AAA Akron Auto Club presents…

Spotlight on South Dakota The Black Hills & The Badlands

July 23 – August 2, 2017*

For more information contact Maria Edwards

AAA Akron Auto Club (330) 762-0631

medwards@akron.aaa.com

Book Now & Save $50

Per Person

PRE-SOUTH DAKOTA TOURING

July 23, 2017

5:30 AM Depart downtown Akron AAA office

6:00 AM Depart Holiday Inn in Montrose

6:45 AM Arrive at Cleveland Hopkins Airport

9:05 AM Depart on United Airlines Flight 763 direct to Denver, Colorado

10:20 AM Local time when we are estimated to arrive at the Denver Airport

10:50 AM Depart Denver Airport via motor coach and begin sightseeing

Today we will tour the U.S. Mint in Denver where they produce coins. Then we travel 75 miles to the north and have lunch at Estes Park near the entrance to Rocky Mountain national Park in Colorado. After lunch, we will visit the Fall River Visitor Center just inside the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Then we proceed further into Rocky Mountain National Park and explore. In the late afternoon, we will depart Rocky Mountain National Park and head north to Cheyenne, the capitol of Wyoming, where we will overnight at the Springhill Suites by Marriott {Phone: 307-635-0006}.

July 24, 2017

7:00 – 8:20 AM Breakfast included at hotel

7:30 AM Luggage out

8:30 AM Depart hotel and see downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming

Mid morning, we will begin our 280 mile journey to the north with rests stops and a lunch stop (on your own) en route to Devil’s Tower. We anticipate arriving at Devil’s Tower later in the afternoon. We will stop at the visitor center and then have time to explore this amazing structure further. Later we check in to the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Spearfish, South Dakota {Phone: 605-642-3500}, 75 miles to the east and have dinner (on your own).

July 25, 2017

7:00 AM Luggage out 7:00 – 8:00 AM Breakfast included at hotel 8:15 AM Depart Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott

We drive approximately 50 miles to Rapid City, South Dakota to meet our AAA Member Choice Tour Manager for the next seven days of seeing the great sights of South Dakota. Proceed to the itinerary on the next page for touring beginning on Day 1 of the “Spotlight on South Dakota” tour with AAA Member Choice.

POST-SOUTH DAKOTA TOURING

July 31, 2017

We depart our Tour manager in Rapid City around 8:00 a.m. and drive 60 miles to the Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota. Then we will have included lunch in Custer City, South Dakota. Afterward, we drive through Custer State Park and our next stop will be at Wind Cave National Park. From there we travel south onto western Nebraska and visit a most unusual site called the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. In the late afternoon, we continue 55 miles to the south and arrive in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where we will check in to Hampton Inn and Suites {Phone: 308-635-5200}. Dinner is on our own this evening.

August 1, 2017

After breakfast, we depart our hotel around 8:15 a.m. and drive just a few miles to see the very impressive Scotts Bluff National Monument. We then continue 20 miles to the southeast and visit Chimney Rock National Historic Site in western Nebraska. Afterward, we travel south into Colorado and have lunch en route to Denver which is approximately 160 miles away. We plan to arrive in Denver in the late afternoon and check into the Fairfield Inn and Suites {Phone: 303-691-2223}. Dinner is on our own with many choices within walking distance of this hotel.

August 2, 2017

Before flying home this afternoon, we plan to visit the Colorado State Capitol in Denver if there are no unusual security restrictions.

Culinary Inclusions

Dine at a local restaurant in the historic city of Spearfish.

AAA Member Choice Vacations® Experiences

Jump into the world of Black Hills gold on a tour.

Traverse 14 miles of magnificent rock formations on Needles Highway.

Stroll along the Presidential Trail, filled with 150 years of American history.

Must-See Inclusions

Travel to the legendary Black Hills of South Dakota.

Visit the epic Mount Rushmore.

Explore rambling Deadwood, a National Historic Landmark.

Highlights: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Black Hills Gold, Needles Highway, Custer State Park, Pine Ridge, Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, Deadwood, Spearfish

Day 1: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 Rapid City, South Dakota - Tour Begins Welcome to Rapid City, gateway to

some of America’s most intriguing

and beautiful locations. Tonight,

gather for dinner and experience the

true West as a local Native American

joins you to share stories of the Lakota

and Sioux tribes’ way of life…past

and present. (D)

Day 2: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Rapid City - Keystone - Rapid City Arrive at Mount Rushmore, whose

epic figures carved in stone

represent the first 150 years of

American history. Stroll along the

Presidential Trail, providing the

closest access to the iconic sculpture.

Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial and

learn the story behind the world’s

largest mountain sculpture still in

progress. The memorial includes the

Indian Museum of North America, the

Native American Cultural Center, the

sculptor’s studio, and an orientation

center and theaters. Many Native

American artists and craftspeople

create their works at the memorial and

welcome the chance to share how

their culture influences their art. (B)

Day 3: Thursday, July 27, 2017 Rapid City - Custer - Rapid City Learn about

Black Hills gold on a tour through

Riddle's Black Hills Gold and

Diamond Factory. Here you’ll see

skilled artisans handcraft South

Dakota’s official state jewelry with

time to purchase some of the best

handcrafted items in South Dakota.

Next, travel through 14 miles of

magnificent rock formations on the

fascinating Needles Highway. Its

curving rock tunnels and steep rock

spires provide a breathtaking

backdrop. Later, drive through Custer

State Park where a band of bighorn

sheep, a herd of majestic elk, or

buffalo may be seen. (B, D)

Day 4: Friday, July 28, 2017 Rapid City - Pine Ridge Indian Reservation - Rapid City This morning join a

Lakota Native American tribe member

for a visit to Pine Ridge Indian

Reservation. The Lakota are the

indigenous people of the Great Plains

occupying land in North and South

Dakota. They are one of seven tribes

that make up the Great Sioux Nation.

Learn some basic vocabulary of the

Lakota language and hear the tribe’s

own story of creation. Later visit

Wounded Knee, which is the site of a

massacre that took place in 1890 when

the United States Army attacked a

band of Lakota tribesmen. This would

come to be known as the Wounded

Knee Massacre and the site itself has

turned into one of the most sacred in

the Lakota culture. (B)

Day 5: Saturday, July 29, 2017 Rapid City - Badlands - Wall - Rapid City Today, explore larger-than-life

Badlands National Park. Upon

arrival, make a stop at the visitor

center. Set the stage for your

adventure with its informative

exhibits, displays and video

introducing you to this area. The

Badlands Loop Road is a marvel of

vibrant colors and rock formations

created by mineral deposits. Next,

enjoy a stop at Wall Drug, an

authentic store from 1936, where there

is time for lunch and browsing. The

afternoon is yours. Venture out on

your own or relax at your hotel. As

always, your Tour Manager will be

available to offer expert suggestions

on what the area offers. (B)

Day 6: Sunday, July 30, 2017 Rapid City - Deadwood - Spearfish - Rapid City This morning you travel to

Deadwood, a rollicking western town

and National Historic Landmark.

Perhaps you’ll fulfill a childhood

dream of living in the Old West.

Faithful recreations of turn-of-the-

century streetlamps light the way

through accurately restored

architecture. Upon arrival, a local

guide introduces you to the history of

the city including a visit to Mount

Moriah Cemetery. You’ll also make a

stop at Kevin Costner’s Tatanka:

Story of the Bison. This interpretive

center features large, awe-inspiring

sculptures depicting the relationship

of bison and the Lakota Native

Americans. Then, enjoy some time to

ramble through Deadwood where

gold, gambling and gunpowder were

once the order of the day. Enjoy

dinner at a favorite local restaurant in

the historic city of Spearfish. (B, D)

Day 7: Monday, July 31, 2017 Rapid City - Tour Ends Your tour comes to a

close today. (B)

Itinerary at a glance Days 1 – 6 Best Western Ramkota,

Rapid City,South Dakota

On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

For important reservation information visit gateway.memberchoicevacations.com/link/758893. You can also find this information on your tour documents.

Experience It! Crazy Horse Memorial Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest mountain sculpture now in progress,

is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The nine-story-high face of Crazy

Horse, a visionary leader committed to preserving the traditions and values of the

Lakota way of life, was completed in 1998 when work shifted to the 22-story-

high massive horse’s head. The work was begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak

Ziolkowski at the request of Native Americans. Korczak determined that the

memorial would be more than just a sculpture…it would be a humanitarian

project telling present and future generations the story of Native American

peoples by collecting and preserving outstanding examples of Indian culture and

heritage. Visitors to the memorial can view the progress of the sculpture as well

as tour an Indian museum, cultural center, the sculptor’s studio and orientation

center. Although Korczak died in 1982, his wife Ruth and their family continue

the project working with the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.

Please Note: *Hotel arrangements on 7/23/17; 7/24/17; 7/31/17 and 8/1/17 will be arranged by AAA

To complete your tour, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing AAA Member Choice Vacations Airfare® with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at prescheduled times.

When reserving a triple room, please note it will have two double beds. Due to fire safety regulations, a rollaway bed cannot be brought into the room.

This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven grounds and cobblestone streets.

Please be advised many airlines do not provide advance seat assignments until check-in at the airport. Advance seating will be subject to the airline's terms and conditions.

Economy air rate and schedule are applicable for groups of 10 or more traveling on the same flights and dates.

A deposit of $250 per person due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. Reservations made after the deposit due date of March 8, 2017 are based upon availability. Final payment due by May 25, 2017. Please note: deposits are fully refundable up until March 15, 2017, after that date certain charges apply.

CST#2006766-20 UBN#601220855 Nevada Sellers of Travel Registration No. 2003-0279

NOTES:

For more information visit gateway.memberchoicevacations.com/link/758893