Rockies and Texas Trails

Traveling along the Continental Divide Montana Wyoming Colorado Arizona and Texas

The Rocky Mountain States

Montana is western history, national parks, cowboys, rodeos, railroad towns and guest ranches. Glacier National Park crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, offering breathtaking views and opportunity to see wildlife, the rugged terrain along the way and the many unspoiled lakes on a wooden boat, kayak or canoe, a guided horseback ride, or hiking some of the 700 miles of trails. Ranch Vacations the state has many unique guest ranches of different types: dude, working, or luxury resort ranches that offer a diverse array of activities from horseback riding to fly fishing, spa treatments to gourmet meals, hiking to rafting.

Wyoming includes two National Parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Fossil Butte National Monument and the Jackson Hole area. Travel along its western border through scenic Star Valley to visit the historic town of Jackson, spectacular Teton Mountain Range, Old Faithful and the Lower Falls in Yellowstone. The North Platte River flows through this long, wide swath of the state. Discover Wyoming’s pioneer story, from scars in the earth left by the Oregon Trail wagons to fascinating history museums.

Salt Lake City Utah flanked on all sides by dramatic granite cliffs, Salt Lake is a world-class alpine destination with outdoor recreation, a remarkable history, and an economy that has transformed a pioneer town into a sophisticated metropolitan city.

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, visitors to Colorado Springs can enjoy commanding views of Pikes Peak and recreational opportunities in the nearby mountains including hiking, the geological wonders at Garden of the Gods Park, Cave of the Winds and the Paint Mines Interpretive Park.

Colorado Springs has a Thriving Arts and Cultural Scene

Denver is a city with 300 days of sunshine, brilliant blue skies and breathtaking mountain scenery, located at the creedbase of the Rocky Mountains, exactly one mile high. In 1858, a small group of prospectors from Georgia crossing the great plains of the Colorado Territory discovered Gold at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Although not much was found, the mere whisper of the word was enough to start a veritable stampede into the region.

Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Phoenix is the cosmopolitan heart of Arizona, the soul of the American Southwest and where you will find sports venues, live music, rooftop lounges, museums, theaters and art galleries. Downtown and its Cityscape, a two-block entertainment district, is also home to the Phoenix Convention Center and Arizona State University’s downtown campus; all served by one of the newest light rail systems in the nation.

Texas City and Country Destinations

Houston is the largest city in Texas and the US South as well as America's fourth-largest. A cosmopolitan destination and home to an energetic arts community, Houston was founded in 1836 near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was named after former General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas and commander at the Battle of San Jacinto. 

Austin, on the eastern edge of Texas Hill Country, is the state capital, the live music capital of the world, home to the University of Texas and Formula 1's Circuit of the Americas raceway.

Experience San Antonio’s rich heritage by visiting its 18^th century Spanish colonial missions, residential areas dating from the 1860s and the local museums that celebrate the city’s past. The National Historic Park the Mission Trail is a walking, biking or driving experience of the five local missions and the centuries of local history and culture.

Dallas the city’s can-do spirit helped bring the railroads to the area in the 1870s, the Federal Reserve Bank in 1914, Southern Methodist University in 1915, Love Field Airport in 1927, the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936 and DFW International Airport in 1973.

Cowboys Cowgirls Wineries Public Art Trails and Vintage Railroads

Grapevine is a small town located between Dallas and Fort Worth and is home of DFW International Airport. Main Street in the historic downtown has a public library, recreation center, antique stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, a park, and many specialty shops.

Fort Worth was settled in 1849 as an army outpost along the Trinity River as one of eight forts assigned to protect settlers on the advancing frontier. The cattle industry was king for a generation of people working the Fort Worth leg of the historic Chisholm Trail. Experience cowboy cuisine, trendy farm-to-table, authentic Mexican and bayou fare.

A Visit to Lawrence Kansas

History Education Energy Water Parks Neighborhood Architecture and Local Transit

Downtown Lawrence is located 25 miles - 40 kilometers - east of Topeka and 35 miles - 56 km – west of Kansas City. Though Lawrence has a designated elevation of 866 feet - 264 m, the highest elevation is Mount Oread on the University of Kansas campus with an elevation of

1,020 feet - 310 m.

History Douglas County was part of the Shawnee Indian Reservation until the Kansas Territory was

opened to settlement in 1854; the Oregon Trail went through here and Hogback Ridge was used as a landmark on the trail. Lawrence was entangled with the slavery issue as Northern Democrats argued that residents should be able to decide the issue in newly created territories. Popular sovereignty was embodied in the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. The law united anti-slavery forces into a movement committed to stopping the expansion of slavery, resulting in pro and anti-slavery elements moving into Kansas.

Emigration the New England Emigrant Aid Company was chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature to facilitate emigration to the region and selecting Lawrence as the site for the first colony with twenty-nine men remarking on the beauty of the spot and the magnificence of the view. The main street was named Massachusetts to commemorate the origins of the pioneer party. Pro and Anti-slavery groups co-existed for a few short months when pro-slavery settler Franklin Coleman killed a Free Stater at Hickory Point; violent political divisions characterized public life in Kansas for the next 10 years. During the Civil War, pro Confederacy forces rode into the city; houses and businesses in Lawrence were burned and between nearly 200 men and boys were murdered.

Quantrill's Raid was one of the most destructive in the history of Kansas

Energy facing an energy crisis in the early 1870s, Lawrence constructed a dam across the Kansas River to help provide the city with power; the Lawrence Land & Water Company completed the dam in 1873. The dam helped win business against Kansas City and Leavenworth.

Water Lawrence is located between the Kansas and Wakarusa Rivers and several major creeks: Burroughs Creek, Baldwin Creek, Yankee Tank Creek in southwest Lawrence flows through central Lawrence and converges with the Wakarusa River which was dammed to form Clinton Lake. Potter Lake is on the University of Kansas Campus and Mary’s Lake is located within Prairie Park. The Haskell-Baker Wetlands, maintained by Haskell University is an extensive open space located in the southern part of the city featuring wetlands, native plants, hiking and biking trails, and interpretative signage about the prairie and wetland ecosystems.

Travel destinations and itineraries based on client interests by leveraging an in-depth knowledge of your destination, superior client service in the planning stages and throughout the trip or event and logistics expertise to reduce accommodations and transport costs as well as transfer times.

Education Lawrence is home to University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. The United States Indian Industrial Training School opened in 1884. Boys learned tailor making, blacksmithing and farming while girls were taught cooking and homemaking. In 1993 the name was changed to the Haskell Indian Nations University.

The Elizabeth M. Watkins Community Museum is on the premises of the Watkins National Bank which opened in 1888 at 11th and Massachusetts. Founded by Jabez B. Watkins, the bank would last until 1929. Watkin’s wife Elizabeth donated the bank building to the city.

 The Free State Brewing Company opened in 1989, becoming the first legal brewery in Kansas in more than 100 years. The restaurant is in a renovated inter-urban trolley station in downtown Lawrence.

Parks Lawrence has 54 parks which include community and neighborhood parks, trails, cemeteries and nature preserves. A new, multi-use trail system called the Lawrence Loop encircles the city and will create a 22-mile paved recreational trail, a green transportation network, and opportunities for environmental restoration.

Neighborhood Architecture The architecture of Lawrence is greatly varied. Most buildings built before 1860 were destroyed in the Lawrence Massacre. Architectural styles represented in Old West Lawrence include Italianate, Victorian, Gothic Revival and Tudor.The National Register of Historic Places includes: Old West Lawrence, Oread, Hancock, Breezedale, and most of Rhode Island Street in East Lawrence.

Local Transit in 1871, the Lawrence Street Railway Company opened and offered citizens easy access to hotels and businesses along Massachusetts Street. The first streetcar was pulled by horses and mules.

Today, two bus systems operate in the city: Lawrence Transit, known as the T, is a public bus system operated by the city, and KU on Wheels, operated by the University of Kansas. Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound. Amtrak provides passenger service with a stop at the downtown Lawrence Station on the Southwest Chief line connecting Chicago and Los Angeles.

Atlantic to Pacific Coast Travel

Traveling from Pennsylvania and New York to Mid America Oregon and Washington

The Northeast has an illustrious history and culture; in the 21^st century, it is a trend setter on the technological and environmental fronts along with agricultural innovations that accompany unique, local food, wine and brew traditions. 

The Lehigh and Delaware River Valley are ideal anchor location if your interests include New York City and the Hudson Valley, Philadelphia and South Central Pennsylvania.

The Hudson and the Delaware were originally called the North and South Rivers

Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by William Penn in 1682. Bristol is the third oldest town in Pennsylvania and southern terminus of the D&L Trail characterized by coal yards, shipyards, warehouses and textile mills. Its Delaware Riverfront resembles a New England seaport.

Mid America

The Upper Mississippi is the portion of the river from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois where it joins the Ohio River. Chicago is the starting point for the Historic Route 66 and the base from which you can reach the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa as well as journey to Alton along the Great River Road and explore Mississippi River Towns. 

Traveling across America

from the Atlantic to the
 Pacific Coast with

Knowledge Tourism

The Pacific Northwest from South Dakota and Minnesota you can follow the route of the Empire Builder and the Missouri River to explore the Northern Plains and the US Northwest.

Oregon is an ideal winter destination where you can ski on volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains; a nature lover’s paradise as you watch hundreds of gray whales spout and storms over the Pacific; a connoisseur destination where you can sip award-winning Oregon wines and micro beers; an environmentalist’s delight with Portland’s green lifestyle, free downtown transport and local distinctive neighborhoods.

Environment Friendly Destinations and Vacations

Portland is located between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean at the northern end of the Willamette Valley and river which flows through the city and links with the Columbia River. The citizens and their local government are notable for: land-use planning, local transport, environment conscious policies, high walkability, a large number bicyclists and ten thousand acres of public parks Read More

Neighborhoods Planning Development Sustainability and Local Transport

Seattle’s first major industry was logging; by the late 19^th century the city also became a commercial and shipbuilding center as a gateway to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. In the 1940s, Boeing established Seattle as a center for aircraft manufacturing and, beginning in the 1980s, the area developed as a technology center with companies like Microsoft and Amazon.