Black Hills Travel was born from an idea—more accurately, a passion.

After hearing far too many horror stories from friends and acquaintances about disappointing vacations, Jeff Vander Werff decided to take matters into his own hands. A serial entrepreneur by nature, Jeff chose to focus his energy on helping people travel better—whether by planning unforgettable trips or simply offering honest advice on where to go and why it matters.

Then, life changed everything.

In December 2024, Jeff and his family invited his parents on a spur-of-the-moment vacation to Cancun. It was meant to be a fun getaway—a chance for the kids to spend extra time with Grandma and Buppa. Six months later, Jeff’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Within a year, he was gone.

What began as a casual idea Jeff shared with others became something much deeper: a life mission to encourage families to take the trip.

Because life is short. Time is limited. Our kids are only young once, and the moments we assume we’ll “get to someday” aren’t guaranteed.

My goal is to help as many families as possible create meaningful memories—while they still can.

If I’m able to help you book a trip and make those memories, that’s wonderful—I’m grateful. But even if you never book with me or reach out at all, and this message nudges you to take that vacation with your kids, parents, or grandparents while you still have the chance… then I’m happy with that too.

Safe travels.