Day 1
PATTI'S 1880'S SETTLEMENT • PADUCAH:
Journey across the frontier where we experience life on the prairie. We travel through Tennessee on our way to Patti's 1880's Settlement for dinner. Our first night is in Paducah. (D)Day 2
GATEWAY ARCH:
This afternoon we visit the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. It was from here that early pioneers embarked on their journey west. We board the tram to the top for incredible views of the Mississippi River. We overnight in Independence.Day3
OMAHA • BOYS TOWN • DINNER:
Today we travel to Omaha, NE. Here
we visit Boys Town, established by Father
Flanagan in 1917. This evening we enjoy a delicious Omaha Steak Dinner. (D)Day 4
SIOUX FALLS PARK • LUNCH AT
FALLS OVERLOOK CAFÉ • WORLD'S
ONLY CORN PALACE:
We travel to Sioux
Falls, SD and visit the waterfalls of the
Big Sioux River. We have lunch near the
falls at the Overlook Café. In Mitchell, we visit the World's Only Corn Palace, decorated each year with bushels of corn, grains and native grasses. We overnight in Murdo. (L)Day 5
WALL DRUG STORE • MOUNT RUSHMORE • CUSTER STATE PARK • COWBOY STEAK COOKOUT • WAGON RIDE:
We take a break at Wall Drug Store known as a thriving oasis. In the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore has been called the “Shrine of Democracy.” We'll see the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt carved in stone. Dinner tonight is at Blue Belle Ranch in Custer State Park. We'll have a cowboy steak cookout and a wagon ride. We stay two nights in Custer. (D)Day 6
PANCAKE BREAKFAST • BUFFALO ROUNDUP:
We depart the hotel early this morning for the annual buffalo
roundup. We have time for the pancake breakfast before the roundup begins. Bring your cameras and binoculars. 1,400 head of buffalo thunder by with
the help of cowboys and cowgirls herding
these giants into corrals. What a sight!
Following the round-up, we return to Custer and enjoy a free evening. (B)Day 7
FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK • CARHENGE • WILD BUNCH DINNER & EVENT:
This morning we travel to Nebraska's largest state park, Fort Robinson. The historic outpost and museum is located in the 1905 post headquarters building. The exhibits here trace local history from the 1870's
to 1940's. Our next stop is Carhenge. A
replica of England's Stonehenge, it's
made from vintage American automo-biles. Next, we enjoy the “Wild Bunch Dinner & Event,” an experience with the 'Wild West' as Buffalo Bill lived each
day; with horses, wagon rides, ranch-hands, gun fire, law-and-no-order, and more. At the Lincoln County Historical Museum you'll have opportunity to explore and learn about the history of the area. (D)Day 8
GREAT PLATTE RIVER ROAD ARCHWAY • WICHITA:
Today in
Kearney, we visit the impressive Great
Platte River Road Archway, a 1,500 ton
structure crossing over the interstate. This museum pays tribute to the enduring
spirit of pioneers. This evening we overnight in Wichita.Day 9
THE PIONEER WOMAN MERCANTILE • LUNCH • PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY MUSEUM • WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM:
This morning we spend time in the hometown of the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. The Pioneer Woman Mercantile has a little
bit of everything, including clothing, home
goods, jewelry, bakery items and more.
This afternoon we'll have an included
lunch in Bartlesville. Next we visit the
state-of-the-art Phillips Petroleum
Company Museum where we learn the
history of the oil and gas industry. We
stop in Claremore, where we visit the
Will Rogers Memorial Museum. It's
home to the world's largest collection
of Will Rogers memorabilia and his
entire collection of writings. We travel
to Bentonville, Arkansas, for the night. (L)Day 10
BACKYARD BILLIONAIRES TOUR
• WALTONS 5 & 10 - WALMART
VISITOR CENTER • MUSEUM OF NATIVE
AMERICAN HISTORY • PEEL MUSEUM &
BOTANICAL GARDENS:
Today we learn
about Fortune 500 companies and the
founders who helped form the success
of this area with industry giants such as
Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt.
Next, we visit Sam Walton's original
variety store that was the model for
Walmart. With over 10,000 artifacts
housed at the Museum of Native American
History, we glimpse the lives and
activities of the First Americans. We enjoy
lunch together. In Bentonville, we visit the
Peel Museum, a historic Italian family
home which includes period pieces and
artifacts dating back to the 1800's. Enjoy
the beautiful botanical gardens that
surround the Peel Museum. We continue
to Fort Smith for our overnight. (L)Day 11
FORT SMITH NATIONAL
HISTORIC SITE • US MARSHALS
MUSEUM • MEMPHIS BBQ DINNER:
This morning in Fort Smith, our guide
will show us around and give us the
history of this famous town which was
once a military post during the frontier
era. We visit Fort Smith National Historic
which houses exhibits on Indian Territories,
US Marshals, outlaws, and regional
history. Next we visit the new United
States Marshals Museum which honors
the 230 year history of the Marshals
Service. The Museum will tell the story
of America's Constitution and the Rule
of Law. Following a BBQ dinner, we
overnight in Memphis. (D)Day 12
HOME:
Today we reflect on the
many amazing sights we've
seen while enjoying ourselves out on
the prairie. We arrive home late this
afternoon.
