Talk to Your Guide: (605) 252-9100
Talk to Your Guide: (605) 252-9100
Based in Rapid City Private tours Permitted where required
Planning feels easier with a local in your corner. Send a quick note and we’ll help you choose the right tour, then handle the details so your day stays calm and meaningful.
Founder and Lead Guide
I’m Daniel Milks, founder of My XO Adventures. My background is rooted in travel, history, and education, shaped by years of working across cultures and places that demand curiosity, respect, and context. Over time, I saw how often meaningful destinations were reduced to rushed itineraries and surface-level experiences. I believed there was a better way to travel, one that prioritized understanding, pacing, and genuine connection over volume or spectacle.
That belief became the foundation of My XO Adventures.
My journey eventually led me to the Black Hills and Badlands, landscapes that immediately felt both powerful and deeply complex. What started as exploration quickly became commitment. These places reward patience, timing, and knowledge, and they lose something when treated as drive-by attractions.
I built My XO Adventures here with the intention of guiding people through these landscapes in a way that honors their history, geology, wildlife, and cultural significance, while also respecting the communities and lands involved. While I say I did this alone, nothing happens that way. A humble and sincere expression of gratitude goes out to all those involved, especially my mother, Amiee, who speaks with each guest multiple times before their experience.
Today, every tour is shaped around how the day unfolds, not a rigid schedule.
My XO Adventures began in Sarasota, Florida in 2018, built on a simple belief: travel matters most when it feels personal. After years working for a large tour operator, I learned that trust, honesty, and follow through are what create great experiences. I also learned what I didn’t want to build, high volume travel that feels impersonal. I set out to create a boutique approach where guests are listened to, cared for, and guided with real intention.
In March 2020, while leading a group in Cuba, the world changed and travel shut down. I came home, stripped life down to essentials, converted my van into a mobile home, and drove across 38 states looking for a way forward. That journey led me to the Black Hills and Badlands, places with depth, beauty, and cultural significance that reward slowing down. I chose Rapid City as home and rebuilt My XO Adventures around private tours designed for calm pacing, real context, and meaningful connection to this region.
Today, My XO Adventures offers private Black Hills and Badlands tours rooted in thoughtful timing, genuine hospitality, and deep respect for the land and communities connected to it. The goal is always the same: a day that flows well, feels personal, and leaves guests with a clearer understanding of what they experienced.
My XO Adventures is shaped by both deep local knowledge and formal hospitality training. Before founding the company, I worked and trained within luxury hospitality environments, including Hyatt and The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Florida. Those experiences grounded my approach to guest care, attention to detail, and the importance of calm, well-paced experiences that feel personal rather than transactional.
That hospitality foundation now guides how tours are designed and delivered in the Black Hills and Badlands, pairing professional service standards with on-the-ground expertise in place, timing, and context.
• Founder and lead guide of My XO Adventures
• Formal hospitality training and experience with Hyatt and The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Florida
• Local expertise in the Black Hills and Badlands across all seasons
• Background in history, geology, wildlife, and cultural interpretation
• Certified Travel Counselor (CTC)
• IATAN accredited travel professional
• Member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA)
• Operates with required permits and permissions, including U.S. Forest Service authorization
The guides who work with me are not a mystery either. Every one of them is named, trained, and certified before they ever pick up a guest, because a private tour is only as good as the person driving it. The training program they certify through is one I founded, because the Hills deserved a higher bar for guiding than a driver’s license and a script. You can meet each of them, and see exactly what their training covers, on our Meet Your Guides page.
While I personally guide many tours, especially those that benefit from deeper storytelling or custom pacing, My XO Adventures is supported by a small network of trusted guides. When others are involved, they are selected for their local knowledge, professionalism, and ability to uphold the same hospitality standards, respect for place, and guest-centered approach that define every experience.
My XO Adventures was built around the idea that a great day in the Black Hills should feel personal, unhurried, and thoughtfully guided. Instead of running fixed routes or scripted experiences, we shape each day around the people we’re guiding and what they want to get out of it. If you’re curious how that approach compares across the region, our guide to the best private tours in Rapid City explains the key differences and helps travelers choose the tour style that fits them best.
Many of the tours we offer today didn’t exist in the Black Hills and Badlands until we created them. We saw opportunities to experience the landscape in ways that traditional sightseeing tours weren’t offering, and we built experiences around those ideas. Our Badlands Wildlife Expedition, Badlands Sunset and Golden Hour Tour, and Badlands Sunset and Night Sky Tour were designed to help visitors experience the park at the times of day when it feels most alive, from active wildlife and glowing landscapes to the quiet beauty that settles in after sunset.
These tours quickly became some of the most popular ways to explore the Badlands. Travelers were looking for something more thoughtful than a quick drive through the park, and these experiences delivered exactly that. By focusing on the rhythm of the land, the best lighting of the day, and a slower, more meaningful pace, these tours have grown into some of the most requested guided experiences in the region.
My XO Adventures operates as a permitted and professionally recognized tour company. We maintain the required permissions and industry credentials to ensure responsible access, uphold professional standards, and earn guest trust.
Verification includes a U.S. Forest Service commercial use permit, Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) credentialing, IATAN accreditation, and membership in the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA).
A private tour only works if the people behind it care about more than routes. These are the principles we guide by, in the Black Hills, the Badlands, and everywhere our guests place their trust in us.
Travel matters when it helps you feel more connected to a place, to history, to the people you’re sharing the day with. We design experiences that make space for curiosity, calm pacing, and real conversation.
These landscapes aren’t backdrops. They’re living ecosystems and sacred places to many. We operate responsibly, follow required rules and permissions, and guide with respect for wildlife, trails, and the communities connected to this land.
We welcome guests from all backgrounds and we lead with kindness and respect. Great guiding creates a space where people feel safe, seen, and comfortable asking questions, learning, and simply enjoying the day.
We aim to leave places better than we found them through responsible decisions, ethical partnerships, and community-minded choices. You can read more about our approach to this on our Corporate Responsibility page.
Hi! I’m Daniel Milks, the owner of My XO Adventures. I never saw myself traveling as much as I have, but I’m certainly grateful for it. My career began in 2011 as a sales agent, and I worked my way up through several directorships.
I absolutely love traveling for so many reasons. It’s in my lifeblood and integral to my life. My favorite place is the one I haven’t been to. Most of my offerings are based on firsthand experience in the places I visit. If you see it on the website, it’s because something personally touched me about the region, and I’m sure you’ll love it.
I’m a native of Erie, PA, and lived most of my life in Sarasota, Florida. Most recently, I’ve moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota, and I love it here. I spend my summers in the Black Hills providing the best private tours possible. During the cooler months, I’ll soon offer my international destinations.
I realize you’re looking for an experience above all else, which is what I offer. I personally escort each tour to ensure everything goes smoothly and to get to know you. My XO Adventures has quite a few repeat guests, and I give everything I’ve got to make that happen! 😉
My XO Adventures was built around thoughtful travel, personal connection, and meaningful experiences in the Black Hills and Badlands. These questions give you a clearer picture of who we are, how we guide, and what shapes the experience you’ll have with us.
My XO Adventures was founded out of a deep connection to the Black Hills and a belief that visitors deserve more than a rushed, surface-level experience. The goal has always been to create days that feel personal, intentional, and grounded in real knowledge of the land.
XO reflects warmth and connection. It symbolizes the kind of experience we aim to create — welcoming, thoughtful, and built around genuine human interaction.
When possible, yes. When additional guides are involved, they are carefully selected and trained to maintain the same pacing, tone, and guest-centered approach.
Slow down. Pay attention. Respect the land. Instead of checking off attractions, we focus on timing, storytelling, and awareness so the experience feels layered and meaningful.
Stories are chosen based on context. We blend geology, ecology, history, and local insight in a way that matches your group’s interests rather than delivering a fixed script.
Yes, with adjustments for weather and road conditions. Each season offers a different atmosphere, and we adapt routes to fit conditions safely.
Guests who appreciate thoughtful pacing, curiosity, and conversation tend to connect most strongly with our style.
When guests leave feeling calm, inspired, and more connected to the landscape than when they arrived. It’s not about how many stops were made — it’s about how the day felt.
★★★★★3 months agoIf you are reading the reviews, trying to decide who you would like to hire for your tour, HIRE XO ADVENTURES!! Stop looking! We had the pleasure of having Daniel give us the tour of Badlands and all attractions in the Black Hills. The company went out of their way to make sure we had the best possible visit to South Dakota, and Daniel was simply the best tour guide and person. He made sure we had the perfect photo opportunities, food, water, he even had extra coats in case we were cold. Daniel also made sure we had the BEST views and were able to see the most amazing sites, whether they were part of the tour or not. My trip was photography based, and being a photographer himself, he knew exactly where to put me for the best photography opportunities at the perfect times of day for optimum sun exposure. He's also extremely knowledgeable on all things South Dakota and the Lakota Tribes and he taught us SO much while we were in his care. I am eternally grateful to XO and Daniel for making this trip a solid core memory for my 17 year old grandson, who was accomanying me. By the end of our two day tour we not only had a new friend, but Daniel felt like family and we were truly sad to say goodbye (or as he says, "See you down the road"). You will NOT be disappointed in using XO Adventures! Book them NOW!!
★★★★★2 months agoWe came up to do a star gazing tour for my sons birthday but the weather didn’t cooperate. What could have been a disappointment certainly was not. Great communication from the team letting us know our options and the guide Logan was a true standout. We ended up on a golden hour tour and the park really did show off her beauty. He showed us an abundance of wildlife and some of the stops were stunning that we would not have gotten without a guide. He made it fun and informative. His passion for the area and the local wildlife and community were obvious. I highly recommend both him and this tour company. Really can turn your badlands trip from really good to really great! The photos posted I took - the photos he took were even better. The surprise of the badlands was the variety and amount of wildlife which he was gel to stop and point out to us.
★★★★★a month agoIf you are visiting the Black Hills, the Devils Tower and Spearfish Canyon Adventure is an absolute can’t-miss!
Our guide, Logan, did a true yeoman’s effort to make the day exceptional for the five of us. His depth of knowledge was remarkable—he effortlessly wove together the local history, geology, and fascinating backstories of every site along our route. He even tailored the experience to our group, sharing an incredible amount of insight about the local wildlife, including spot-on identification and facts about local birds for the birders in our group!
The trip itself is brilliantly designed, balancing scenic drives, stunning overlooks, and short walks with a wonderfully flexible pace. There was never any rush, and we had plenty of time to take photos and absorb the breathtaking landscapes of the Northern Black Hills.
Logan made every single moment enjoyable, informative, and fun. We loved every minute of this fabulous tour and cannot recommend Logan and this adventure enough!
★★★★★a month agoMy husband and I enjoyed TWO tours (Wildlife Biologist’s Field Expedition: The Badlands Uncovered & Spirit of the West: Devil’s Tower & Spearfish Canyon) with our guide Logan who was unbelievably knowledgable and made conversation so easy! Logan made our first experience in South Dakota & Wyoming so memorable and special. Logan tailored to all our interests and assisted us with making choices that suited our curiosity. Logan did a great job communicating with us prior to our tour, which eased all my stress. During the tour Logan was so invested in giving us the best experience possible, it was evident Logan takes pride in the job he does! I absolutely recommend these tours, in fact, I wish I could have Logan as a guide for every tour going forward. Thank you Logan for an absolutely incredible experience! You made our trip out here extra special.
★★★★★a month agoAn unparalleled experience for wildlife professionals and enthusiasts alike!
My son and I, both biologists, recently joined Logan for the Wildlife Biologist’s Field Expedition in the Badlands and outer prairie lands of South Dakota. To put it simply, we had an amazing time.
This tour is truly one-of-a-kind; it is the only one in the region that provides such deep access to both the Badlands and the surrounding prairie ecosystems. What really set this experience apart was how Logan customized the entire day to match our specific interests. It was immediately evident that Logan isn’t just a guide—he has genuine, extensive field experience in tracking and working with wildlife, and his knowledge of both biology and local history is top-notch.
The logistics were perfect. We traveled comfortably in his roomy, air-conditioned van, which allowed us to navigate between optimal wildlife viewing locations with ease. He even provided extra sets of high-quality binoculars, which were a great touch. Throughout the trip, he took professional-grade photos of the wildlife and shared them with us, providing a fantastic memento of the day.
We had incredible sightings, including prairie dogs, burrowing owls, bison, a bald eagle, several pronghorns, and mule deer. If you are a wildlife enthusiast looking for a professional, expert-led expedition, I cannot recommend Logan’s tour enough.