We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. A confirmed itinerary is distributed no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY 1–5 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT | PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona for the start of the program. This program starts with our Western USA Trek program. We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group and enjoy a pizza party by the pool. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.
Our adventure begins in Sedona. Stop to see Snoopy Rock—named after the lovable Peanuts character—as you admire the many red sandstone rock formations that form the breathtaking backdrop. The group will spend time in Slide Rock State Park, a 43-acre historic apple farm that is named for the natural water slide formed by the slippery bed of Oak Creek.
We’ll enjoy a full day tour and hike in Grand Canyon National Park—home to the immense Grand Canyon—which is layered with bands of red rock dating back millions of years. Then, spend a day tubing on the Salt River before we celebrate our first Shabbat together as a group in Phoenix. Everyone will spend time relaxing on Shabbat before we make our way north to Utah.
DAY 6–7 | ST. GEORGE, UTAH
St. George is home to some of the most dramatic beauty in the Western U.S. Marvel at the red rocks, pink cliffs, and endless vistas of Bryce Canyon National Park, which is home to the largest number of hoodoos on Earth. Hoodoos—irregular columns of rock—exist on every continent, but the largest concentration is located here.
After uncovering the magic that Bryce Canyon has to offer, we’ll spend some time exploring Zion National Park, Utah’s first national park. You’ll follow the paths where native people and pioneers walked and become enchanted by the unique array of plants and animals the park has to offer. Then, the group is off to Nevada!
DAY 8–9 | LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
When we arrive in Las Vegas, you’ll be mesmerized by the neon glow and razzle-dazzle of the Strip. Stop for a photo in front of the city’s infamous welcome sign, a landmark that has attracted visitors since it was built in 1959. We’ll continue with a tour of the Las Vegas Strip to enjoy attractions like the Bellagio fountain show, Mirage volcanic eruption, and more.
Stare in awe at the massive concrete behemoth, Hoover Dam. This magnificent landmark sits two football fields long, generates enough hydroelectricity for 1.3 million people, and is a structure worth marveling at. We’ll return to Las Vegas for one last evening—enjoying a Blue Man Group show on the Strip—before we head to California.
DAY 10–13 | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Shop and dine at the more than 70 waterfront properties of Seaport Village, the infamous complex adjacent to San Diego Bay. Tour the USS Midway, a historic aircraft carrier that offers spectacular flight deck views of the downtown skyline, San Diego Bay Bridge, and active U.S. Navy ships! The group will enjoy a surfing lesson at Mission Beach and check out San Diego’s premier beachfront amusement park—Belmont Park—known for its Giant Dipper roller coaster, Plunge swimming pool, and delicious restaurants.
The natural beauty of La Jolla Cove will leave you California dreamin’ as you explore its coastline. Stop to see the local seal colony that has taken over Scripps Park before we head to Old Town San Diego. This site is considered to be the “birthplace” of California and preserves the heritage of the region, with a main plaza, exhibits, museums, and living history demonstrations. We’ll enjoy a relaxing Shabbat and set sail into the sunset on a San Diego Harbor cruise.
Our final day in San Diego will be nothing short of fun and engaging! Wander through the San Diego Zoo, a 100-acre wildlife park that is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals that represent more than 650 species and subspecies. After, take a walk through Balboa Park, one of North America’s most iconic urban parks and a staple on any visit to San Diego. We’ll stop to explore San Juan Capistrano, a city in Orange County, California located along the Orange Coast before making our way to our next destination: Los Angeles!
DAY 14–16 | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Teens will spend a day watching the magic unfold in Disneyland. With more than 60 attractions, parades, and world-renowned treats, it’s no wonder its “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
We’ll hike Hollywood Hills looking for the homes of your favorite celebrities and snap a picture in front of the Hollywood Sign. Take in the view of the Los Angeles skyline from Griffith Observatory, southern California’s gateway to the cosmos. Visit the Museum of Tolerance, designed to examine racism and prejudice around the world with a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust. Peruse the Original Farmers Market, a historic market in L.A. that has a range of trendy shops, restaurants, and more. Take a walking tour of downtown Los Angeles, stopping at sites like Chinatown. Hike Runyon Canyon Park, a 160-acre park in Los Angeles that sits at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Learn more about the Jewish population of Los Angeles, the largest outside of New York City and Israel. Then, enjoy a group night out at Universal CityWalk, an area shared by the entertainment and retail districts near Universal Studios Hollywood.
DAY 17–21 | SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Drive to Northern California via the Monterey Peninsula. Stop in the artsy Carmel-by-the-Sea, a beach town rich with history, fairytale cottages, and galleries. Once we arrive in San Francisco, we’ll take a night tour of the city and see all its wonders.
Tour the Jelly Belly factory, manufacturer of world-famous candy jellybeans. Stroll through Haight district and Divisadero Street—take pictures at Alamo Square—and relax at Buena Vista Park. We’ll do a deeper dive into the Jewish history of the American West before we enjoy our final Shabbat together in California.
You’ll walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, spend free time at Fisherman’s Wharf—one of the city’s busiest tourist areas with a postcard view of the bay—and tour the historic Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, a maximum-security federal prison on Alcatraz Island. Ride San Francisco’s cable cars up and down the hilly streets and check out the most crooked street in the world, Lombard Street.
DAY 22–23 | TRANSFER FLIGHT | PORTLAND, OREGON
We’ll make our way to the airport for a transfer flight to Portland, Oregon. Teens will continue to build on this experience by connecting into Pacific Northwest Trek. We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group.
We’ll start with a walk through Tom McCall Waterfront Park, named for Oregon Governor Tom McCall who turned Harbor Drive freeway into a public park in 1978. We’ll take an afternoon stroll through the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a tranquil botanical garden that features rare plants native to China and decorative architecture that educates visitors about the Chinese culture.
We’ll take a short drive to Mount Hood, Oregon’s tallest mountain peak that is rich in history and shaped the culture of the Pacific Northwest. Once we’ve finished exploring the dormant stratovolcano, we’ll stop to see the Timberline Lodge, whose exterior was famously used in the film The Shining.
DAY 24–27 | VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
The group will depart Portland and head north by bus, following the Cascade Mountains into Canada. Once we arrive in Vancouver, the group will spend an afternoon in its massive, 1000-acre Stanley Park. Hailed as one of the greatest urban parks in the world, the park contains lovely beaches, miles of paved and dirt trails, and plenty of additional fun activities.
Take in the breathtaking sights of the Douglas firs, cityscape of Vancouver, sparkling Pacific Ocean, and snowy peak of Grouse Mountain on a Skyride gondola. Cross the legendary Capilano Suspension Bridge—British Columbia’s most popular attraction—for an adrenaline-pumping view above the Capilano River. We’ll prepare for our first Shabbat together in Vancouver, then spend the Sabbath relaxing and taking in the views that Canada has to offer.
Our final day in Canada will start with a visit to Granville Island and its public market. Known as Vancouver’s premiere artistic and cultural hub, the Public Market has more than 50 independent food vendors that make it a renowned culinary destination. Granville Island is home to many cultural venues and hosts numerous performing arts and cultural festivals year-round.
DAY 28–34 | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Our final stop is to Seattle, where we’ll enjoy a day trip to Olympic National Park. Diversity is the hallmark of this park—encompassing nearly a million acres—as it protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several different ecosystems. We’ll explore places in the park like Hoh Rainforest and Hurricane Ridge and participate in other fun nature activities.
During our time in Seattle, we’ll also visit the Boeing Factory in Everett to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the company manufactures its aircrafts, take in the view of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges from Discovery Park, discover the world’s most immersive pop culture experiences at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), and make our way to the top of the Space Needle.
After a short community service project in Seattle, we’ll begin uncovering all that the city has to offer like Pike Place Market and the Seattle Waterfront. Pike Place Market is Seattle’s original farmers market, and the waterfront is a collection of piers that are filled with souvenir shops and attractions like the Seattle Great Wheel.
Take a day trip to Mount Rainier, the iconic mountain that can be seen from Seattle. Enjoy an afternoon shopping and exploring all the downtown Seattle has to offer its tourists. Then, prepare for our final Shabbat together as a group. We’ll visit the Seattle Aquarium and have a day of thrill-seeking fun at Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle’s Restaurant in Tukwila. Once we return to Seattle, we’ll enjoy one final dinner as a group before we prepare for our return home.
DAY 35 | RETURN FLIGHT
We’ll make our way to the airport for our flight back home. It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!
