Wild West Adventure

DAY 1: Sioux Falls

Our Western adventure begins as we board the motorcoach and set our course toward the wide-open landscapes and legendary stories of the American frontier. Our first stop introduces an essential thread in the story of the West — water. At the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, the Mississippi River takes center stage, with exhibitions ranging from contemporary works to historic pieces inspired by the river that provided food, transportation and passage for pioneers pushing into the frontier. After lunch on your own at Culver's, we continue west to the Green Giant Statue Park in Blue Earth, Minnesota, for a photo stop with one of the state's most recognizable roadside icons. By late afternoon, we arrive in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, checking into the Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Empire Mall, conveniently located near restaurants and shopping. Relax and enjoy the hotel's indoor pool and complimentary Wi-Fi as we settle in for the adventures ahead.

DAY 2: Deadwood

The landscape begins its transformation today as we leave the open prairie behind for the rugged beauty of the Black Hills. Our first stop is the striking Dignity of Earth and Sky Monument overlooking the Missouri River, a 50-foot sculpture honoring Native American strength and resilience. Crossing into Mountain Time, we step into Cold War history at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Visitor Center, beginning with the film Beneath the Plains before exploring the exhibits at our own pace.

From there, the motorcoach carries us along the spectacular Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, where wind and water have carved a maze of buttes, pinnacles and colorful rock formations over millions of years. We'll pause in Wall, South Dakota, home of the legendary Wall Drug, where free ice water and five-cent coffee have welcomed weary travelers for generations. After time to explore, we continue into the Black Hills and historic Deadwood, our home for two nights. Once a rowdy Gold Rush boomtown of prospectors, gamblers and outlaws, Deadwood's historic Main Street still carries that Old West character. We'll check in and gather for a group dinner before heading to Main Street for a live performance of The Trial of Jack McCall, reenacting the dramatic story surrounding the death of Wild Bill Hickok. The evening is yours to browse the shops, grab an ice cream or simply soak in the after-dark atmosphere of this legendary town.

DAY 3: Deadwood

A full day devoted to Black Hills history and legend begins at the Days of '76 Museum, where wagons, firearms, Native American artifacts and rodeo memorabilia bring the region's colorful past to life. Next, the Original Deadwood Tour leads us through the historic heart of town, sharing stories of the larger-than-life characters who came seeking fortune and adventure. We'll round out the morning at Tatanka: Story of the Bison, exploring the deep connection between the Great Plains, the American bison and Native American culture. The afternoon and evening are intentionally open — wander Main Street, browse the shops, find an ice cream, visit a local attraction or simply relax at the hotel and enjoy its amenities at your own pace. Lunch and dinner are on your own, with plenty of local restaurants to choose from.

DAY 4: Cody

We say goodbye to the Black Hills today and continue west into Wyoming's Rocky Mountain country, with a first stop at the Frontier Auto Museum & Cafe in Gillette — a family-owned collection of classic automobiles, neon and porcelain signs, vintage gas pumps and oil-and-gas memorabilia filling room after room. Enjoy lunch on your own at the on-site Commodore Cafe, known for milkshakes, gourmet brats and tempting desserts, or explore nearby shops before we press on through Sheridan for a stretch and refresh stop. Arriving in Cody, Wyoming, we check into our hotel and freshen up before heading out for a true cowboy evening at the Cody Cattle Company, where dinner, live entertainment and rodeo action celebrate Wyoming's Western heritage.

DAY 5: Jackson

We meet our knowledgeable Yellowstone step-on guide today for the first of three full days of guided touring through America's first national park. Our guide leads us to Canyon Village and Artist Point for breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, its colorful walls and dramatic waterfalls carved by the Yellowstone River. We continue to the bubbling mud pots and steaming vents of the Mud Volcano area, then along the shores of Yellowstone Lake through Lake Village, watching for wildlife as we travel. Lunch is on your own in the park. By day's end, we depart Yellowstone for Jackson, Wyoming, our home for the next two nights, gathering for an included dinner at a local favorite — the perfect chance to trade stories about the day's sights and wildlife sightings before settling in for the night.

DAY 6: Jackson

Today we trade Yellowstone's geysers for the soaring peaks and pristine waters of Grand Teton National Park. Our scenic drive reveals the Teton Range rising dramatically from the valley floor, offering postcard views at every turn. The day's featured experience is a 2–3 hour Snake River wildlife float with Teton Scenic Float Tours, drifting gently past riverbanks and mountain scenery while our guide shares insight into the surrounding wilderness and its wildlife. Afterward, the afternoon is ours to enjoy in Teton Village at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort — shop, browse the galleries, grab lunch or relax with a coffee, with an optional gondola ride available for sweeping valley views from above. We return to our hotel in Jackson to freshen up before an evening of dinner and a Western-themed live show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse.

DAY 7: Yellowstone

With bags packed, we head back into the heart of Yellowstone today for a second full day with our step-on guide. We begin along the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk on the shores of Yellowstone Lake, discovering colorful hot springs and steaming vents against a lakeside backdrop. From there, we visit one of the park's most famous icons, Old Faithful, and explore the surrounding Upper Geyser Basin. After lunch on your own, we continue to the brilliant blue-and-orange Grand Prismatic Spring and the bubbling geothermal features of Fountain Paint Pot. We finish the day in West Yellowstone, checking into the Holiday Inn for a two-night stay with an indoor pool, fitness center and free Wi-Fi. An included dinner featuring a fun huckleberry-inspired menu caps off another unforgettable day in America's first national park.

DAY 8: Yellowstone

Our final full guided day in Yellowstone gets underway as we set out with our step-on guide for one more chapter of exploration. Norris Geyser Basin, one of the park's hottest and most dynamic thermal areas, reveals the colorful Porcelain Basin and the forested Back Basin Trails. We continue to Mammoth Hot Springs, where mineral-rich water has sculpted dramatic terraces unlike anything else in the park. Returning to the hotel by early afternoon, the rest of the day is yours to relax poolside, explore West Yellowstone's shops or simply unwind after several active days on the road. Tonight, we gather for a special Farewell to Yellowstone dinner featuring big steaks, celebrating three extraordinary days of guided exploration through geysers, canyons, hot springs and wildlife.

DAY 9: Billings

We hit the road early today for one final Yellowstone experience through Lamar Valley, one of the park's premier wildlife-viewing areas, where bison, elk and pronghorn often bring the motorcoach to an unhurried stop. After a stretch break near the Northeast Entrance, we climb the legendary Beartooth Highway, winding through rugged alpine scenery on our way to Red Lodge, Montana, for lunch on your own in this welcoming mountain town. Continuing to Billings, we visit the Western Heritage Center to learn about the Native American, pioneer and ranching history of the Northern Rockies. After checking into our hotel, we celebrate with a three-course dinner, dessert included, at Montana Sky Restaurant, taking in beautiful views of Big Sky Country as the evening winds down.

DAY 10: Medora

We continue east across Montana's wide-open landscape today, stopping in Miles City for lunch on your own in this authentic cowboy and ranching town. We then arrive in Medora, North Dakota, gateway to the Badlands and the place that forever changed the life of Theodore Roosevelt. At the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, we discover his deep connection to this rugged landscape and its lasting influence on his conservation legacy. The evening brings two Medora traditions: the hearty Pitchfork Fondue dinner, followed by the spectacular Medora Musical, blending Western history, music and entertainment beneath the dramatic Badlands sky. We overnight at the Badlands Motel. B, D

DAY 11: Alexandria

We say goodbye to Medora today and head into Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where rolling prairie, rugged Badlands and abundant wildlife — bison, wild horses and prairie dogs among them — create a memorable final chapter of our Western landscape journey. We pause at Painted Canyon Overlook for sweeping views of the colorful rock layers below. Lunch on your own at Kroll's Diner is followed by a quick stop at Frontier Village to see the World's Largest Buffalo. An included dinner along the way gives us one last chance to gather and share stories from the road before arriving at our final hotel in Alexandria, Minnesota.

DAY 12: Home

We check out today and begin our final journey home, with a stop for lunch along the way. Twelve days aboard the motorcoach have carried us from the Mississippi River through the Great Plains, the Black Hills, Wyoming's mountains, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Montana and the North Dakota Badlands — a remarkable collection of landscapes, history and Western adventure, with the driving handled every mile of the way.

B=Breakfast, D =Dinner