National Parks & Lodges of the Old West

Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, Badlands, & Grand Teton National Parks, May 28–June 5, 2027

Join fellow alumnae and friends on a journey that celebrates the American West’s magnificent National Parks, tracing legends and storied monuments along the way. From Mount Rushmore to Old Faithful, to the Snake River, you will see the best of the Old West and traverse its beautiful vistas in style and comfort. Wonderfully historic hotels and lodges are a highlight of this program, including landmark lodging within the parks themselves.

Trip Highlights

Marvel at local history: Admire the grandeur of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, and visit the world’s largest mammoth site.
Appreciate nature’s inspiration: With endless panoramic vistas, dramatic geological wonders, lush grasslands, and a myriad of flora and fauna, the Old West is the perfect backdrop for relaxation, contemplation, and reflection.
Gain perspective and insight: This journey is led by a premier expedition leader—many of whom have served as U.S. National Park Rangers—whose expertise brings the landscapes, wildlife, and history of this region to life.
Explore at leisure: As time allows between scheduled touring, discover Yellowstone’s thermal features, hiking trails, and visitor centers and museums independently.
Rest in comfort: After fulfilling days, retreat to well-appointed properties and historic lodges that are national treasures themselves.

View complete trip information and registration.

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More Information

Itinerary at a Glance

Date	Travel Schedule
May 28	Arrive in Rapid City, SD
May 29	Rapid City, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park
May 30	Mammoth Site, Crazy Horse
May 31	Mount Rushmore, Spearfish Canyon
June 1	Spearfish Canyon, Cody, WY
June 2	Cody, Yellowstone National Park
June 3	Yellowstone National Park
June 4	Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson
June 5	Depart Jackson

Trip Details

Duration: 9 days
Activity Level: Easy to moderate
Cost: $5,995 per person, based on double occupancy
Single Occupancy: $8,395
Deposit: $850 main tour, $500 post-tour
Co-Sponsors: TBD

Registration

Complete your registration directly through Orbridge.

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Faculty Host

Bosiljka Glumac is the Dwight W. Morrow Professor and chair of geosciences at Smith College, where she has been enjoying teaching and conducting research with students for almost three decades. Professor Glumac has a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Zagreb in Croatia, and a doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Glumac is a sedimentary geologist who studies carbonate rocks as rich archives of environmental changes. Besides courses in her area of expertise, at Smith she has taught Oceanography and Tectonics and Earth History, and had designed interdisciplinary courses such as Archaeological Geology of Rock Art & Stone Artifacts and Extraordinary Events in the History of Earth, Life, & Climate, as well as a geomythology module for the first-year seminar on myth, truth, and paradox. Glumac is the founder of the web-based, open educational resource Climate in Global Cultures and Histories: Promoting Climate Literacy Across Disciplines. She is also the past president of the Global Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). On this trip she will be accompanied by her spouse Tony Caldanaro, who is also a geologist by training and works as the director of Computing and Technical Services (CATS) for the Clark Science Center at Smith College.

Bosiljka and Tony look forward to exploring the geological foundations of present-day landscapes of South Dakota and Wyoming with all of you!

More About Professor Glumac