Travel through some of the United State’s most scenic, historic, and culturally rich regions. American Classic Tours presents the “Old West”, the natural wonders of Yellowstone, the grandeur of majestic mountain scenery, the man-made monuments of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy horse. Explore the nostalgia of cow towns and remote regions discovered by George Rogers Clark and Meriwether Lewis during their expedition of the “Louisiana Purchase” purchased in 1804 by President Thomas Jefferson. This journey to the Wonder of the West is a captivating invitation for a remarkable getaway.
Day 1,2- Head west on the trail to St. Joseph, Missouri home of the Pony Express Mail line. See how the development of the first fast moving mail line, lead to the developing expansion of the western territory to the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a traditional Czech lunch and Kolachy desserts at the 1924 Bohemian Cafe in Omaha’s Old Czech community. Wait staff will be in traditional Czech dress and the cafe décor relates life in the Czech Republic. An evening stop in Mitchell, South Dakota introduces us to the Corn Palace dating back to 1892 and is decorated each year with native corn, grain, and grasses of natural color.
Day 3- Today enter the Badlands. This thirty-eight mile loop containing sharp ridges, steep-walled canyons, gullies, and picturesque rock formations that have been and are continually ravaged by wind and water. Mother Nature changes this region daily. The name Badlands given by explorers of this region in the mid 1800’s is now applied to eroded lands worldwide. Entering the town of Wall, make a stop at the internationally famous Wall Drug Store. Absorb some old western flavor with a chuck wagon cowboy supper served on tin plates. Great western entertainment with comedy and cowboy songs will be performed by area Wranglers.
Day 4- The amazing wonders of man come alive today with the sight of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument. Mt. Rushmore is a mountain carving, carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum over 50 years ago. It took fourteen years to complete at a cost of $989,999.32. “The Shrine of Democracy” features the faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Crazy Horse sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski was completed after his death in 1982. Enjoy the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead, SD, before making a stop in Deadwood a town made famous by Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, and other legends of the Old West. Lunch will be here on your own today. Movie Star owns the Mid Night Star Casino and Saloon downtown. We recommend this as your lunch stop. If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of Kevin as he visits very frequently. A guided tour of this historic area will be provided by a local historian. After which we will visit Kevin Costner’s, Tatanka: Story of the Bison is a larger-than-life bronze sculpture featuring 14 bison being pursued by three Native American riders. The evening is yours to spend in Deadwood before returning to the hotel.
Day 5- Big Horn Mountains stretch along the path to Cody, Wyoming were tonight’s cabins await us for the next two nights. Enjoy time in the historic and quaint downtown area just steps from the hotel or even possibly attend the world famous Cody Nite Rodeo.
Day 6- President Teddy Roosevelt called the Yellowstone Valley in the Shoshone National Forest the most scenic 52 miles in the United States. Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and other breathing taking sights await you in the nation’s largest and oldest park- Yellowstone!!!
Day 7- The Battle of Little Big Horn took place in the present day Crow Agency, Montana. This area memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indian's last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25 and 26 of 1876, 263 soldiers, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, died fighting several thousand Lakota, and Cheyenne warriors. Tonight hang your boots up in the rodeo town of Casper, WY.
Day 8, 9, 10- North Platte, Nebraska awaits the arrival of American Classic Tour guests. The Golden Spike Tower in North Platte raises 8 stories above Union Pacific’s 2,850-acre Bailey Yard the world’s largest train yard. On the last evening of your journey, enjoy Crown Center in Kansas City. Located in the heart of downtown Kansas City Crown Center; which is often called a city within a city. Three levels of great shopping and a dining complex. It all surrounds the worldwide headquarters of Hallmark Cards, Inc. One last and unforgettable experience to your journey out west.
