Day 1 – Waterfalls, Wide-Open Skies & a Taste of South Dakota

Our adventure begins as we leave Kansas and head north into South Dakota. First stop: beautiful Falls Park in Sioux Falls, where the Big Sioux River tumbles over layers of pink quartzite in the heart of the city. After lunch, we continue to Mitchell and the world-famous World's Only Corn Palace, renowned for its enormous murals crafted from natural corn, grains and grasses. After settling into our hotel, we gather for a special South Dakota Dinner Experience to celebrate the start of our journey. (D)

Day 2 – Lakota Culture & Legends of Deadwood

Today we travel to Chamberlain and the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center, exploring Lakota history, art, and heritage. Nearby, visit Dignity: of Earth & Sky, a breathtaking sculpture overlooking the Missouri River honoring the Lakota and Dakota people. Then we journey to legendary Deadwood, where a guided tour brings Gold Rush lore to life with stories of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Enjoy free time along historic Main Street to browse shops, dine, or visit the casinos. (B)

Day 3 – The Story of the Bison & Welcome to Medora

This morning, explore Tatanka: Story of the Bison, learning the vital bond between the Lakota people and bison herds through cultural interpretation and bronze sculptures. We then travel north through the scenic Dakota Badlands into Medora, North Dakota. Tour the historic Chateau de Mores to hear the tale of the French aristocrat who founded Medora, followed by check-in for two nights in this charming Western town. (B)

Day 4 – Theodore Roosevelt & A Night Under the Stars

Explore the rugged expanses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, home to badlands, wild horses, prairie dogs, and bison herds. In Medora, spend the afternoon at the brand-new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, immersing in his conservation legacy. Tonight, savor Medora's famous Pitchfork Steak Fondue followed by the high-energy Medora Musical under the open North Dakota sky. (B, D)

Day 5 – From the Badlands to the Black Hills

Depart Medora and travel south across the Northern Plains into the pine-covered Black Hills. Journey through scenic Spearfish Canyon, where limestone palisades frame rushing mountain streams and waterfalls, with photo stops along the way. Arrive in Rapid City by late afternoon with free time to dine and explore downtown. (B, D)

Day 6 – Where the Buffalo Roam...and Mammoths Once Did

Experience Custer State Park aboard open-air safari vehicles venturing into the backcountry in search of the park's majestic bison herd, elk, and pronghorn. Next, visit The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, an active indoor paleontological dig featuring Ice Age mammoth remains preserved in situ. We then cross into Nebraska for our final evening together in Valentine. (B, D)

Day 7 – Home Through the Nebraska Sandhills

Journey south through Nebraska's tranquil Sandhills and scenic Niobrara country. Enjoy peaceful prairie vistas and group reflections on a week filled with Lakota heritage, Old West legends, Theodore Roosevelt, bison herds, and prehistoric mammoths before arriving home in Kansas in the late afternoon. (B)