SOUTH DAKOTA

YEAR VISITED: 2012 and 2020

RESTAURANTS

Saloon10, DW
The Depot, M

DESTINATIONS

SPORTS / EVENTS

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FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: One of my favorite memories growing up centered around our families 20+ day road trip. South Dakota was one of the many states we visited, and while I knew very little about it prior to our visit, I fell in love with its mid west beauty. The Badlands were my absolute favorite as I had simply never seen any other landscape like it. It was on this road trip, in 1993, that I vowed to return and hopefully have more time to explore. The first opportunity to return came in the summer of 2012 when we were on our way to Nebraska to visit our cousins and enjoy the College World Series. The 2nd came in 2020 when we were on our way home from a 33-day road trip. No trip to the Mt Rushmore State would be complete without experiencing Mount Rushmore.

Both stops felt extremely crowded, I believe the summer crowds are fairly consistent in June, July, and August, however once we found a parking spot we had a blast. Every family needs a picture in front of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln!

While at Mt Rushmore and the area around the town of Keystone we also explored the Gutzon Borglum Historical Center, Rushmore Cave, and Jill and Bailey insisted on doing the Black Hills Zipline.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is also located just up the street from Mt Rushmore. On both trips it was not yet completed and we declined to stop in 2012. However in 2020 we decided to take the plunge.

While the monument is obviously not completed, it is definitely taking shape. (Below you can see the model of the finished product) We were amazed to learn that the monument is being built entirely devoid of federal funding.

This combined with the fact there is an exorbitant amount of iron in and around Thunderhead Mountain is proving to delay the project that began in 1948. Even though the monument still does not have a completion date, we were pleased to 1) have supported the cause and 2) have witnessed such a massive undertaking.

On both family trips to South Dakota, I did make good on my personal vow back in 1993 and explored Badlands National Park as well as the many unique badland sightings along the freeway.

I just can’t help feeling like this tranquil land is somehow majestic.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: We haven’t experienced any athletic events

ADVENTURE(S): In 2020 we visited Sturgis, a town made famous by the largest motorcycle rally in North America. As we explored the many tourist stores and witnessed the many bars and saloons being set up for the 80th annual hell raising event, I found myself envisioning what this town would have looked and felt like in the late 1800’s.

I have a feeling it hasn’t evolved all that much from the rough and tumble wild west town that it started out as and for whatever reason that edge drew me in even closer. We stayed at The Hotel Sturgis, a beautifully remodeled hotel right off of Main Street. While I am not sure I will ever visit Sturgis during a motorcycle rally, we enjoyed our time exploring Main Street.

The wild west town of Deadwood was definitely an interesting stop. While I absolutely loved the town and enjoyed soaking up the violent history of real life outlaws and gunslingers, I fear the girls were scarred for life. Within 30 minutes of us arriving and beginning to explore the downtown streets, a reenactment of “Wild Bill” Hickok’s murder in the middle of the street took place. None of us will ever forget the commotion behind us, the loud gun shots, and turning to see a man fall to the ground. Even though this was all fake, the combination of us not being in Deadwood long enough to know what was coming and the girls being extremely young, made for a ton of tears. Needless to say they did not enjoy the rest of the day. I did however get to explore the Mount Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried. The town of Deadwood is a city I would enjoy returning to and adequately exploring. The smiles below were taken before the reenactment!

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: While difficult to adequetly explain, Wall Drug is the ultimate freeway/travel stop. It is a collection of midwest or cowboy themed stores that travelers can spend hours browsing in. The little town of Wall receives two million visitors a year – with that in mind I believe I asked the question, “who are we not to stop in?” We browsed the store(s), had an ice cream, and stretched the legs.

South Dakota is full of unique locations. The Corn Palace, located in Mitchell, doesn’t get anymore unique. Officially it is a “multiple purpose arena/facility… made entirely from corn and other grains.” We explored the inside, where they were having a rummage sale and the downtown which was extremely cute. I would reccomend this stop to anyone as a great place to stretch the legs and explore what middle America has to offer.