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We are traveling to SD this June for a week. We're planning on staying in (or near) Rapid City. We've got 2 highschoolers and a 4th grader. Other than Mt. Rushmore (of course)...what do you suggest we see or do? What are the little known places we should check out (or the well known tourist traps )?
Badlands Nat'l Monument, 60 miles east of Rapid City, is worth a drive through, and if you like to hike then plan a little extra time. It's best seen shortly after sunrise or (since you have teens) shortly before sunset.
Wall Drug in Wall, SD, at the east entrance to the Badlands, is the the granddaddy of all tourist traps. It's worth a visit when seeing the Badlands.
The wildlife loop in Custer State Park, just east of Custer, SD, is probably my favorite place in the Black Hills. I believe they boast the largest bison herd in the world. If you can hit it early morning or late afternoon you'll also see plenty of other wildlife -- elk, pronghorns, deer, eagles, big horn sheep, mountain goats, prairie dogs, and wild burros. (Bring along some carrots and feed the burros from your car windows.)
Jewel Cave National Monument, just east of Custer, SD, is one of the better cave experiences I've enjoyed. It features excellent and easy tours by national park rangers and is a great place to visit on those too-hot-for-comfort or rainy days. If you enjoy it you might also want to try Wind Cave National Monument.
Crazy Horse Monument will dwarf Mount Rushmore when completed. It's been under construction for 62+ years and still has a long way to go. Don't miss this one. It's between Mt. Rushmore and Custer.
Deadwood is one of the more historic towns in the Black Hills. Of course it's now more popular as a gambling town, but if you go there make a visit to the museum and Boot Hill where you'll find the graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. A few years (decades) ago you could take tours of the historic underground opium dens, but I'm afraid that's a thing of the past since the casinos have done them in.
Gold mine tours and gold panning are offered in a few different places throughout the Hills. It's an interesting and fun family experience -- and you'll get some gold flakes to take home. I've done it but can't recall which town I did it in. Look for it as you drive through the hills and pick one.
Devils Tower National Monument is in Wyoming's northern Black Hills. It's the nation's first national monument and well worth a visit. (Remember Close Encounters of the Third Kind.) Wear your tennis shoes and take a hike around the base. It's a fairly easy hike that'll probably take an hour. There's also a large prairie dog town just after you pass through the entrance gate.
The Vore Buffalo Jump just east of Beulah, WY is a relatively new discovery. It's worthy of a short stop on your way to/from Devils Tower.
Reptile Gardens, on the edge of Rapid City on Hwy 16 going towards Mt Rushmore, is a treat for kids from 2 to 92. It's mostly as the name implies, but they also feature live shows in the summer, from alligator wrestling to bird shows to old west shootouts.
Bear Country USA, just a few miles southwest of Reptile Gardens, is another good tourist attraction. It's mostly a drive-through wild animal park, but be sure to stop and watch the bear cubs in the enclosure at the gate.
The Mammoth Site at Hot Springs, SD (southern Black Hills) should be interesting and educational for you and your kids. I've never actually seen it but have heard rave reviews about it. (We tried to get there once but it was closed. Maybe we'll make it this year.)
That'll get you started. Pick up tourist attraction pamphlets as you tour the Black Hills (or write for them ahead of time) or just use Google and you'll find other places that will be fun and interesting. Let each member of your family pick an "attraction" or two so everybody gets to contribute to the vacation experience. Living in Wyoming and being an amateur wildlife/nature photographer, I enjoy Yellowstone and the Tetons very much, but for a family vacation spot, I think the Black Hills offer even more -- something for everyone. Enjoy your vacation!
I just bought a v8 ski boat today.Wheres some of the bigger lakes around rapid I can hit so I can open this badass boat up this spring.whats your pick SD4020?
Pactola or Angostura. I'd go down to Angostura and make a weekend of it. When I had my jet ski that was the place to play. And you have to go play on the Missouri too.
Also a good lake is Keyhole in Wyoming along with lake De Smet over by Sheridan Wyoming.
Wyonewk's list is a good with the exception of Crazy Horse-- stop on the side of the road and look it-- save yourself $100 or more --the worst type of tourist trap-- worse than Wall Drug by far, at Wall drug you can get a cup of jo
I like Crazy Horse - I don't see it as a trap, it's far too impressive to be compared to the likes of trinket shops or a place to view a bear/mountain lion behind a fence- I like Wall Drug and yes it is a trap, but it seems to be a place that makes people smile.
Last I new Crazy Horse entrance was 10 per person or 27 for a car load/whichever is cheaper or 5 if you walk or enter on 2 wheels - old man must have thought you were bringing 4 car-loads. It is also free to Native Americans and active duty military. They also have coffee.
Shoot even Uncle Sam charges 11 for a parking space at Mt. Rushmore.
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Yippie
