Yellowstone, Dakotas, and Badlands – SOLD OUT

This trip is sold out. Please call 502-267-4007 to be added to a wait list. If you liked this tour, you may also be interested in our Arizona & Grand Canyon National Park tour in October. For more information on that tour click here.

 

Spectacular sights await you on this incredible trip to the Northwest. Multi-colored wastelands uniquely formed gullies, eroded pinnacles of sandstone, towering waterfalls and majestic snow-capped mountains will astound you with their unbelievable beauty. Marvel at the resort towns, cowboy legends, rodeos, and buffalo burgers. The customs and history of this beautiful area of our country will intrigue you as you see, feel, hear, and taste it on this fantastic tour.

Day 1 – Coralville, Iowa – We board our deluxe coach and travel through Indiana, Illinois, and on to Coralville, Iowa, for our first night.

Day 2 – John Wayne Birthplace Museum – Chamberlain, South Dakota – After an included breakfast, we tour John Wayne’s birthplace, located the small central Iowa town of Winterset. The actor was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, in this modest four-room home. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of John Wayne memorabilia. We overnight in Chamberlain.

Day 3 – Badlands National Park – Wall Drug Store – Mt. Rushmore National Memorial – Spearfish, South Dakota – After an included breakfast, we visit Badlands National Park, so called because of the eroded multi-colored wastelands with eerie gullies, canyons, ridges, and spires. We will take a driving tour through the park with picture stops along with way. This afternoon, we visit the famous Wall Drug Store. Reported to be the world’s largest drug store, it is a fascinating place in which to both eat and shop. Don’t forget to get a glass of free ice water and maybe a buffalo burger for lunch. Next, we visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This shrine of democracy, located in the heart of the Black Hills, is one of our country’s most beloved monuments. The 6,000-foot mountain displays the faces of four presidents whose accomplishments best exhibit the zeal and spirit of Americans – George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. Overnight in Spearfish.

Day 4 – Black Hills – Big Horn Mountains – Cody, Wyoming – Today we continue our travels through the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains. The thick coverings of pine trees on the hillsides give the hills a black appearance. We cross the high elevations of the Big Horn Mountains, and then pass-through Shell Canyon, a scenic gorge on our way to Cody, named for “Buffalo Bill” William Cody.

Day 5 – Yellowstone National Park – Jackson, Wyoming – Spectacular Yellowstone National Park awaits us today! There will be many opportunities for taking pictures as we walk the paths to thundering waterfalls, thermal steam vents, bubbling mud pots, and steaming pools. Old Faithful Geyser flings its steamy plume against the blue sky on a consistent schedule. Next, we travel to Jackson Hole, a resort town surrounded by the Grand Teton Mountains and the Snake River. We overnight two nights in Jackson.

Day 6 – Leisure Day in Jackson – Today is at your leisure in Jackson Hole. There are many shops that offer unique gifts, and several famous restaurants that offer “local” cuisine. Not far away, there is a chair lift to the top of one of the local ski slopes. The view of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range is awesome from there! Overnight same hotel.

Day 7 – Idaho – Missoula, Montana – Today, we travel through Idaho. As we drive through the state, we see huge fields of potatoes growing in the rich, volcanic soil. Overnight in Missoula.

Day 8 – Glacier National Park – Going-to-the-Sun Road – Shelby, Montana – After an included breakfast, we visit one of the most beautiful spots in the world, Glacier National Park! We’ll make a stop at McDonald Lodge where we will board our red “jammer” vehicles for a ride over Glacier’s spectacular Going-To-The-Sun-Road, winding through the heart of the park, up and over the Continental Divide. We overnight in Shelby.

Day 9 – Minot, North Dakota – After an included breakfast, we make our way through the rugged state of North Dakota on our way to Minot, where we overnight.

Day 10 – Bloomington, Minnesota – After an included breakfast, we travel through Minnesota to our overnight accommodations in Bloomington.

Day 11 – Mall of America – Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin – After an included breakfast, we stop at the Mall of America for shopping and lunch on our own. This huge mall is the nation’s largest entertainment and retail complex with over 520 shops and eateries. This afternoon, we travel to Wisconsin Dells, where we overnight two nights.

Day 12 – The House on the Rock – Upper Dells Boat Ride – After an included breakfast, we tour the magnificent House on the Rock. This unique masterpiece was built as a winter retreat by the architectural genius, Alex Jordan, but it became a showpiece as the curious came to see. This extraordinary home stands atop a chimney-like rock, 450 feet above the valley floor. You will have time to enjoy the views, unique furnishings, and unbelievable collections of this architectural wonder. After lunch on our own, we have scheduled an exciting cruise through the magnificent channel cut by the Wisconsin River, known as the Wisconsin Dells. Overnight same hotel.

Day 13 – Home – After an included breakfast, our trip comes to an end as we make our way back home with memories of our wonderful trip to share with family and friends.

Meals: 8B