Overview
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You’ll be introduced to the rich history of Native American tribes, including the Lakota people, as you travel through the Badlands of South Dakota to Custer State Park, and the Chief Crazy Horse Memorial. Visit the Wild West town of Deadwood—known as a lawless frontier town of the legendary Gold Rush days. Your escorted vacation through the American West explores South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado—where legends were made in fur trading, cattle ranching, cowboys, rodeos, railroads, and magnificent wildlife of the western plains and mountain peaks of the United States.
Highlights
Sightseeing including Red Rocks Amphitheater; Buffalo Bill Grave & Museum; LF dinner at the historic Buckhorn Exchange
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Sightseeing
ESTES PARK Orientation tour
MOUNT RUSHMORE Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial
PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION Sightseeing with Local Guide; LF visit the Red Cloud Indian School & Heritage Center
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Sightseeing
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL Sightseeing
CUSTER STATE PARKBuffalo safari
DEADWOOD Sightseeing with a Local Guide
FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Sightseeing
MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST Scenic drive
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS Sightseeing; farewell dinner at a local restaurant
2020 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
ARRIVE IN DENVER.
Day1
Welcome to the "Gateway to the Rockies". At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
DENVER
Day2
After breakfast, a sightseeing tour of the “Mile High City,” includes RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATER, Union Station, and Denver’s most historic neighborhoods. At Red Rocks, visit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame to learn of the legendary music acts that played here. Then, visit BUFFALO BILL’S GRAVE & MUSEUM to learn about the life of William F. Cody who brought the Wild West alive through his traveling show in the late 1800s. This evening, dine at LF the BUCKHORN EXCHANGE, Denver’s original steakhouse serving Old West fare since 1893.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
DENVER–ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK–ESTES PARK
Day3
Leave Denver for Grand Lake and the western entrance of ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. Take scenic Trail Ridge Road, once known as the “Dog Trail” by the Arapaho people, and travel over the Continental Divide through high alpine fields.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Tonight, stay at the LF Stanley Hotel, known for its old world charm, modern accommodations, and as the inspiration for American horror novelist, Stephen King’s, The Shining. Enjoy panoramic views of Estes Lake and the Colorado Rocky Mountains while exploring the hotel’s iconic past guest list.
NOTE:
The drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is subject to favorable road and weather conditions.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ESTES PARK–MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL–KEYSTONE.
Day4
Today, travel north through the grasslands of Wyoming and into the majestic black hills of South Dakota. Visit MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, a giant monument to four great American presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
KEYSTONE. EXCURSION TO PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION & BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Day5
. After breakfast, visit PINE RIDGE INDIAN RESERVATION where a local Lakota guide will discuss the history of these great historic people. Visit the LF RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL AND HERITAGE CENTER to learn more about the school’s purpose, their culture, and challenges faced by the Lakota people. Afterward, continue to BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK to see spectacular scenery in the region.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
KEYSTONE–CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL–CUSTER STATE PARK–DEADWOOD
Day6
This morning, visit CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, a monument carved out of a mountain paying respect to the great Lakota leader, Chief Crazy Horse. Next, visit CUSTER STATE PARK and enjoy a BUFFALO SAFARI. Along the way, watch for free roaming bison, elk, or charismatic burros. Then, off to DEADWOOD, a lawless frontier town during the 1876 Gold Rush, for a guided tour highlighting the town’s colorful past and characters. Your evening is free to explore Deadwood.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DEADWOOD–FORT LARAMIE NHS–CHEYENNE
Day7
Today, return to Wyoming for a visit to the FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. Originally established as a fur trading fort where caravans of Lakota would trade buffalo robes each spring, it eventually became a military post playing a key role in the Indian Wars. Continue south to Cheyenne.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
CHEYENNE–MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST–STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Day8
After breakfast, travel along the Snowy Range Scenic Byway through MEDICINE BOW NATIONAL FOREST and enter northern Colorado. Along the way, look for moose, pronghorn sheep, bears, and even wolverines that call this region home. Later, arrive in Steamboat Springs, settled by generations of cattle ranchers creating today’s well-known authentic cowboy culture. This evening, you may wish to attend the weekly famous Jackpot Pro Rodeo.
NOTE: The Snowy Range Scenic Byway route is subject to favorable road and weather conditions.
NOTE:
The Jackpot Pro Rodeo operates Fridays and Saturdays from mid-June through mid-August.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS.
Day9
Today is at leisure. Perhaps, take a stroll around town to learn about Steamboat’s remarkable Olympic heritage. Visit the many quaint shops on Lincoln Avenue, soak in the hot springs, or take the Steamboat Gondola for endless hikes. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS–DENVER.
Day10
This morning, travel to Denver International Airport for guests who have homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3 pm. The tour ends at the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center hotel in the late afternoon for those guests with extra nights.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Things to note
- Enjoy spectacular fall colors on our special Fall Foliage departures: September 11 & September 25 (if Mother Nature permits).
- The Snowy Range Scenic Byway route is subject to favorable road and weather conditions.
- The Jackpot Pro Rodeo operates Fridays and Saturdays from mid-June through mid-August.
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center
Superior First-Class
Located in the historic Colorado National Bank building in downtown Denver, the hotel's gorgeous hotel lobby features sixteen original murals created by famous Colorado artist Allen Tupper True, installed in 1925. Just steps away from everything Denver has to offer, the hotel is within walking distance of vibrant shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Location
918 17th Street, Denver, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Laundry Available
- Restaurant On-Site
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
- ATM
- Bar/Lounge
- Ice Machine
- Elevator
- Luggage Storage
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Climate Control
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Desk
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Wake-Up Calls
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Voicemail
- Coffee Maker
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Hair Dryer
- Alarm Clock
The Stanley Hotel
First-Class
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America, The Stanley Hotel is famous for its old world charm. Built in 1909 by inventor F.O. Stanley, the stately Georgian-revival hotel famously inspired Stephen King's bestseller The Shining. Today, the hotel celebrates its historic past with daily ghost and history tours.
Location
333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- ATM
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Gift Shop
- Parking/Valet
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Alarm Clock
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Voicemail
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Room Service
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Wake-Up Calls
- Television
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Complimentary Newspaper
K Bar S Lodge
Tourist Class
Nestled in the Black Hills just minutes from Mount Rushmore, K Bar S Lodge features spectacular mountain views and cozy rooms making the perfect base for exploring the Black Hills.
Location
434 Old Hill City Road, Keystone, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Elevator
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Free WiFi
- Ice Machine
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Phone
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
- Wake-Up Calls
- Voicemail
- Internet Access
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Complimentary Newspaper
Tru by Hilton
Tourist Class
Located steps away from historic Main Street, Tru by Hilton features intuitive, smartly designed rooms with platform beds, open closets, a mini-fridge, and hardwood-like floors. The hotel offers complimentary wireless internet, 24 hour Pavilion Pantry Market, fitness room, and gift shop.
Location
372 Main Street, Deadwood, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Fitness Room
- ATM
- Free WiFi
- Concierge desk
- Gift Shop
- Ice Machine
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Business Center
- Laundry Available
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Desk
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Room Service
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
- Television
- Voicemail
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
Little America Hotel & Resort
First-Class
Little America Hotels & Resort features 188 spacious guestrooms, a full service restaurant and lounge, heated outdoor pool, nine-hole golf course, fitness center, and high speed internet.
Location
2800 W Lincolnway, Cheyenne, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Fitness Room
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Ice Machine
- ATM
- Parking/Valet
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Gift Shop
- Pool
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- In-Room Safe
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Coffee Maker
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Television
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Alarm Clock
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Phone
Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas
Superior First-Class
Located at the base of Steamboat Ski Resort, Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas features spectacular views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. Guests can enjoy an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, Rocky Mountain Day Spa, fitness center, multiple restaurants, bar, and cafe.
Location
2200 Village Inn Court, Steamboat Springs, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Pool
- Hot Tub
- Business Center
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Laundry Available
- Restaurant On-Site
- Elevator
- Fitness Room
- Concierge desk
- Ice Machine
- Beauty Salon
- Luggage Storage
- Parking/Valet
- Gift Shop
- ATM
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Pay Movies
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Voicemail
- Alarm Clock
- Climate Control
- Room Service
- In-Room Safe
- Cable/Satellite
- Air Conditioning
- Coffee Maker
- Wake-Up Calls
- Television
- Desk
- Internet Access
- Phone
