need some info please

[Nat]

I'm back. Had to go to work for a few weeks out of town. It was a great job but 72-78 hrs per week and could only work 6 days in 7, so not much time to post.
Vickie and I are going to go to S. Dakota with some friends for vacation for a few weeks. We are leaving the first of June and need any imput from you to help plan the trip.Everyone knows Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse/ Badlands St Pk/Mitchell's Corn Palace, but we like small out of the way places, history over art, nature over bright lights, that sort of stuff. Does anyone have any info they want to tell me about?
I know Eddie Walker and Steph went thru there on the Wedding Trip, so ya'll load me up, Vickie will appreciate it.
BTW. I'm into antique tractors and machinery, we like rodeo's, small town fairs, Vickie and our friends like big flea markets. Any help appreciated. Later, Nat

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Nat,
I cant offer any advice other than to say enjoy your trip, it sounds like your going on a great vacation ! About 30 years ago I was out that way, we went into Yellow Stone through the Wyoming entrance, also was in Rocky Mountain National in Colorado, some spectacular country out there !

Enjoy your trip !

 

[EddieWalker]

Hi Nat,

We didn't make it to the Black Hills last year, but are booked for the end of July this year at a Holiday Inn!!!

Did you get get a copy of the South Dakota tourism book? Lots and lots of things to see and do there.

Steph and I like to take cave tours and there are several in the area to see. Deadwood is an old west town that has tons and tons of things to see. Devils Tower is a day trip from the Black Hills as are the Badlands. There is a great drive though zoo that is very nice that we'll check out when we're there, but we're big on animals and plan to drive through Custer State Park at least once a day.

Too bad you're going earlier then we are, it would have been fun to see you guys again.

Have fun and tell Vickie we said hi.

Eddie & Steph

 

[mjarrels]

WALL Drug Store.

mark

 

[Nat]

Eddie, it is a shame you and Steph can't be there at the same time, I'd enjoy seeing you again and anyone would enjoy seeing Steph, ha ha.
We did git the SD tourisim book and it is packed with things to see, but more than the couple weeks we will have to see it. As of now we are going to spend a couple days in the Souix Falls area then head west. Vickie wants to see the " Little House " Of Laura Ingalls fame, sp. We are going to Mitchell to see the corn palace, sounds a lot corny to me,pun intended, then on west to the Badlands area. We will probably spend most of the trip around there. We should be able to see Rushmore, Crazy Horse,Devils Tower, Custer,some of the zoo'sand the Black Hills in day trips, but may have to move about more than we think.
We went to the Grand Canyon in 2000 and thought we could see AZ in day trips, found out it is a day trip to get breakfast, sorta like TX.
If anyone finds any links to SD sites that may be of interest, please post them as we are open to plan changes.
BTW Eddie, on this last outage, a lady that inproccessed with me is from Canton, she said part of the area of the 1st Mon sale is on land she raised tomatoes on as a kid. It was part of her grandfather's farm. I thought that was neat since Vickie had me carry that push plow she bought around all day. Maybe she pushed the same one around raising tomatoes. Later, Nat

 

[Nat]

mjarrels, what is Wall Drug? Is it the site of the first Wallgreens, what town is it in?Later, Nat

 

[Bird]

I haven't been to Wall Drug but have heard it's quite a tourist attraction.

 

[Nat]

Looks like a neat place and it is on the way sooooo.
Vickie and Becky will love it and Flash and I will look at the people . Bird,Thanks for the link.

 

[KentT]

Problem is that there just isn't a whole lot out there that you haven't mentioned, as I recall...

If you want to drive on over toward Billings, Montana, you'd likely enjoy the Little Big Horn national park/monument, since you said you enjoy history... or head south toward Cody Wyoming outside of Yellowstone -- a beautiful place...

 

[MossRoad]

We did that trip last June. Souix Falls really has a nice park downtown with really nice waterfalls and an old fort.

Mitchell and the corn palace is not that far from there. We spent a couple hours walking around down there and the little shops near it.

The bad lands was a nice day drive. Be sure to take the gravel road on the north west corner back to the prarie dog town and bison herd.

Wall Drugs is a tourist trap, but fun to look for knick knacks and grab a bite to eat.

You could easily spend a week around Rapid City.

See Mt. Rushmore first and read about the guy that was responsible for it. If you can, take the drive South out of Rapid City, then go through Custer State park to get to Rushmore, and you get a real impressive view of Rushmore when coming out of one of the tunnels. After you are through with Rushmore, THEN see the Crazy Horse monument on another day. It is, in my opinion, MUCH more impressive than Rushmore. There is a really nice museum there and all the work is paid for with donations... no tax dollars.

There is also a place called Bear Country. It is an expensive drive through zoo, and, at first, is kind of unimpressive, until you come around one of the last hills and drive into the bear enclosure. There were a hundred bears in there of all shapes and sizes. Many were active. Then get out at the baby animal center and there are many baby wolves, bears and other animals. It was pretty neat.

Take a drive up from Rapid City through Sturgis and see how small it is and imagine how it looks when tens of thousands of bikers come to town each year. Then head up to Devil's Tower. Take the walk around the tower. It is only about a mile around and very easy walking on a paved trail. Well worth it. There are also tons of prarie dogs around the base of it. More than at the Bad Lands.

If you get a chance, you can stop in Deadwood and see three gunfights. With any luck you can see Wild Bill get shot playing poker. Our kids had front row seats for that. There's also gambling in Deadwood. Nice thing is, most of the casinos are small storefronts. There is one large one at the south end of town that is very nice, too. Don't forget to take the cememtery tour.

On the way from Rapid City to Sturgis is the Black Hills National Cemetery. Very somber place. Tip your hat as you pass, or stop in and have a thoughtful moment.

If you go further west than Devi's Tower, things get FAR apart.