute walk will take you to a three-room dwelling, and an uphill climb that is equivalent to 18 flights of stairs will take you into the Gila Cliff Dwellings. After lunch, we’ll continue past lush green fields and grazing horses, with plenty of scenic stops along the way to enjoy the butterflies, 337 different species of birds, and abundant wildflowers. We’ll stop at Lake Roberts, where it is very common to find whole herds of deer grazing along the road. From here we’ll head for the old mining community of Pinos Altos, where gold was discovered in 1860 and many of the buildings from that era are still standing. Continuing on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits, we’ll stop at an overlook to explore a panoramic view of the Chino mine, one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world. From here we’ll head back into Silver City for a refresh at our hotel, then it’s downtown for dinner on self in a town that is famously fun. 
  
Day Three: We’ll enjoy breakfast, included at the hotel. After breakfast, it’s bags out, and we’re off to explore Catwalk Recreation Area, a half-mile-long bridge dramatically suspended along a beautiful canyon, over a cool creek that borders the Gila Wilderness. The Catwalk follows the path of the pipeline built in the 1890’s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. Workmen had to enter the canyon by crawling atop the narrow pipeline named the “Catwalk.” In the 1930’s the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the Catwalk. Metal walkways were bolted to the narrow canyon walls where there was no room to cut a trail, creating an easy walkway that is universally accessible for all visitors. Here’s your opportunity to explore the canyon once used as a hideout for both Geronimo and Butch Cassidy! Later back in the Transits, we’re headed for home with plenty of great stops along the way. This whirlwind tour is a Kindred Classic!