The Dakota Territory

Day 1 – Sioux Falls
The journey into the Dakota Territory begins as you board a deluxe motorcoach in Dubuque and travel west through Iowa.  Your first overnight will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where dinner is included.  Sioux Falls, SD (D)

Day 2 – Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
After breakfast at the hotel, you continue westbound through South Dakota.  First stop will be at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center near Chamberlain.   Located close to the Missouri River, the Interpretive Center commemorates the 1803-1806 expedition and provides you with the opportunity to have a scenic view of the area from a replica keelboat.  Lunch is on your own at the retro style GTO Café in nearby Murdo.  Later this afternoon you arrive at the Badlands National Park Lodge for overnight accommodations.  Dinner is included. Interior, SD (B,D)

Day 3 – Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore
With breakfast served at the hotel, you will be ready  to travel through the Badlands National Park.  After stopping at the Visitors Center, your motorcoach will slowly make its way through this unique landscape with numerous picture stops along the way.  As you exit the Badlands, there will be a stop at the famous Wall Drug Store where you can enjoy shopping and lunch on your own.  You arrive in Rapid City late this afternoon where you check into the hotel for a two-night stay, then board the coach for the journey to view Mt. Rushmore.  Dinner will be on your own here as you take in this magnificent mountain sculpture and enjoy the monument lighting ceremony tonight.  Rapid City, SD (B)

Day 4 – Buffalo Roundup, Gold Mine Tour
If you wish to partake of breakfast at the hotel this morning it will be early as we prepare to experience the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup.  You will be able to watch as cowboys and cowgirls roundup and drive some 1300 buffalo into corrals to sort, brand and vaccinate the herd as part of the 46th annual event.  In addition to the roundup, there will be concessions available and exhibits on the grounds as well.  This afternoon you have another unique experience when you take a tour of the Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone.  Tonight you are scheduled to enjoy a Chuckwagon Style Dinner and Show (If Available).  Rapid City, SD (B,D)

Day 5 – Roosevelt National Park, Bismarck
After breakfast at the hotel, South Dakota will be in the rearview mirror as you travel into North Dakota.  After arriving in Medora, you have lunch at the Elkhorn Café, then tour the historic Chateau de Mores 26 room mansion.  Before leaving this area, your motorcoach will drive you through a portion of the 70,000 acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  The landscape and the wildlife will amaze you.  Our overnight accommodations will be in the North Dakota capital of Bismarck, and after checking into the hotel, you can enjoy a dinner cruise on the Missouri River aboard the Lewis & Clark Riverboat.  Bismarck, ND (B,L,D)

Day 6 – Fargo Air Museum, Alexandria, MN
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before boarding the coach and traveling east through North Dakota.  Make a stop in Jamestown’s Frontier Village to see one of the largest buffalo statues anywhere, then onto Fargo for lunch on your own and admission to the Fargo Air Museum.  You arrive in Alexandria, Minnesota later this afternoon in time to experience the Runestone Museum which houses both Norse and Native American exhibits plus a Minnesota Wildlife display.  Overnight will be in Alexandria with dinner included.  Alexandria, MN (B,D)

Day 7 – St. James Hotel Lunch, Red Wing, Home
It’s breakfast time at the hotel as we prepare for the final day of our Dakota Territory adventure.  The majority of the day will be spent in Minnesota, starting with an included lunch at the historic St. James Hotel in Red Wing.  You will also have time to explore some of the shops and the Pottery Outlet here before we travel the final few miles home.   (B,L)