Visit the California State Capital - Sacramento. Founded in 1849, Sacramento was at the heart of the gold rush, Pony Express and first continental railroad. In the afternoon head through the famous Donner Pass and enter Nevada - nicknamed the Silver State. Overnight stay in Elko.

Depart Elko in the morning and pass through Twin Falls - Idaho, as views of the Snake River gorge highlight this area. Continue to the state of Wyoming and visit the western town of Jackson Hole. Arches made of elk antlers decorate the central plaza in this town with plenty of shops and restaurants around the area. In the afternoon visit Grand Teton National Park. The tallest peak rises to 13,770 feet. Twelve of the peaks in Teton reach above 12,000 feet and support a dozen mountain glaciers. Overnight in stay West Yellowstone.

Visit Yellowstone National Park, the first and oldest National Park in the United States. Highlights include: Yellowstone Canyon, Mud Volcano, Mammoth Springs, Hot Springs, and Geysers- the most famous being "Old Faithful". There are also various wildlife that inhabits the Park from bison, elk, moose, and bear. Overnight stay in Sheridan.

Depart Sheridan in the morning and visit Devil’s Tower National Monument. ‘Bear Lodge’ was the Native American name for the Tower. This 865 foot column- a remnant of a volcanic eruption was renamed in 1875 by a scientific team escorted by Col. Richard I. Dodge. Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial located in South Dakota in the afternoon. The memorial was dedicated to President\'s George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Overnight stay in Casper.

Head southwest from Casper to Salt Lake City. Visit the once traveled Oregon Trail. The trail represents the only corridor to the West. 1843 was known as "The great migration" and over the next 25 years more than a half million people went west on the Trail. The highlights of the trail includes: the historical landmarks of Independence Rock, Devil\'s Gate, Echo Canyon, and Emigration Canyon. Visit the Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the Kennecott Copper Mine in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Salt Lake City.

Visit the Great Salt Desert in the morning. The saline lake covers an area of around 1,700 square miles, but is subject to substantial fluctuations. The lake has very high salinity because it has no outlet to the sea. Three feeder rivers deposit around 1.1 million tons of minerals in it each year. However, the high salinity of the lake makes it uninhabitable for all but a few species. Arrive in the Reno, Nevada in the afternoon. The city is the birthplace of the gaming corporation Harrah\'s Entertainment. Overnight stay in Reno.

Depart Reno in the morning and visit Lake Tahoe. As one of the deepest lakes in the United States, this freshwater lake is located between Nevada and California with two-thirds of its border in California. Perhaps join an optional cruise to visit this extraordinary lake. Head back to the Bay Area in the afternoon.