Ronni Hannaman: The Old West comes alive in Wyoming and South Dakota

You’ll not see Marilyn Foster’s photo or byline on this travel article, for Marilyn has decided to stay a bit closer to home and retire her suitcases. I didn’t believe her until she presented me with three pairs of blue shoe socks that as she said, “have traveled thousands of miles” on her many trips. I knew then that she was serious. I assured her I would let these socks travel on.

You see, Marilyn celebrated her 95th birthday Jan. 29 and just doesn’t feel as confident walking around churches and temples and on uneven sidewalks as she once did. As she told me, “I’ve been everywhere I wanted to be and although I am sad not to be planning any future trips, I know it’s time to stay home and enjoy where I live, enjoy my friends and family, and relish my many travel memories.”

For the moment, I will write this monthly column to let our many wonderful travelers know of upcoming trips. As you know, our preferred group tour operator is Collette Vacations and though not every trip is without a flaw or two, we have found this tour operator will bend over backward to make things right.

In this day and age of delayed flights and other possible issues, trips don’t always go as planned, so the tour operator has to scramble to make sure travelers have the best experience possible.

This month’s featured trip keeps us a bit closer to home to see some of our own western United States so beloved by our international travelers. We’ll experience and tour four national parks, one national historic site and various state parks while learning the folklore of those bigger-than-life characters from our western past forever preserved in movies and books.

Though we live in “Cowboy Country,” there’s so much more as we travel north to Wyoming all the way to the Badlands of South Dakota. In our area, Kit Carson was the big cowboy name. On this trip, we’ll learn more about Chief Crazy Horse, Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody and more.

Those old western movies still featured on Grit TV come alive on this trip, but you’ll learn the true stories of the “cowboys and Indians” of the Old West from their points of view.

Departing Sept. 8, we fly from Reno to Rapid City, South Dakota to begin our incredible seven-day journey to see some of this country’s most beautiful scenery. The flight is short through Denver and the time difference is only one hour. Our return will be from Jackson, Wyoming.

No passport, no long flights, only a one-hour difference makes this trip an easy one. You will be transported via motorcoach to see as much as you can see with many scenic stops along the way. There will be three nights in the same hotel in Rapid City, one night each in Sheridan and Cody, and two nights in Jackson.

The rugged badlands will have you pointing your camera every which way to capture the scenery. There’s an abundance of wildlife here including those incredibly cute prairie dogs poised on guard over their tunnels. You’ll see the Crazy Horse Memorial – still under construction – learn about Native American culture and feel American proud as you tour Mt. Rushmore.

You can place a flower on the graves of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock, tour Deadwood, and enjoy Kevin Costner’s Tatanka, a tribute to the bison.

There’s no place quite like Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. You’ll see the famous “Old Faithful,” and so much more. Then it’s on to Grand Teton National Park, home to the “youngest” picturesque peaks in the Rockies.

A trip by covered wagon to enjoy a farewell chuckwagon dinner featuring entertainment will end our tour in Jackson before we fly home to Reno.

Bookings must be made by March 8 to assure the pricing of $3,999 per person to include air, breakfast daily, three dinners, admittance to all attractions, a knowledgeable tour guide and experienced coach driver, and round-trip transfers between airports including free parking at the Carson City Chamber with transfers to and from the Reno airport.

To see the full itinerary, go to www.carsoncitychamber.com and click on the Travel Club link on the home page or call 775-882-1565. Or better yet, stop by for a free brochure at 1900 S. Carson St., next to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. We have many amazing trips planned for 2024.