Day 1 – Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Board your spacious, video and restroom equipped motorcoach and set off for the legendary Black Hills of South Dakota. Tonight, check into an en route hotel for a good night’s rest in Toledo Ohio.
Day 2 – Thursday, July 23, 2026
Journey today to iconic landscapes and hometown charm, rich in history, Dubuque, in the heart of Iowa. Settle into our overnight accommodation – and wind down with an Americana Progressive Dinner – during this guided experience, you will be mesmerized as costumed docents and local historian share facts about what made Dubuque so distinctive and why it was, and continues to be, the “Masterpiece of the Mississippi.”
Day 3 – Friday, July 24, 2026
Enjoy a delicious breakfast before checking out and then we depart for the Field of Dreams movie site, nestled in the rolling corn fields. This movie has inspired millions and will take you back in time!
Travel across Minnesota into South Dakota. Arrive in Sioux Falls, a unique destination to discover during our stay. A local guide will join us for a narrated tour to learn about the many historical markers throughout downtown, the sculptures and historic Pettigrew Home. See the stunning 123-acre Falls Park, featuring pink quartzite waterfalls, followed by a Welcome to South Dakota Dinner!
Day 4 – Saturday, July 25, 2026
From Sioux Falls to Rapid City and all throughout the Black Hills, around every turn, your true American West Adventure begins. Here in the heart of South Dakota, a sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River stands a 50-foot high stainless-steel statue “Dignity”, depicting an indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star guilt.
Further west, some describe it as “surreal” or “otherworldly,” but the Native Americans were the first to call it “mako sica” or “bad lands.” Take the leisurely drive through Badlands National Park, a uniquely beautiful geologic area formed over millions of years by wind, rain and erosion.
What started as a humble roadside stop is now one of the most famous attractions in America – Wall Drug, a quirky, kitschy and unforgettable complex of shops. Take a photo op with a giant jackalopes and old-fashioned cowboy décor, a most memorable experience!
Arrive in Keystone South Dakota at the K Bar S Lodge to settle in for the next 4-nights, the perfect base to explore the Black Hills of South Dakota. Our group will gather this evening for a delicious dinner at our “home-away-from-home” nestled in the Black Hills. Then hike one of the many nearby trails that will lead you to vistas and landscapes you will not see anywhere else!
Day 5 – Sunday, July 26, 2026
Enjoy a morning visit to Mount Rushmore National Monument and experience the sculpted faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln, the largest statue museum in the world, America’s “Shrine of Democracy” and a symbol of the nation’s rich history, rugged determination, and love of freedom.
Next, drive to Crazy Horse Memorial. Started over 50-years ago and still under construction, the memorial is the world’s largest sculpture in progress. Chief Standing Bear told the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.” The monument is a tribute to the Sioux Lakota Indian leader known as Crazy Horse. Here, Indian artisans showcase their arts and crafts. Here you will want to visit The Indian Museum of North America – is home to a large collection of art and artifacts reflecting the diverse histories and cultures of over 300 Native Nations.
Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Music Show – An unforgettable evening of frontier flavor, family fun, and live music in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This experience combines hearty cowboy cooking with toe-tapping live music, all served up in an atmosphere straight out of the Old West.
After the show, return to Mount Rushmore to view the Evening Lighting Ceremony to add a sense of drama, while ranger talks bring history to life. Beyond the photo ops, it’s a powerful reminder of national identity and the sheer scale of American ambition carved right into the mountains!
Day 6 – Monday, July 27, 2026
This morning, we head for Historic Deadwood, South Dakota – The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 set off one of the last great gold rushes in the country and Deadwood boomed with gold seekers, attracting outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers to this tiny “gold camp.” Gaming halls and old-style saloons keep the spirit of the Wild West going strong. You will enjoy a guided tour of this Old West town and Boot Hill, hearing stories of the famous and infamous like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, that made this town legendary. There will be time on your own to explore this wild west town.
Return to Rapid City for free time to explore the historic district, then return to your Lodge for dinner.
Day 7 – Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Climb aboard the Black Hills Central Railroad Historic 1880 Train! A narrated 1880 train ride in the beautiful Black Hills and participate in good old-fashioned fun.
Travel into the backcountry to Custer State Park for a Buffalo Safari, explore the granite peaks and open ranges of the second-largest state park in America on a guided jeep tour. The Off-Road Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour allows us to go where no “bus” can go, deep into the herd of American bison!
Inside Custer State Park is located the historic State Game Lodge, a gracious native stone and wood lodge built in 1920, served as the “Summer White House” for Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Dinner will be enjoyed here at the Lodge, a casual yet elegant ambiance that harkens back to the state dinners of the 1927 summer White House.
Day 8 – Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Travel to Omaha, Nebraska for a 2-night stay and a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t soon forget! Dinner is included at Warren Buffett’s favorite steakhouse tonight at the Gorat’s Steak House.
Day 9 – Thursday, July 30, 2026
Touring today with our local step-on guide sharing the area’s history! Learn where Warren Buffett works, plays and eats, and about the struggles and triumphs of the Mormon pioneers during their 1846 winter migration. Visit The Durham Museum, a fascinating look at the history of the region, making its home in one of Omaha’s most unique treasures, Union Station, beautiful architecture blends with memories of a time gone! Tour the Boys Town campus and feel the spiritual impact Father Flanagan continues to make on the world. History comes alive in Omaha, and you will be surprised by these memorable experiences—and many more—are waiting for you in Omaha! Lunch and Dinner are included during your tour.
Day 10 – Friday, July 31, 2026
After breakfast, check out and depart for a real treat, known worldwide as the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa, The Bridges of Madison County! Tour highlights the history of the bridges, the movie production, and a variety of local historical information while visiting several of the bridges.
Tonight, we hang our hat in Moline, IL at the new Hyatt on the Mississippi River to relax and refresh for an evening dinner cruise on the Celebration Belle paddlewheel boat, while cruising the waterways of the great Mississippi River!
Day 11 – Saturday, August 1, 2026
Arrive in Cleveland Ohio at the Drury Inn Hotel & Suites to rest and relax as everyone gathers for the 5:30 Kickback, an evening reception offered at all Drury Hotels. It includes a buffet of hot foods, unlimited coffee, tea, and soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages for guests 21 and over are included.
Day 12 – Sunday, August 2, 2026
Depart for home…a time to chat about all the great sights and where your next trip will take you!
Price per person: Single $4,300 | Double $ 3,480
Credit for pictures: Travel Dubuque
