Day 1: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 Rapid City, South Dakota – Tour Begins Welcome to the West. Your tour opens in Rapid City, long known as the gateway to the Black Hills. Tonight, you and your fellow travelers gather for a welcome dinner featuring a Native American chronicler who shares stories about the Lakota and Sioux way of life. (D)
Day 2: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Rapid City – Crazy Horse – Mt. Rushmore – Rapid City Learn the history of some enterprising Westerners during a visit to the Chapel in the Hills. Then, visit CrazyHorse Memorial and learn the story behind the world’s largest, still- in-progress mountain sculpture. The memorial includes the IndianMuseum of North America, the Native American Cultural Center, the
sculptor’s studio, orientation center and theaters. Many Native American artists and craftspeople work at the memorial and welcome the chance to share how their culture influences their art. Next, head
for mighty Mount Rushmore to spend some time with the epic figures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln as you stroll along the Presidential Trail that offers the closest access to this iconic
sculpture. (B)
Day 3: Thursday, October 5, 2023 Rapid City – Badlands – Wall – Rapid City Embrace the allure of wide-open spaces and explore the larger-than-life Badlands National Park. At the visitor center, the
stage is set for your adventure, with informative exhibits, displays and video to introduce you to the area. Travel the Badlands Loop Road, home to vibrant colors and rock formations created by mineral
deposits. Visit the legendary Wall Drug, a store barely changed since 1936. Do a little browsing, have a seat at the soda fountain, and perhaps grab a bite for lunch. (B)
Day 4: Friday, October 6, 2023 Rapid City – Deadwood – Rapid City Get ready for Deadwood, where gold, gambling, and gunpowder were once the order of the day. This morning, it’s your choice! Take
a guided tour of the Adams Museum, dedicated to preserving Deadwood’s history -OR- visit Kevin Costner’s Tatanka: Story of the Bison, sculptures depicting the relationship between bison and the
Lakota. This afternoon, this National Historic Landmark comes alive as if you’ve stepped onto the set of an old-fashioned Western. A local guide shows you the town, including where Wild Bill Hickok and
Calamity Jane are buried. This evening, enjoy a dinner and Western show at the High Plains Heritage Center. (B, D)
Day 5: Saturday, October 7, 2023 Rapid City – Custer – Rapid City Head to Custer State Park and keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep or wandering elk. Take in the lush landscape, rocky outcrops, and grazing animals as you make your way through South Dakota’s first state park. Venture off road with an exciting Buffalo Safari, cruising deep into the park in an open-air jeep and searching for herds
of roaming buffalo. (B)
Day 6: Sunday, October 8, 2023 Rapid City – Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming – Rapid City Get your bearings at the Geographic Center of the Nation, marking the middle of the US. Cross into Wyoming and view the first national monument – Devils Tower. Stand in awe before this lofty monolith, perhaps hiking the 1.3-mile Tower Trail around the base. Although famous as the backdrop in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the tower is also sacred to many local tribes. This evening, join your fellow travelers
for dinner as the end of your South Dakota adventure draws near. (B, D)
Day 7: Monday, October 9, 2023 Rapid City – Tour Ends Say goodbye to Rapid City as your tour comes to a close today. (B)