Linda Sadler, Weems Turner, Jerri McBay, Debbie Cannon, Karen Smith, Rick Sadler, Candace Turner enjoying Mt Rushmore, the sixth National Park visited on the tour. (Courtesy Photo)

Members of Let’s Travel Club just finished a wonderful Collette tour Discover National Parks of America. This 12-day tour was filled with beauty and wonder.

The Let’s Travel group chose to begin their travels a day early to learn more about the Phoenix, Arizona, area. The tour actually began in Phoenix/Scottsdale before traveling to six national parks. The Spirit of Arizona Tours shared an enjoyable day with the travelers. They were given time to visit the museum of the Arizona capitol plus the beautiful memorial area across from the capitol. This special area honored the Code Talkers of World War II, the USS Arizona and its crew (sunk during Pearl Harbor), and others important to Arizona and America’s history.

As the official national parks tour began, the group enjoyed a little time in Sedona, viewing many  sightings of the Saguaro cactus, and the red rock mountains as they came into view.

A total of six U.S. National Parks were visited. As the group traveled from one park to another, more special places were visited and enjoyed.

–Grand Canyon National Park – Many believe this to be one of the most spectacular places in the world. The travelers spent time on the South Rim enjoying the magnificent beauty of this large canyon. Mary Colter’s Watch Tower was a special place visited before leaving the Grand Canyon.

–Bryce Canyon National Park – This area is famous for its largest collection of hoodoos in the world. A hoodoo is described as a spire of rock. Bryce is the smallest National Park in Utah.

–Zion National Park – Towering sandstone cliffs and much vegetation is what the travelers enjoyed in Zion. There were hiking trails available for each level of hiker. Each one offered wonderful views of the splendor of this park. Rock climbing? While these travelers didn’t have the opportunity during the tour, Zion offers many choices for those interested in conquering climbing.

–Grand Teton National Park – While this is the youngest range in the Rocky Mountains, it is also full of beauty in its rugged peaks. The three main peaks of the range are over 12,000 feet with the tallest being over 13,000.

–Yellowstone National Park – President Grant designated over 2 million acres as Yellowstone National Park in 1872. In addition to being the home of many species of wildlife, this area is the home of more geysers and hot springs than any other place on earth. The travelers had time to witness the most famous geyser Old Faithful as it erupted right around the predicted time.

–Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Park – The faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln were carved into the rocks of the Black Hills to represent the birth, growth, preservation, and development of the nation. The Avenue of Flags was added in 1976 at the request of a visitor to the park.

In addition to the parks, the travelers visited Lake Powell, Salt Lake City, the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, Wyoming, and the Crazy Horse Monument being carved in the Black Hills of Wyoming.

The group learned of the history and importance of each place visited and enjoyed the beauty of scenery as they traveled over 1,200 miles during the 12-day tour.

Those participating were: Debbie Cannon, Rick and Linda Sadler from Mexia; Karen Smith from The Woodlands; Weems and Candace Turner from College Station; Jerri McBay from Fairfield.

Upcoming tours scheduled for Let’s Travel Club include a 7-day Southern Charm tour in December which includes Charleston, Savannah, Jekyll Island. Those are in 2023. The two tours scheduled so far for 2024 include a 9-day tour to Israel in April and another tour to Scotland which will include attending the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh next summer. If you are interested in any of these tours, please contact Jerri McBay at 903-388-2243. If there is a place in the U.S. you would like to visit this calendar year, be sure to tell Jerri. She and Collette might can make it happen for you.