Two weeks to go!

[MJ1986]

BH, I'm sure you guys will have a great time!

[nanjosbrand]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Evans Plunge is a great place to go if you are in Hot Springs but Rapid City's best waterpark is WaTiki which is in between the La Quinta and Marriott east of town. I think admission is free for 3 and under too.

My family and I were at Watiki last Sunday for the day. That place is awesome. For the day to get a pass, it's around $20, but we were there from 8 am till about 3 pm. Well worth the money! It's right off I-90, so you can't miss it.

[blackhillsdreams]

I was in Idaho Falls the past 4 days and went to Yellowstone on Saturday. It's beautiful, but I still love the hills even more. I'm so excited to be bringing my nephew with us for the trip and this will also be my wife's first big adventure in the hills. It is going to be just great!

I think this week, she and I will sit down and look at the maps and try to make up an itinerary to make the best use of our time there. This will actually be one of the shortest trips I've ever made to the hills, I usually take two full weeks but this time, it's just one. Here are my MUST SEE items (not in order of importance):

Crazy Horse
Keystone/Rushmore area
Custer Park
Devil's Tower
Spearfish Canyon/Bridal Veil Falls/Dances With Wolves film site
Deadwood
Hike to Harney Peak (never done that)
1880 Train Ride (never done that one)
Mammoth Site
Black Hills Maze (My nephew will love that)
Cosmos! (kid tested, DannyB approved)

Here's the "if we have time" list:
Bad Lands/Yep, Wall Drug too if we get over that way. With the price of gas going crazy every 2 days, I just don't know yet.
1880's town
horseback riding in Custer Park
go to see the Will Smith movie (I like to go to the movies once during vacations, I always seem to remember which movies I saw wherever I was)
Bear Country USA
Jewel Cave (never done that one)

That's about all I have so far. I'm open to suggestions. If I had two full weeks, I'd take them to the Murdo Auto Show, maybe the Corn Palace, and some other places. I'll do my best to take a lot of pictures and do a nice trip report. I got some nice Buffalo pics on Saturday in Yellowstone. Anyone want to see them?

[Jammie]

HI BH, if you're coming over to the southeastern side of the state, you may want to make a stop at Wall Drug for a while. It's right along the way. I'd also swing down and go through the Badlands. I can't remember if you've seen them or not. They're awesome.

As you get further east, you'll bump into the Chamberlain/Oacoma area where the Mo. River runs through. It's a nice spot and Al's Oasis has fantastic cream pies.

If you're in Mitchell to see the Corn Palace, you may want to visit the Prehistoric Indian Village at the Lake. It's pretty cool.

Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village


There's also a fabulous Doll House Museum across from the Corn Palace. I read that it was closing, but don't know if it's done that yet.

I don't know how far east you're going, but DeSmet (northeast of Mitchell) has the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead. Sioux Falls also has the beautiful Falls Park with the Phillips to the Falls area. Sx. Falls. is about 75 miles east of Mitchell.

Just some suggestions cause it looks like you have a full vacation planned.

Just editing~Duh, scratch my "Badlands" suggestion. I see that's already on your list.

[uncleharley]

A thought, since both the Mamouth site and the Badlands are on your list, would be to take the back roads thru the northwest part of the Pine Ridge Rez and get to the Badlands from the back way. You will come out at Kadoka, on the interstate. The trip is thru some pretty desolate country but you will see stuff that few tourists ever witness. Be sure to have a full tank of gas, some cold drinks and perhaps a couple of sandwich's in your car. There really are very few services along the way.

uh

[blackhillsdreams]

Originally Posted by uncleharley

A thought, since both the Mamouth site and the Badlands are on your list, would be to take the back roads thru the northwest part of the Pine Ridge Rez and get to the Badlands from the back way. You will come out at Kadoka, on the interstate. The trip is thru some pretty desolate country but you will see stuff that few tourists ever witness. Be sure to have a full tank of gas, some cold drinks and perhaps a couple of sandwich's in your car. There really are very few services along the way.

uh

Thanks UH,

I thought about that. I've spent some time on those back roads in the past. I've been to Wounded Knee a few times and spent several weeks on the Rosebud Res over the years. You're right, it's pretty open and sort of desolate out that way, but it is pretty and interesting. If we were going to be there for two fulls weeks, we'd probably find the time for that.