If you want a scenic getaway, head to South Dakota and the Black Hills. A good first stop is Sioux Falls, South Dakota where you can see the beautiful falls (when there isn't a drought the falls are much better) and stop for lunch at a quaint bistro. Another interesting stop on the way to the Black Hills is the Corn Palace in Mitchell which hosts intricate corn murals on the inside and outside of the building. While my family and I were there, it was undergoing repairs to its domes and murals, but it was fun to see nonetheless. While driving, look for the Wall Drug signs that have been used for a number of years before you stop for a break in Wall, South Dakota to shop in a myriad of stores.
After you pass out of Wall, you come to the Badlands National Park. I would suggest that you begin in the morning because it will take most of the day to appreciate the landscape of huge rock canyons, wildlife, and prairies. Witness bison herds running across the land that have made a come back from near extinction and prairie dog towns with chattering and funny prairie dogs. Within the park, there are educational visitors' centers where you can learn about archeology, history, and science. In one of the outside exhibits, you can walk around and search for unexcavated fossils to help the archeologists in the park locate new ones. In the Cedar Lodge Center there was a gift shop and diner where you could order bison burgers or bison steaks (warning that it is expensive) and other meal items.
If you can, stay in Keystone. It is a beautiful town with lots of touristy shops and food places within walking distance of the hotels. We stayed in the White House Resort which was connected to the Railhead Family Restaurant and also a boardwalk that lead to the main street. Additionally, Big Time Pizza owned by a Russian couple had amazing pizza and Russian beer. In town there was Big Thunder Gold Mine attraction where you could tour the old mines and then pan for gold. Also, the 1880 Railroad ride was across from our hotel, and it featured a working steam engine on a narrow-gauge track through the countryside. My mom found a glass blower near town too.
A short drive takes you to Mount Rushmore National Park. After leaving the accessible parking area, you immediately have a picturesque view of the Avenue of Flags approaching the monument. Then the visitor's center offers lots of hands-on exhibits and detailed information on how the mountain was carved. The explosives exhibit showed the complex and artistic placement of dynamite that moved much of the rock surface. It was cool and amazing to see. You can even pretend to blow up parts of the mountain in one exhibit.
Not far from Mount Rushmore within the Black Hills is Crazy Horse Monument. It is a massive private undertaking by one family and their supporters. It is many times larger than Mount Rushmore and still in the early stages of carving. From there we continued through Custer National Park where we encountered loads of bison that we drove among and other wildlife. Sylvan Lake is a great place to stop for lunch and paddle boating or canoeing, and where National Treasure: Book of Secrets was filmed amid the massive rock formations.
Continuing South through the park can take you to Mammoth Springs, an ongoing excavation of mammoth bones (and other ancient animals) that were preserved in a mud spring preventing fossilization. You can tour it and watch professional and amateur archeologists uncover the remains in a working site. They explain the science and history of the animals and locale.
Though it is a little expensive per carload, Bear Country USA was worth the trip to see a large variety of local wildlife, especially the babies. Driving through the main park will give you views of wolves, elk, bears, pronghorn, and mountain lions. The best part might be watching the bears get fed from the back end of a pickup truck. Their lumbering yet quick bodies love the meat! After you get through the driving part of the tour, you can see the smaller habitats which house the babies and smaller animals.
From history and science to cute, little baby animals and awe inspiring scenery, South Dakota is a great trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment