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Daniel Milks The Story Behind My XO Adventures
The Story Behind My XO Adventures
I didn’t set out to build a tour company. I set out to build a better way to take care of people while they explore the world. Travel has always felt like more than a getaway to me. It’s a way to understand place, history, culture, and ourselves. Over time, I realized the trips that stay with us aren’t the biggest or the flashiest. They’re the ones where you feel connected and genuinely looked after.
That idea became the heart of My XO Adventures.
Sarasota Roots And What I learned In Hospitality
My XO Adventures began in Sarasota, Florida in 2018. Before that, I spent years working inside a large tour operator environment, learning what creates trust and what breaks it. I also had the chance to work and learn hospitality standards through Hyatt and The Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. That training shaped how I think about service. Details matter. Timing matters. The way you communicate matters. Guests should feel supported before they arrive, throughout the experience, and long after they head home.
As I moved through roles and responsibilities, one thing became clear. Mass market travel can be efficient, but it often strips away what makes a trip meaningful. I wanted to build something smaller, more personal, and more honest. Not an itinerary machine. An experience built around the guest.
The Turning Point That Made My XO Adventures Real
When I stepped away from corporate travel, I took work that sharpened my operational skills and helped me serve people in a different way, including supporting systems and events as an administrator at Harvest Sarasota. Around that same time, my former employer filed for bankruptcy, which released me from a noncompete agreement.
It was a clean opening. I used it.
In August 2018, I launched My XO Adventures with a simple standard. If I don’t love exploring a destination, I won’t sell it. That approach kept everything real. It also helped the business grow through trust, not hype. We started small and expanded into bigger experiences, including international destinations and U.S. National Parks, always guided by firsthand experience and honest recommendations.
The Pivot From Cuba to 38 States To the Black Hills
In March 2020, I was leading a group in Cuba when the pandemic hit and travel shut down almost overnight. I came home facing the same question so many people faced then. What now.
I stripped life down to essentials, converted my van into a mobile home, and drove across 38 states looking for a way forward. It wasn’t a vacation. It was a reset. A search for a place and a purpose that felt real.
That road led me to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. These landscapes have a presence that’s hard to explain until you’ve spent time in them. The geology is dramatic. The wildlife is real. The history is layered. The cultural significance deserves respect. I fell in love with the region and decided to make Rapid City home.
My XO Adventures stopped being based in Florida and became rooted here.
Building My XO Adventures in Rapid City
Starting over in South Dakota required relationships and grit. I connected with local tourism partners, small businesses, and others who care about representing this region well. I designed tours that weren’t just about stops on a map. They were about timing, flow, and understanding.
The result is what we offer today: private tours built for people who want a deeper experience and a calmer pace. Guests can focus on what they came for instead of worrying about logistics or being rushed through a checklist.
What Guides the Way We Operate
My XO Adventures is guided by a few steady principles.
We lead with kindness and respect. We welcome guests of all backgrounds and we expect the same respect toward the places we visit and the people connected to them. We care about responsible travel and we make decisions with the long view in mind, not the quick win.
We also believe great guiding is a blend of knowledge and hospitality. You should leave with real context, not just photos.
The Heart Of the Company
My XO Adventures is family run and supported by people I trust deeply. In 2022, my mom joined the team and became a steady force behind the scenes, helping with reservations, guest communication, and marketing with genuine care. My nephew Ben also supports operations and logistics, stepping in wherever he’s needed with reliability and calm problem solving.
We also work with a small network of guides who share the same standards and respect for this region. The goal is consistency. Every guest deserves the same level of care, no matter who is guiding that day.
An invitation
If you’re looking for a private experience in the Black Hills and Badlands that’s built on calm pacing, real context, and genuine hospitality, I’d love to help you find the right fit.
Explore our tours or contact us with your dates and what you’re curious about, and we’ll take it from there.
Helpful links
Contact Us
https://myxoadventures.com/contact/
All Tours
https://myxoadventures.com/tours/
Mount Rushmore Tour
https://myxoadventures.com/mount-rushmore-tour/
Devils Tower and Spearfish Canyon Adventure
https://myxoadventures.com/devils-tower-and-spearfish-canyon-adventure/
Badlands Wildlife Expedition
https://myxoadventures.com/badlands-wildlife-expedition/
Explore My XO Adventures
Badlands National Park
https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm
Black Hills National Forest
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills
South Dakota Tourism
https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm
Custer State Park
https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/