Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos End Rapid City

Saddle up for a Wild West family adventure starting with a relaxing afternoon together in Salt Lake City before meeting your travel buckeroos for a rootin’ tootin’ evening Kick-off Party with your Travel Director.

Put on your cowboy hats, pull up your boots and get ready to make memories that will last a lifetime. Experience the rich history and culture of the world’s most humble vegetable – the potato! Visitors to the Idaho Potato Museum will learn about the many facets of the potato industry from planting and irrigation to harvesting and processing. There’s no place better to showcase potatoes than in “The Potato Capital of the World,” Blackfoot, Idaho! Followed by a potato-themed lunch including potato ice cream! Walk through the town's famous landmark arch of tangled elk antlers and step back in time as you explore the Town Square with its Western boardwalks, craft boutiques and ice cream shops-all surrounded by the majestic Rockies. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in town.

Family fun awaits every day of this trip and today is no exception. If the season is right, today is your chance to get out on the water for some adventures. Rise early to float down the Snake River on an optional^, scenic wilderness float trip. It’s the most relaxing way to experience the river as you learn about the history, geology, and wildlife from an expert. guide. Later, discover dramatic shimmering peaks of the Teton range rising above alpine forests and lakes in iconic Grand Teton National Park. Travel onward to your Stays With Stories overnight nestled in the mountains of the Bridger-Teton National Forest at Togwotee Mountain Lodge. Built in 1923 and once a Native American trading spot, you’ll feast on a classic Western dinner before cozying up in their log-cabin style rooms before another big day in the fresh mountain air.

This morning is your choice: Choose to tie up those hiking boots and embark on a nature hike with an experienced local guide trained in Wildlife Awareness to ensure peace of mind when you are exploring wildflowers, roaring streams, and distant snowclad peaks. Or choose to hop on a chairlift to get to our featured venue where the group will hone in on their archery skills with Lone Peak as your backdrop. Tonight, we stay inside the UNESCO-listed Yellowstone National Park, where, from western-themed furnishings to massive stone fireplaces to a national historic landmark, each lodge has its own unique setting and atmosphere. You’ll not only stay conveniently right in the park but feel good about your visit knowing that all Yellowstone National Park Lodges are stewards of the park, keeping a focus on preserving it for future generations.

Enjoy Wonderous Yellowstone National Park
Discover Yellowstone's astounding wonders—the thundering Yellowstone Falls, brilliantly colored hot springs, bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents. The highlight is a visit to Old Faithful, which has been spouting steam water regularly for thousands of years. Do you know how to locate a bear or tell what it's been eating? Enjoy a stroll around the boardwalks of Yellowstone and learn the answer, plus even more cool facts about the park's abundance of wildlife.
In the late afternoon grab the saddles and hitch up the wagon for an evening you won’t soon forget (seasonality applies). Enjoy some real cowboy grub at the Old West Dinner Cookout including real western beef steaks cooked to order and all the fixings and dessert. Since the cookout begins at dusk, this can be a perfect time to watch wildlife in the Roosevelt area!

Tip your Stetson to “Buffalo Bill” in his hometown of Cody and get a glimpse into the Spirit of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Delve into culture of the cowboy, the role of the firearm in the early days and the culture and art of the Plains Native Americans.

After a hearty breakfast, your journey continues on to South Dakota and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Gaze at the towering tribute to legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse being carved into the mountain and learn how your visit helps to preserve the culture of his people. The evening is yours to explore in Rapid City. Or consider an optional trip to the Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony, a chance to see one of America's most famous landmarks from a different perspective.

Today, head for the famous Black Hills of South Dakota to view the giant faces of former American presidents etched in the stone cliffs of Mount Rushmore. This evening, join your fellow adventurers at a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and Farewell Dinner featuring your guide Stephen Yellowhawk (or another tribe member).

Transfer to the Rapid City Regional Airport for your flight home.