America's Cowboy Country

Welcome to Rapid City, long known as the gateway to the Black Hills and your home for three nights. As traveler's arrival times vary greatly, we have no group activities planned during the day. We will hold a welcome briefing in the early evening. Dinner is on your own tonight. Stay: Alex Johnson Hotel (3 Nights)

Visit rugged Badlands National Park.

Upon arrival at the visitor center, view its informative exhibits and displays and watch a film that introduces you to the area. Follow the Badlands Loop Road, a wonder of rock formations and vibrant colors formed by mineral deposits. Stop at Wall Drug, a classic store from 1936, where there is time for lunch and browsing.

This evening, a Lakota Native American will join you before your welcome dinner to discuss his dedication to his community and the Native American way of life, past and present. (B/D)

Travel to Custer State Park and search for a herd of over 1,000 roaming bison. Your guide will fill you in on the park's wildlife history and facts. Next, prepare to be amazed by the Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's largest mountain sculpture still in progress. The memorial includes the Indian Museum of North America, Native American Cultural Center, the sculptor's studio, an orientation center and theaters. Many Native American artists and craftspeople practice their art at the memorial and are on hand to discuss the influence their culture has on their work.

Later, see Mount Rushmore, one of the country's most famous landmarks. (B)

Stop in Deadwood, a rambling Western town and a National Historic Landmark. Recreations of turn-of-the-century streetlamps light the way through the restored architecture. A local guide introduces you to the history of the city, where gold, gambling and gunpowder were once the order of the day. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and other figures from the Wild West.

Then, it's your choice! Take a guided tour of the Adams Museum and explore dynamic exhibits that shine a light on Deadwood's legends and outlaws -OR- visit Kevin Costner's Tatanka: Story of the Bison. This interpretive center features large, awe-inspiring sculptures depicting the relationship of bison and the Lakota Native Americans. Your day ends in Buffalo, Wyoming. (B) Stay: Hampton Inn & Suites

This morning, make your way through the Bighorn Mountains and cross through the territory of the Great Sioux Nation.

This afternoon, visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a tribute to one of the most well-known figures of the Old West. (B/D) Stay: Buffalo Bill Village Holiday Inn and Cabins

Visit Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. Famous for its geysers, hot springs and incredible wildlife – including free-ranging herds of buffalo – Yellowstone lives up to its reputation. No visit to the park would be complete without seeing its most renowned attraction: Old Faithful. Watch in awe as the geyser sends a fountain of steam more than 130 feet in the air. Travel over the Sylvan Pass and see Yellowstone Lake on the way to Jackson, your home for the next two nights. (B) Stay: The Lodge at Jackson Hole (2 Nights)

Wind through Grand Teton National Park, home to the youngest peaks in the Rockies. Keep your camera handy, as there are plenty of opportunities to take photos.

Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore trendy downtown Jackson. Look for the Antler Arch at the entrance to the historic town square. Get a taste of the Old West at your farewell dinner where your ride in a covered wagon takes you past the Cache Creek for a night of Western hospitality at a chuckwagon dinner with entertainment. (B/D)

Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many pleasant memories. (B)