Summer vacation to the Black Hills, SD, any thoughts?

[2littleprincesses]

Any suggestions on things to do? My dd wants to pan for gold--any good places to do that. We are staying in a cabin at a campground so that is set, but need places to go and places to eat. Thanks!!!

 

[ncbyrne]

Any suggestions on things to do? My dd wants to pan for gold--any good places to do that. We are staying in a cabin at a campground so that is set, but need places to go and places to eat. Thanks!!!

DH and I spent a week in this area in Sept. last year. Awesome place! As you probably already know, just do a web search and you can find a ton of things to do. You didn't mention kids ages. I can only comment on the places we (two adults) went.

Mount Rushmore is a MUST see for all ages! Try to plan so that you can see it in the daylight and to be there at night for the show. We did it one day, and then the next night. Amazing show, very patriotic. Makes you proud to be an American.

We also enjoyed Badlands National Park. Trust me, you've never seen any place like it!

Custer State Park! Wow, bison everywhere - up close and personal. There is a paved main road to tour thru the park. But, you can also drive on the unpaved dirt roads....NO traffic out there and you'll really get to see things the normal tourists miss. Be sure to stop at a ranger station and get a map, definitely worth it.

A fabulous drive is Norbeck Scenic Byway! This road puts new meaning to scenic!

Deadwood....we went to Mount Moriah Cemetery. Interesting side trip, but only worth it if you are in that area and have the time.

Jewel Cave....ok, but not great as far as caves go. I'd skip it.

 

[malibuconlee]

We rented bikes and did a small part of the Mickelson Trail. There is a gift shop in Deadwood where we were staying. A shuttle took us to the Presidents Park which was just OK. I want to say at the time admission was included in the bike rental. We did the portion of the trail and ended up in Deadwood leaving the bikes at the gift shop we started at. It was fun.

I have also done panning for gold at the Broken Boot Mine. You can take a tour of the old mine and then pan for gold, this was in either Deadwood or Lead, they are right next to each other.

My only suggestion is to avoid the area the first two weeks of August to stay away from the Rally.

 

[MrsPete]

Another vote for Custer State Park. Do the Buffalo Safari. It's a little expensive, but you'll learn so much -- well worth the cost. You'll find lots of other activities inside the park too.

We went to Wind Cave National Cave. I don't have much experience with caves, but we did enjoy the tour.

I can tell you where NOT to eat: I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but it's in the old bank building in the main part of the city of Custer. It was rather expensive, and it was quite obviously frozen food.

Oh, and we went to The Mammouth Site. It was fun, and how often do you get to see an actual working archeological dig?

 

[Inigo]

I always tell people with kids to take a break for a couple hours at the Black Hills Maze just outside Rapid City as you head toward Mt. Rushmore. There are four towers, and bridges over the maze, all arranged in labyrinth design. The walls are 6 1/2 feet high, so no peeking over to find your way out.

Custer State Park is wonderful (as long as you don't slip on a rock and cut your hand open---BTW, there is medical care if you need stitches while you're out exploring. Guess what happened to me?)

In Lead (pronouced leed, not led) you can do a tour of the goldmine, which is cool if you're into that. Rapid City School of Mines and Technology also has a Geology museum that we always stop at since my husband is an Earth Science teacher.

Rapid City has story book park, and just a little ways past that, at the back of a housing addition, is a stave church that is really sweet.

We also make a stop at Ellsworth AFB at the east edge of Rapid City for the air museum, and take the tour onto base to see the missile silo. Adults over 16 need picture ID to go on base.

Driving the Needles Highway is neat as you can catch glimpses of Mt. Rushmore through the tunnels. The first time we went, 4 year old DD had a blast watching for "my guys, my guys" to become visible. We still refer to the monument as her guys 15 years later. We had a snowball fight one year on the 4th of July way up high on the Needles Highway.

Take a drive a few hours west, and you can go to Devil's Tower in WY. It's not that far of a drive. Make sure you stop at watch the Prairie Dogs on the road up to the tower. Don't feed the prairie dogs!

On the way back from Devil's Tower, if you aren't there during the rally, you could stop and see Bear Butte near Sturgis.

Have fun!

Forgot to say, if you're driving, you have to stop at Wall Drug to get your free bumper sticker and to see all the touristy schlock. On the way there from Rapid City (or from Wall to Rapid City) drive through the Badlands National Park. If you get out to walk, take water!!!!! Watch for the wild horses and goats.

 

[Stitch's O'hana]

Hello,

We live in the black hills of South Dakota, we are in the Rapid City area! We have lived here for 4 years this Aug., so I should be able to help you with any questions you might have( just ask away and I will do my best to help you)!

What month were you going to be coming? The reason why I ask is that there is different things going out thru out the summer months.

I have never done panning for gold, so I won't be much help on that. But if you do a google search you should be able to find some good ones.

Another really fun place to check out is Bear Country( which is on the way to Mt. Rushmore)! You drive your car thru where all the bears are walking around and there is a place at the end where you park your car and can walk around & see some more bears( that's were you would see some baby bears, that they would have).

There is also Reptile Gardens, if you like snakes and such! I have never been there myself as I hate snakes and you could not pay me to go into that place! LOL

How old are your kids? As they might like Storybook Island, which is in Rapid City. It's a cute little play park, with different classic story book characters and they do have a few Disney characters.

In Rapid City, we do have a bunch of good places to eat. We have an Applebees, Olive Garden, I-Hop, Buffalo wings( it's new), we have a good Mexican place too( I just can't think of the name right now), Pizza Hut, etc.

 

[2littleprincesses]

Hello,

We live in the black hills of South Dakota, we are in the Rapid City area! We have lived here for 4 years this Aug., so I should be able to help you with any questions you might have( just ask away and I will do my best to help you)!

What month were you going to be coming? The reason why I ask is that there is different things going out thru out the summer months.

I have never done panning for gold, so I won't be much help on that. But if you do a google search you should be able to find some good ones.

Another really fun place to check out is Bear Country( which is on the way to Mt. Rushmore)! You drive your car thru where all the bears are walking around and there is a place at the end where you park your car and can walk around & see some more bears( that's were you would see some baby bears, that they would have).

There is also Reptile Gardens, if you like snakes and such! I have never been there myself as I hate snakes and you could not pay me to go into that place! LOL

How old are your kids? As they might like Storybook Island, which is in Rapid City. It's a cute little play park, with different classic story book characters and they do have a few Disney characters.

In Rapid City, we do have a bunch of good places to eat. We have an Applebees, Olive Garden, I-Hop, Buffalo wings( it's new), we have a good Mexican place too( I just can't think of the name right now), Pizza Hut, etc.

Hi! We are coming from MN! Do you like living in Rapid City? We are coming in July. I have looked into a few things such as Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Mammoth Site, Custer Park, and Mount Rushmore.

We are excited to be there this summer.

 

[LadySiren]

HALT! Nobody has mentioned my favorite tourist-trap of all time: Wall Drug. Or Prairie Dog Town. I mean, c'mon - it's not a good SD trip without those two, right?

The first ex-Mr. Siren (yes, I'm the DISboards version of Liz Taylor) was from SD, down in the Rosebud area. His stepfather was a Rosebud tribal leader. As a result, we took repeated trips to Rapid, then drove out to his family.

If you haven't heard about Wall Drug, just watch for the billboards on the interstates. Five-cent water for hunters! Buffalo burgers! The cowboy band! Poo pets! (Yes, "pets" made out of cow and buffalo pies.)

I like the Badlands - very scenic and gorgeous. Um, just make sure you've got enough gas and don't nearly run out like we did. In the middle of winter. When the rangers don't patrol very often.

Because we'd go in winter, Prairie Dog Town was always closed. We'd stop so I could take my annual photo of the gigantic pink prairie dog statue, then go visit the little buggers. We'd feed them whatever snacks we had on-hand, which I'm sure wasn't great for them, as it usually consisted of Potato Oles from Taco John's. In the summer, I believe you can buy special food for them.

We did do Bear Country, which I adored. We saw bears ambling across the road, snoozing in the shade, and doing...ahem...what bears do. They also had cubs the last time I was there. We also went to Mt. Rushmore, which is inspiring. I'm just sad they took out the original cafeteria where Cary Grant got shot in North By Northwest.

Anyway, there's lots to do and see. I'd like to take our family there at some point.

 

[Stitch's O'hana]

Hi! We are coming from MN! Do you like living in Rapid City? We are coming in July. I have looked into a few things such as Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Mammoth Site, Custer Park, and Mount Rushmore.

We are excited to be there this summer.

That's too funny, as we are from MN! We are from the Twin City's area of MN!
We do really love living in the Rapid City area and it's a lot cheaper then MN! But we really do miss MN and our friends there too!

In July we do have a big Christian Music event going on, if you are into that kind of Music! It's called Hills Alive, the dates for it this year are July 16,17 & 18. It is a free event as well! You can check out about it here~ www.hillsalive.com

You for sure need to do Mt. Rushmore and Bear Country, your kids will enjoy it! Custer Park is also really great! I have not done the Mammoth site yet, but I want too! I have heard really good things about it though!


Let me know if I can be of anymore help!

 

[elsie7119]

*

 

[jgates]

Crazy Horse - especially if you visit it a few years later again - to watch the subtle changes is amazing. The last time we went they had a bus that went up to the base for a small charge. That was great.

And they also have a hike to the top on one weekend early in the summer. That was also an amazing experience. (Volksmarch?) I would do that again in a heartbeat.

We have done both Wind & Jewel Cave - both totally different experiences.

I believe we did the walking trails around Harney Peak - swore DH was trying to kill me.

Tatanka - Story of the Bison in Deadwood. Kevin Costner originally bought this land to develop a resort. It now houses a museum/interpretive center and some gorgeous views.

Have done virtually all of the other listed things. The kids loved the Mammoth Site, but DH & I didn't visit it again on our own - he figured 2x was enough.

You are not that far from Devil's Tower either - 1.5 hrs each way?

We also visited & toured the Air Force base.

SOOOO many things to do out there.

In Deadwood we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express downtown although lots of others to choose from. In RC we stayed at the HIExpress on north end of town (2x) and also I believe a Howard Johnson Express on the short by-pass into downtown - not much around that but very nice hotel.

 

[Inigo]

HALT! Nobody has mentioned my favorite tourist-trap of all time: Wall Drug. Or Prairie Dog Town. I mean, c'mon - it's not a good SD trip without those two, right?

I did too!!! (6:31 pm post) It's not a trip to SD without a stop at Wall Drug to get a bumper sticker and to meander from shop to shop.

 

[tink_lover]

Hi MN girls! We vacationed for a week in the Black Hills late last August and had a blast. Many of the suggestions already listed are things we did - Needles Highway, Mount Rushmore (night ceremony was very moving), Crazy Horse (kids loved the night laser show), Custer State Park, Badlands (stay for a sunset it was absolutely amazing), Mammoth Site, Bear Country - we didn't think the dining options were the greatest - maybe Stitch can suggest some. Also, somewhere along our travels, we went into a building/shop where one of the original Disney woodcarvers had a lot of items. It gets really chilly at night so be prepared.

 

[caborst]

I always tell people with kids to take a break for a couple hours at the Black Hills Maze just outside Rapid City as you head toward Mt. Rushmore. There are four towers, and bridges over the maze, all arranged in labyrinth design. The walls are 6 1/2 feet high, so no peeking over to find your way out.


I second this suggestion. Our family had a great time here. Nice break from all of the touring, just some good old-fashioned fun.

 

[mafibisha]

I

Take a drive a few hours west, and you can go to Devil's Tower in WY. It's not that far of a drive. Make sure you stop at watch the Prairie Dogs on the road up to the tower. Don't feed the prairie dogs!

Forgot to say, if you're driving, you have to stop at Wall Drug to get your free bumper sticker and to see all the touristy schlock. On the way there from Rapid City (or from Wall to Rapid City) drive through the Badlands National Park. If you get out to walk, take water!!!!! Watch for the wild horses and goats.

After you've seem Rushmore, and toured Custer and the Badlands, all the suggestions are fun and touristy time fillers. Not that theres anything wrong with touristy or time fillers!

We've been to this area before too but only for a a couple days, as we were headed to Yellowstone National Park, with a few hours at Devil's Tower and Lead on the way.

Now Yellowstone's a place that needs a week's visit. It is da bomb! Seriously!!

But definitely take a day and go to Devil's Tower. Its another National Park and worth the drive. There are lots of zoos and museums and such everywhere but only one Tower and your kids will never forget it.

Yeah, Wall Drug is one of those touristy fillers but to a *T* but has almost become a national landmark. (said in jest but nearly true and you'll KWIM when you go!)

 

[mom of 3G's]

We are going in July, too! We have a cabin July 15-17 in Custer State Park. Along with the other suggestions, I have planned to spend a day in Keystone, which has an old train ride and Bedrock -- Home of the Flintstones! I'm not certain what other spots we'll hit -- it's a much more relaxed trip than going to Disney, that's for sure! No touring plans for this trip.

 

[aladams2]

If you are coming from MN on I 90 you can stop in Sioux Falls to see the Falls which are very cool. Then an hour west stop in Mitchell to see the World's Only Corn Palace!! (yeah, it's corny, but the pictures are great conversation starters.) Plus it's my home town and you would be amazed at what is all held in there. We have concerts,basketball games, prom,and graduation!! It's a great place for a break. And there is a great ice-cream place across the street!!

 

[mouseINmn]

Hi! I'm from Bemidji! I don't mean to hijack your thread, but my family has considered just a quick, long-weekend type of vacation here and I am curious what people think the highlights are when there are only a couple of days to spend here. Thanks.

 

[Inigo]

If you are coming from MN on I 90 you can stop in Sioux Falls to see the Falls which are very cool. Then an hour west stop in Mitchell to see the World's Only Corn Palace!! (yeah, it's corny, but the pictures are great conversation starters.) Plus it's my home town and you would be amazed at what is all held in there. We have concerts,basketball games, prom,and graduation!! It's a great place for a break. And there is a great ice-cream place across the street!!

We love the corn palace because it's so corny! And the ice cream is good. It's one of those places we always stop when we're driving back from WY/MT/SD.

 

[MKCP84]

We have gone a couple times with my family and besides the main ones already listed we also liked Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City where gravity is "defied" and a chuckwagon dinner at Circle B Ranch.