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Exploring the Black Hills, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Day One

Arrive Rapid City, SD / Optional Walking Tour of Rapid City

Upon arrival in Rapid City, pick up your rental car and drive 25 minutes to downtown Rapid City where you’ll check into the Hotel Alex Johnson Hotel, located in the heart of downtown. This will be your home for the next two nights (be sure to visit the Vertex rooftop bar and lounge at the hotel; the view is spectacular). Rapid City is known as the ‘City of Presidents’ as it has life-sized bronze statues of our nation’s past presidents throughout the downtown area.

If time permits this evening, you will be met by your private guide for a brief walking tour of the downtown area. Your private guide is a native of Rapid City and will share stories of the local history with you. You will visit the presidential statues, art galleries and other attractions as time allows.

Rapid City has some terrific restaurants. A few of our favorites: Delmonico’s, The Wine Cellar (both within a block of your hotel), Minerva’s and Tally’s Silver Spoon.

Overnight at Hotel Alex Johnson.

Day Two Exploring the Black Hills Region with a Private Guide

This morning you will be met by your guide, who will escort you on a full-day private tour of the Black Hills region, focusing on Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial. A herd of 1,300 bison and pronghorn antelope roams freely throughout Custer State Park, which can be seen along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. The herd is one of the largest publically-owned herds in the world. Lunch is provided.

If you wish, your guide will arrange for a visit to the Black Hills Institute in Hill City. It is one of the world’s leading organizations in paleontological excavations and preparation since 1974, helping supply museums and collectors the finest in professionally prepared fossils and cast replicas. The Institute has a small museum and an extensive gift shop you can browse.

9 days/8 Nights: dates tbd

Highlights: Mount Rushmore & Black Hills| Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks| Cody Nite Rodeo| Private Tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West| Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center| Private Trail Ride| Snake River Scenic Float

Note: Mt. Rushmore is such a special place, you may wish to visit the monument in the morning (when the light is especially good for photography) and then return in the early evening when the lights are turned on. Whatever option you choose, your guide will be happy to accommodate you.

Overnight at Hotel Alex Johnson. Lunch included.

Day Three Drive to Cody, WY / Optional Evening Cody Nite Rodeo

After checking out of your hotel this morning, you’ll drive six hours to Cody, Wyoming.

Upon arrival in Cody you will check into the charming Chamberlin Inn. Located in the heart of downtown Cody, the Chamberlin is within walking distance to many shops, restaurants and attractions.

This evening you will enjoy dinner at Cassie’s Steakhouse before attending the Cody Nite Rodeo. This professional rodeo is held every summer evening. It includes bronc riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The master of ceremonies and rodeo clowns add to the merriment. You will return to your hotel after the rodeo.

Overnight at the Chamberlin Inn.

Day Four Private Morning Tour of Buffalo Bill Center of the West / Afternoon Drive to Jackson, WY / Late Afternoon Private Trail Ride

After checking out of your hotel this morning you will have a short transfer to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center for a private Museum tour. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West features several museums under one roof. Here you can learn about Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show, learn about the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in the Natural History Museum, explore the lives of the Northern Plains Indian peoples, and see beautiful works of western art.

Following your museum tour you’ll drive through Yellowstone National Park to Jackson, Wyoming. You will have a drive of one hour to the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. You will journey south on Highway 89/191/287 (South Entrance Road) exiting Yellowstone NP and entering Grand Teton NP. Note: As you enter Grand Teton NP, Highway 89/191/287 is also known as the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. As you drive south, the road borders Jackson Lake and the massive Tetons dominate

the western skyline. You’ll continue on Teton Park Road to the small town of Moose. The Visitor center for the park is located in Moose. From Moose, you’ll then proceed south on Moose-Wilson Road to Teton Village. The road is aptly named as moose are sometimes seen along the side of the road.

Your day’s journey will end at Teton Village where you’ll check into Teton Mountain Lodge. There are many wonderful shops and restaurants in Teton Village. A few of our favorite restaurants in Teton Village are Il Villaggio Osteria, located in Hotel Terra, Spur in Teton Mountain Lodge, and the Westbank Grill in the Four Seasons.

Overnight at Teton Mountain Lodge.

Day Five Full Day Private Guided Tour of Grand Teton National Park

Our guide will meet you at your hotel at daybreak to travel the nearby Moose-Wilson Road to view moose, elk, beaver and black bears. Your morning wildlife adventure will continue to view sites for the buffalo and antelope herds and other wildlife along the Gros Ventre River and Antelope Flats. Rolls, coffee and hot chocolate will be served en-route. After lunch you will explore more of Grand Teton National Park with your private guide before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Overnight at Teton Mountain Lodge.

Day Six Snake River Scenic Float / Afternoon Drive to Yellowstone National Park

You’ll wake up early to experience something truly special – a trip down the beautiful Snake through Grand Teton National Park. After the river float, you’ll stop alongside the river and enjoy brunch. You’ll return to your hotel in the late morning.

After freshening up and checking out of your hotel, you’ll drive 1.5 hours into Yellowstone National Park. You will spend the afternoon exploring the geyser basins and thermal features around Old Faithful.

Late this afternoon you will continue to West Yellowstone, where you will check into the Explorer Cabins in West Yellowstone. These new units are just outside the west entrance into Yellowstone. They have wifi, flat screen tv’s, kitchenettes and are conveniently located to the restaurants, museums and other attractions of West Yellowstone.

Bar N also has a wonderful restaurant with stunning views, serving breakfast and dinner. One fun dinner suggestion is the Rocky Mountain trout or the wild game burger (made from elk and bison).

Overnight at Explorer Cabins.

Day Seven Full Day Private Guided Tour of Yellowstone National Park: Western and Southern / Late Afternoon Visit to Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center

This morning you’ll rendezvous with your private guide. You’ll have a full day today to explore Yellowstone, with stops at many of the park’s signature destinations in the southern and western sections of the park (including Old Faithful and many other stunning thermal features). Your guide will interpret the wildlife and geothermal features for you and lead you on short walks.

Your guide will choose a beautiful area to prepare a gourmet picnic lunch giving you a chance to relax and enjoy the beauty surrounding you. After lunch you’ll continue your journey through the park. Your guide will provide bottled water, binoculars, spotting scopes and other helpful items.

Following your day in Yellowstone, you will stop at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center located in West Yellowstone. Here you’ll have the unique opportunity to view and learn about grizzly bears and gray wolves. Open every day of the year, the non-profit center houses bears and wolves who would otherwise not survive in the wild. An ideal time to visit is when the bears and wolves are fed, which occurs frequently throughout the day. Following your visit to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center you will return to your hotel.

Overnight at Explorer Cabins. Lunch included.

Day Eight Full Day Private Guided Tour of Yellowstone National Park: Northern and Eastern

This morning you’ll rendezvous with your private guide. You’ll have a full day today to explore Yellowstone, with stops at some of the park’s signature destinations in the northern and eastern sections of the park (including Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley). Your guide will interpret wildlife and geothermal features for you and lead you on short walks.

You will enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch along the way. You’ll return to the hotel between 5:00 and 6:00 PM.

Overnight at Explorer Cabins. Lunch included.

Day Nine Drive to Bozeman for Flight Home

After checking out of your hotel this morning you’ll drive 90 minutes to the Bozeman Yellowstone Int’l Airport for your flight home.

Terms, Inclusions & Exclusions

Terms: A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking and a final non-refundable payment due 90 days prior to travel.

INCLUDED:

Lodging as described in itinerary, with all taxes & resort fees.

Private guided tours of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Meals as listed in itinerary, with taxes and gratuities.

Tickets to the Cody Nite Rodeo.

Private tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

Entrance fees to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.

Snake River scenic float.

Private one hour trail ride.

NOT INCLUDED:

Meals with gratuities, except for those shown following each day in the itinerary.

Scheduled air (to be arranged by your travel consultant).

Optional activities.

Spa, other services and other incidentals at the hotels.

Gratuities at resorts.

Gratuities for your private guides.

Admission into National Parks when not accompanied by guide.

Alcoholic beverages.

Trip cancellation & interruption insurance.