Event description

Black Hills, Badlands, & Legends of the West — trip dates are: June 16–22, 2021.

Discover the Wild West as we visit the iconic Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Deadwood, and Fort Hays, where they filmed Dances With Wolves.

Itinerary highlights:

  • • Mount Rushmore
  • • Crazy Horse Memorial
  • • Buffalo Jeep Safari
  • • Custer State Park
  • • Dinner at the State Game Lodge
  • • Devil’s Tower National Monument
  • • Deadwood & Mt. Moriah Cemetery
  • • Badlands National Park
  • • 1880 vintage train excursion

Package includes:

  • • Round-trip airfare from Raleigh/Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
  • • Six nights hotel accommodations (one hotel)
  • • Six breakfasts and four dinners
  • • All sightseeing and admissions as listed
  • • Deluxe motor coach transportation
  • • Professional tour guide and driver
  • • Our State host
  • • Baggage handling and transfers

Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVE RAPID CITY

Arrive in Rapid City and enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow Our State magazine travelers. (D) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 2: MOUNT RUSHMORE — CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

Visit Mt. Rushmore which features the awesome sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Each face is 60-feet high and is carved into the rugged granite mountainside with intricate perfection. Continue onto the Crazy Horse Memorial, still in progress. View the giant mountainside sculpture of the famous Indian Chief astride his pony. In the afternoon, visit Custer State Park, a famous wildlife preserve featuring a herd of 1,500 free-roaming buffalo, and experience a thrilling Buffalo Jeep Safari ride in search of some of the herd. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the famous State Game Lodge, built in 1920 and listed on the national register of historic places with past guests including Presidents Coolidge & Eisenhower. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 3: DEVIL’S TOWER — DEADWOOD

Journey west into Wyoming to visit Devil’s Tower National Monument to view the 867-foot monolith, then turn east into South Dakota to visit historic Deadwood. A local guide will tell you all about the 1876 rough-and-tumble gold camp & gambling town where Wild West legends were made like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock. You’ll also visit Mt. Moriah Cemetery where they are buried. Later, drive through beautiful Spearfish Canyon, a scenic drive in the Black Hills. (B) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 4: MAMMOTH SITE — The Journey Museum

This morning travel to The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, where the greatest concentration of mammoth remains in the world. As of 2016, the remains of 61 mammoths including 58 North American Columbian and three woolly mammoths had been recovered. Mammoth bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. Mammoth bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. Next, visit one of Rapid City’s newest attractions, city-owned $12 million The Journey Museum, which traces the geology of the Black Hills and tells the story of the people who inhabited these lands. A museum guide will help you explore The Journey which features four museums, including the Sioux Indian Museum. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your own pace. (B) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 5:  BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK — FORT HAYES

Visit and drive through Badlands National Park, located between the White and Cheyenne Rivers. The area contains spectacular examples of weathering, erosion, fantastic ridges, and cliffs and canyons of variegated color. Later, explore the unusual and well-known Wall Drug Store, famous for its “Free Ice Water”. In the afternoon, visit the Fort Hays Dances with Wolves movie set to see some of the original buildings used in the Oscar-winning film. Later at the same location, enjoy a fun-filled Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Show. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 6: 1880 TRAIN — MT. RUSHMORE AT NIGHT

This morning, enjoy a short drive to Hill City to explore Main Street and board the 1880 Train for a rail journey through history & scenery. The 1880 Train is an authentic narrow gauge railroad dating back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. Then, stop at a Black Hills Gold Factory. Tonight’s special farewell dinner is at the K-Bar S Ranch nestled in the beautiful Black Hills just outside of Keystone. Following dinner, experience Mt. Rushmore at night to see this American treasure illuminated in a whole new light. (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 7: RAPID CITY — FLIGHT HOME

Depart from Rapid City filled with wonderful memories of your Black Hills, Badlands & Legends of the West Tour. (B)

For more information, please contact Melissa Grant from Premier World Discovery by email at mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com.

 

Register

For reservations and more information:
Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
877-953-8687 x 238 (Pacific Standard Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com

Regular Rate: $3,449 pp based on double occupancy
Booking Discount: $3,249 pp based on double occupancy
Single supplement: $825

Please ask about the “No Risk Deposit” plan.

More

What to expect on an Our State trip:  Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful. We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day. Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided. Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops. One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people. Physical requirements: Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous. Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you. We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.