edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,688 
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Post by edie3 on May 12, 2024 3:09:22 GMT
What a beautiful state! We started in Sioux Falls, and headed west. Such a change of scenery from east to west. We saw our son, Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park (my 2nd favorite), Crazy Horse, snow, rain, blue skies, beautiful mountains. Oh, and that beautiful Dignity statue link. We also saw a ghost town in Scenic SD link, thanks to google maps getting us lost in the Badlands. Google even sent us down dirt roads! Our rental car was so muddy, we had to wash it before returning it. I have tons of photos, but haven't really gone through them. We really enjoyed our trip and it was nice to see a different part of the USA. |
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Post by mikklynn on May 12, 2024 13:05:29 GMT
I'm glad you had a great trip. I absolutely love the Black Hills. The smell is my favorite smell in the world, piney and woodsy.
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Post by buddysmom on May 12, 2024 14:28:28 GMT
Did you feed the donkeys at Custer State Park?
They are so cute!
Oh and yes, google did that to us also. I think it was a private road/someone's long dirt driveway that google sent us through (like a few miles).
Then when we were in the middle of nowhere-it said, "you have arrived!"
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,688
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Post by edie3 on May 12, 2024 14:57:22 GMT
We only saw a few donkeys, but tons of bison. |
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by iowgirl on May 12, 2024 16:28:27 GMT
Oh, and that beautiful Dignity statue lThat drive on I90 east (westbound) going to Chamberlain is my favorite view! Dropping down into the valley, then across the Missouri. Gosh I love it every time. Went out last month to buy calves in Ft. Pierre and DH was asleep as I drove across it. So it was just me to enjoy the view. The east bound trip doesn't thrill me as much as westbound. We did central Iowa to Ft. Pierre, bought a couple pot loads, then back home in the same day. Then stayed up for the trucks to come in and unload them. It was a LONG expensive day! But got to see some new scenery and a lot of dead coyotes on I90 for some reason. I might go to Yankton next week for one more potload. That should fill 'er up! That's a lot closer to home. |
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,806
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Post by valincal on May 12, 2024 17:31:06 GMT
Awesome! We did that route several years ago after visiting family in Thunder Bay Ontario. So beautiful. After South Dakota we went to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and then on to Yellowstone before we headed back to Calgary! One of our favourite road trips ever. ❤️
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Post by disneypal on May 12, 2024 20:21:38 GMT
Oh I love South Dakota-my favorite vacation was when we drove from Minnesota through South Dakota all the way to Deadwood
It is so beautiful!!
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Post by cindyupnorth on May 12, 2024 23:41:47 GMT
Welll, you know how I feel about South Dakota, but glad you had a good trip!!
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,688
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Post by edie3 on May 12, 2024 23:53:17 GMT
Welll, you know how I feel about South Dakota Yeah, I think my DH is not as enamored with Kristi as he was. |
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Post by ccookwood on May 13, 2024 14:57:58 GMT
I'm heading there June 2 for 2 full days, coming from Denver Colorado, driving into Rapid City late Sunday and driving back to Colorado early Wednesday. Would love some tips on whats most important to see in the 2 full days we have. We are actually from Ohio but will be visiting my daughter in Denver so going to make the short drive to SD from there.
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Post by Bridget in MD on May 13, 2024 15:28:34 GMT
I've never heard or seen the Dignity statue, but it is gorgeous.
We went to visit my grandmother in 2019 and my DH was ready to retire in SoDak!!!!
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,449
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Post by huskergal on May 13, 2024 15:36:37 GMT
I haven't been for a long time. We are planning a trip next summer with the adult children and our grandchild. I love the Black Hills!
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Post by essiejean on May 13, 2024 18:18:06 GMT
I'm heading there June 2 for 2 full days, coming from Denver Colorado, driving into Rapid City late Sunday and driving back to Colorado early Wednesday. Would love some tips on whats most important to see in the 2 full days we have. We are actually from Ohio but will be visiting my daughter in Denver so going to make the short drive to SD from there. Here are a few links - I live in Rapid City Reptile Gardens, Mt. Rushmore Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park (hike around Sylvan Lake for some beautiful scenery - easy walk) and make sure you take Needles Hwy or Iron Mountain Road, any of the cave tours, Prairie Berry Winery, lots of cool Breweries, free tours at our jewelry factory - Mt. Rushmore Gold factory on Mt. Rushmore Rd., Presidential Pawn Pawnseum, the downtown area is a nice walk where you can tour the statues on each corner or enjoy a beverage outside at Main St. Square watching the fountains. Canyon Lake Park is a nice walk or hike to the Strato-Bowl (very easy hike and just off of Hwy 16 on the way to Mt. Rushmore) or any of the 100's of other hiking trails around the Hills. Great places to eat (my opinion) Chute Roosters & Alpine Inn (Hill City) Oggie's Sports Bar in The Lodge at Deadwood (Deadwood), Tally's Silver Spoon, Sabotino's Italiano, Bokujo Ramen, Independent Ale House (downtown Rapid City) Piesano's Pacchia, Wings & Rings (westside Rapid City) gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/rushmoretramwayadventures.com/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=mainwww.bigthundermine.com/www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm Mt. Rushmore National Memorial crazyhorsememorial.org/www.downtownrapidcity.org/www.visitrapidcity.com/things-to-do/downtown-rapid-city/ These attractions are a little further away but well worth a visit if time allows www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm Badlands National Park www.walldrug.com/ |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
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Post by The Great Carpezio on May 13, 2024 20:19:39 GMT
I'm heading there June 2 for 2 full days, coming from Denver Colorado, driving into Rapid City late Sunday and driving back to Colorado early Wednesday. Would love some tips on whats most important to see in the 2 full days we have. We are actually from Ohio but will be visiting my daughter in Denver so going to make the short drive to SD from there. I live in Mn and have been to SoDak a few times: The "must see" in SoDak for me would be: - Badlands National Park/Needles Hwy
- Sylvan Lake/Custer State Park
Next up, I would say but not all on your path: - Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse
- Wind Cave National Park
- Deadwood
- Devil's Tower (WY but near the border)
Also interesting in a "don't go out of your way" way - Dignity Statue (but out of your way)
- Wall Drug: It is just a tourist trap, but it is a quintessential tourist trap.
- Bear Country USA....We actually kinda had fun here with my boys a couple of years ago (they would have been 14)
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Post by Laurie on May 14, 2024 0:20:23 GMT
I'm heading there June 2 for 2 full days, coming from Denver Colorado, driving into Rapid City late Sunday and driving back to Colorado early Wednesday. Would love some tips on whats most important to see in the 2 full days we have. We are actually from Ohio but will be visiting my daughter in Denver so going to make the short drive to SD from there. I live in Mn and have been to SoDak a few times: The "must see" in SoDak for me would be: - Badlands National Park/Needles Hwy
- Sylvan Lake/Custer State Park
Next up, I would say but not all on your path: - Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse
- Wind Cave National Park
- Deadwood
- Devil's Tower (WY but near the border)
Also interesting in a "don't go out of your way" way - Dignity Statue (but out of your way)
- Wall Drug: It is just a tourist trap, but it is a quintessential tourist trap.
- Bear Country USA....We actually kinda had fun here with my boys a couple of years ago (they would have been 14)
This is a good list. I would add Cosmos to either the 2nd or 3rd category. I love Wall Drug but I I had to choose between Keystone and Wall Drug I think I would pick Keystone. Hill City is also a fun touristy town. |
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,688
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Post by edie3 on May 14, 2024 2:55:49 GMT
My favorite (other than seeing my DS) was the Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park. We also really enjoyed Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We really did not get to see enough of The Badlands, thanks to Google maps. We also enjoyed Prairie Berry Winery. We tried to eat at Chute Roosters, but they were closed when the hours said they should have been opened. We did eat at Alpine Inn and liked that. Made a quick stop at Wall Drugs, wasn't that impressed.
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Post by essiejean on May 14, 2024 14:44:14 GMT
I live in Mn and have been to SoDak a few times: The "must see" in SoDak for me would be: - Badlands National Park/Needles Hwy
- Sylvan Lake/Custer State Park
Next up, I would say but not all on your path: - Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse
- Wind Cave National Park
- Deadwood
- Devil's Tower (WY but near the border)
Also interesting in a "don't go out of your way" way - Dignity Statue (but out of your way)
- Wall Drug: It is just a tourist trap, but it is a quintessential tourist trap.
- Bear Country USA....We actually kinda had fun here with my boys a couple of years ago (they would have been 14)
This is a good list. I would add Cosmos to either the 2nd or 3rd category. I love Wall Drug but I I had to choose between Keystone and Wall Drug I think I would pick Keystone. Hill City is also a fun touristy town. I would add Cosmos to either the 2nd or 3rd category.  I have lived in Rapid City for over 40 years and live only 13 miles from it but have NEVER been to COSMOS. I hear it is neat but have just never been. Bear Country is just up the road from me also and I have been there (when my kids were little) but haven't been for years. Reptile Gardens is practically across the street from me. Have been there multiple times so can highly recommend that stop. |
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Post by Laurie on May 14, 2024 19:30:01 GMT
This is a good list. I would add Cosmos to either the 2nd or 3rd category. I love Wall Drug but I I had to choose between Keystone and Wall Drug I think I would pick Keystone. Hill City is also a fun touristy town. I would add Cosmos to either the 2nd or 3rd category. I have lived in Rapid City for over 40 years and live only 13 miles from it but have NEVER been to COSMOS. I hear it is neat but have just never been. Bear Country is just up the road from me also and I have been there (when my kids were little) but haven't been for years. Reptile Gardens is practically across the street from me. Have been there multiple times so can highly recommend that stop. Living east river we tend to take the Hills for granted. We haven't went there for a couple of years so decided this summer we are going to do a long weekend there. Trying to narrow down the places that we must see. Last Labor Day weekend we were at our camper (in Platte) and decided that Saturday morning to take the girls to the Badlands since it was relatively close. While there we decided might as well go to Wall Drug since we were so close. We stopped at the Minuteman Missile site on the way. Once at Wall Drug we got our donuts and thought it is still early in the day lets go to Mount Rushmore. Stopped there and then walked through Keystone. We got back to our camper around 9:30-10 that night. We crammed a lot into that 1 day but we had so much fun and realized how much we missed being out there during the summer. We usually always stop at Reptile Gardens. My aunt is a retired school teacher so during the summer she works there so she always asks us to stop by. |
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Post by baslp on May 14, 2024 21:27:39 GMT
Spearfish Canyon is also a beautiful drive. I grew up in Rapid City and we go back every year to visit. I do miss. The black hills.
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Post by essiejean on May 14, 2024 22:37:08 GMT
Spearfish Canyon is also a beautiful drive. I grew up in Rapid City and we go back every year to visit. I do miss. The black hills. what years did you live in RC growing up? Were you a Cobbler or a Raider? |
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Post by essiejean on May 14, 2024 22:38:19 GMT
My aunt is a retired school teacher so during the summer she works there so she always asks us to stop by. What school(s) did your aunt teach at and when? |
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Post by baslp on May 15, 2024 0:10:21 GMT
Essejean— I graduated from St.Martin’s Academy. I live in Philly now but we own some land in Newell with my brother. So we go back to SD frequently.
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Post by Laurie on May 18, 2024 0:53:51 GMT
Spearfish Canyon is also a beautiful drive. I grew up in Rapid City and we go back every year to visit. I do miss. The black hills. what years did you live in RC growing up? Were you a Cobbler or a Raider? I can’t remember the name. She retired probably 5-10 years ago but taught there for many years. I graduated in 1994 and I know she was working there then. I can remember her driving us by it many times but can’t remember the name. |
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I have lived in Rapid City for over 40 years and live only 13 miles from it but have NEVER been to COSMOS. I hear it is neat but have just never been. Bear Country is just up the road from me also and I have been there (when my kids were little) but haven't been for years. Reptile Gardens is practically across the street from me. Have been there multiple times so can highly recommend that stop. 