Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos

Dining Summary

• 4 Dinner (D)
• 8 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

• Billings: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience at Billings Depot. Greeted by hosts from Billings Depot and 406 Native Roots, unlock Native American culture over an educational presentation about Montana’s local tribes before you join in on the fun. You'll learn how to build a tipi using unique methods mastered by various Native tribes and how to braid your own sacred sweetgrass, which is used during smudging ceremonies. You can even take home your braided sweetgrass as a keepsake. Then dig into dinner prepared by award winning Chef, Stephen Hindman of Stacked, a Montana Grill and sipping on beverages provided by BarMT, a local taproom. Sampling Native American Fry bread with apples and cinnamon is the perfect finish to a big evening.

Iconic Experience

• Montpelier: Discover the epic saga of pioneers' westward expansion at the National Oregon/California Trail Center. You’ll take a simulated wagon ride, where actors in authentic period costumes guide you through the trials and triumphs of the journey. This immersive experience captivates visitors of all ages, vividly portraying a significant chapter in American history.
• Grand Teton National Park: Head to Grand Teton National Park for sightseeing of its alpine landscapes featuring eight peaks towering 12,000 feet above. At the Craig Thomas Visitor Center, gaze out at the Teton Range rising above. Inside the Center, explore the themes of place, people, preservation, mountaineering and Native Americans as you contemplate the past and future of this park. With your Travel Director enhancing your visit through narrative, drive by Jenny Lake, a glacier-carved lake at the base of the Teton Mountains.
• Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park. A bucket list destination and a must-see icon. Established as America's first National Park by President Grant in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for its hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests and a variety of terrain including alpine mountains, prairies, valleys and waterfalls as well as a diversity of nature including the hydrothermal features. Explore the Southern Loop of Yellowstone with your Travel Director who shows you the must-sees and highlights, paired with background information of this huge, ever-changing national park. See the splendor of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
• Cody: Jump into the playground of the wild west. Glimpse into the "Spirit of the West" at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West Museum complex. Boasting five museums on its campus, this “Smithsonian of the West” will immerse you in the sounds and sights of the Wild West. You'll feel like you've been transported back to a time of cowboys and cowgirls, outlaws and Native American warriors.
• Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high.
• Badlands National Park: Enjoy the spectacular sights as you make your way through Badlands Loop Road.
• Mount Rushmore: The grand faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial await. View the faces of four of America’s most important presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt - dramatically etched into the granite rock. Mount Rushmore tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of the United States. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, visitors will come face to face (literally) with the rich heritage we all share.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

• Philip: Travel to the past at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village and gain valuable insights into the culture and Indigenous knowledge of Lakota Country. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• Rapid City: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind-experience meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song. A performer for more than 20 years, Stephen has a passion for dance and sheer determination to promote his Native American culture. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture, and traditions with you. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Must-see Highlights

• Explore Montana's Indigenous culture and community in Billings
• Discover Jackson Hole, Cody, Billings, Keystone, Rapid City
• Visit National Oregon/California Trail Center, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Oglala Lakota Living History Museum, Badlands National Park, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore

Stays With Stories

• Rapid City: Since opening its doors on July 1, 1928, the Alex Johnson Hotel hotel has played host to several presidents, countless celebrities, and some say a few spirits of its own. The handcrafted décor and Germanic Tudor-inspired architecture will leave you feeling that every step you take is a step back in time.