Do you know much about fantastic opportunities for exploration in our own United States of America? Let’s take a few weeks to learn about options that don’t require a passport, shall we? And can you imagine a more magical place to start than Yellowstone during winter?

This incredible 7 day adventure has a very narrow window of opportunity, with departures beginning January 22, 2009 and ending February 19, 2009, so if you are interested for 2009, don’t delay.

On day one you arrive in the Wild West town of Jackson, Wyoming. The National Museum of Wildlife Art hosts a very special welcome reception in your honor tonight at 6:30 p.m. During this event you will meet your tour director and fellow travelers.

Day two begins with a sleigh ride in Jackson’s National Elk Refuge. As many as 10,000 elk congregate here each winter. You could also be lucky enough to see wolves, eagles, coyotes and even trumpeter swans.

You will depart today for your tours of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National parks, with peaks above 13,000 feet.

At Flag Ranch you board a Bombardier SNOCOACH and begin the journey through Yellowstone, taking in West Thumb Geyser Basin, Lake Yellowstone, the Continental Divide, and Shoshone Point Overlook. Your journey ends at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for a relaxing two night stay.

On day three you will awaken to the crisp, clean winter air of Yellowstone. After a delicious breakfast, you will be thrilled by your walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin, the greatest geothermal basin on earth. Here you will view Old Faithful, as well as many other geysers. End the day with a warm drink by the crackling fire.

Day four is another cross country trip by SNOCOACH. Today you’ll stop to see Fountain Paint Pots as well as gibbon Falls on the way to Mammoth Hot Springs.

After a box lunch you will continue up to Upper Falls and thundering Lower Falls, which are nearly twice the height of Niagara. Bison, elk, moose, big horn sheep, deer and coyote photos will fill the memory on your camera. You will overnight at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, where you can enjoy ice skating and outdoor hot tubs.

Day five offers an excursion to the Serengeti of Yellowstone, Lamar Valley. This is the perfect place to spot wildlife, especially the gray wolf.

You’ll also enjoy the journey to Bozeman before heading to Yellowstone Montana. Here you can visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.

Day six we board a motorcoach for a journey through Idaho and Utah.

The western sides of the Tetons are breathtaking, and you will be delighted with the views of the highest peak on the range, Grand Teton, rising to 13,777 feet above sea level.

Tonight we will celebrate our fantastic journey with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day seven brings our adventure to an end, as we eat our last breakfast with new friends and board our planes back home.

Tour pricing begins at $2,069 per person. And for $220 per person you can even extend your stay.

Isn’t this trip the perfect Christmas gift for that loved one who has everything? Don’t tell my husband, but this is what he’s getting this year. And the best part is I get to go, too.

Joy Gawf Crutchfield owns The Joy of Travel. See details of this trip on her website at www.thejoyoftravel.us or call 888-JOY-4041 for personal service.