Meet our expert, resident Program Directors
Timothy Miller
"Timothy was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, and available for questions and suggestions. His ready smile and great sense of humor brightened and enlivened our bus rides, as did the videos and CDs he played, all of which were relevant to our stops and added to our knowledge of the area."
–Marjorie Hoagland, 7-time traveler, Pendleton, Oregon
93% of Grand Circle travelers rate their experience with Timothy on this vacation as "excellent"
Born in: Elgin, Illinois
Currently resides in: Phoenix, Arizona
With Grand Circle since: 2006
Languages: English, Spanish
Education: Degree in Marketing from Mesa Community College
Hobbies/Special interests: Cycling, hiking, gardening, cooking
Interesting Fact about Timothy: The wide open spaces, rugged sense of individualism, and splendor of the landscape are what attracted him the American West. Even though he travels the area frequently and extensively, Timothy is still moved by the region’s natural beauty: “I love sharing in the awe and amazement that travelers feel after seeing Yellowstone National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon.”
Memorable Group Experience: “I feel it is important to experience the West with all of your senses, so I like to incorporate food, music, and local folklore into the group’s daily experience. On one trip, I arranged for my travelers to meet with a local cowboy in Wyoming. He spoke about his work and his experiences as a cowboy. His ranch is so remote that it was a treat for everyone to ask him questions and get an inside perspective on this iconic American way of life.”
Timothy’s Insider Tips:
Food & Dining: “For the Navajo people, fry bread—leavened dough fried in oil or lard—is more than just food; it’s also a poignant reminder of the harsh conditions they were forced to endure in the mid-19th century. You see, in 1863, the U.S. government forced many Navajos from their tribal land and onto reservations. Conditions in these settlements were cramped, and the rations provided by the government—lard, flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, yeast, and powdered—were not only meager, but often rancid. To make the most of these scant provisions, the Navajo created fry bread; it’s since been adopted by other Native American cultures and is widely served throughout the West at pow-wows and state fairs.”
Special Places & Pastimes: “The Journey Museum, in Rapid City, South Dakota (22 New York Street), is a surprisingly interesting museum covering both the natural and cultural history of the Western Great Plains. From the violent geological upheaval that formed the Black Hills more than 2.5 billion years ago to the saga of the Western frontier, exhibits are shown from the perspective of the indigenous Lakota people and the pioneers who later settled in the area.”