South Dakota vacation

[davem]

We're loading the family into the metallic pea family truckster on Tuesday and headed to SD to see Mt Rushmore and other various touristy things. I've got a day and a half for advice and recommendations. :D

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[jgleason]

Sounds like a good time Dave. Enjoy!

[Chris the Rep]

Got a route planned yet? How long are you planning to be gone. Have lots of ideas here...How many and how old are the young ones?


Chris

[cx]

Don't go, Dave! It's a trick when they pewt South in that name. Just like you wouldn't plan your next ski trip to North Carolina, eh? :D

Actually, I've been several times to/through that state and never once went to see Mt. Rushmore. Don't even recall just where it is, but I know it's not far from the only big highway in the state. Just never stopped there, which is kinda sad now that I think about it. :(

Have a good trip. :)

[Bugman]

Mr. Rushmore is a must. If at all possible, take in the evening show. Gives the history of the carvings, plus they light them up while playing some good patriotic music. Makes the hair on my neck stand up every time I've seen it. If the kids are into fossils (big ones) check out the woolly mammouth site in Hot Springs http://www.mammothsite.com/ Custer State Park, south of Mt. Rushmore has lots of buffalo and other wildlife. Take the Wildlife Loop Road to see most of the area. http://www.sdgfp.info/parks/Regions/Custer/Index.htm Just watch out for the "begging burros" along the way. They are real moochers. :D

Old West towns include Deadwood and Lead. Deadwood has quite a bit of western history associated with it.

Depending on how the trip is going and how the kids are taking it, you might want to take a loop through the Badlands.

South Dakota tourism has a good website http://www.travelsd.com/

Have fun. :wave:

[davem]

We're going to hop the ferry at Ludington and cross Lake MI to Manitowok WI. From there it's the straightest shot possible. No plan to knock myself out driving, so far the plan is to take 3 easy days to get there. I just rigged the van with an xbox so the kids can play and watch movies. Fingers crossed that it will accomplish it's mission and keep them entertained. :p

We've got a reservation at a motel in Custer for the 5 days we'll be there but for the travel motels we're just going to wing it.

My daughters are 11 and 9, son is 5 1/2. Clyde, thanks for the links. I think I've been to all of those over the last couple of months, but it's invaluable to hear from people that have actually been to these spots. I appreciate it very much. :)

[John Bridge]

Never been to the Dakotas. That'll be included in one of the future treks. :)

Three days driving with three kids in the car with nothing but an xbox doesn't sound vacationy to me. :D

I recommend a direct Point A/B marathon approach. Get them there quick, get them out of the car and run them an for an hour or so. :D

[tileguytodd]

Dave, back when I was a youngun ( 8 years old) my family did the super vacation trip to SD Wyo Montana etc.

This past week we discussed what we remembered from that trip.
Deadwood, Mt Rushmore, Passion Play (crazy horse) and the Badlands were high on the list...........( all in the area you will be going)

There were other things we recalled
( like the tornado we went through and how hard it rained)
You see, we were in a tent pop up camper and we all had new sleeping bags with bright red flannel liners inside em.............the liners bled that red dye when they got soaked during that storm...........we were Red.........the camper was Red...........The clothes were red..........Felt like we were in Clint eastwoods Movie town Largo :D :D :D

Rapid City is very close to Mt Rushmore............there is also a dinosaur park there that the younguns will probobly enjoy for an hour or so :)

When I was out there in Deadwood Wild Bill Hickocks grave site was pretty much an untended mess with a short iron fence around it that was leaning all differant directions.

Bet its been fixed up since the 60's!! ;)

[Dave Taylor]

Ben more than a few years since I was in SD but…… when I was younger I lived in the Black Hills most every summer. Saw them faces on the mount when there weren’t nuttin' but a single lane dirt road leadin' to em….. with a 500 ft drop right next to the car. Interesting when you met a car comin' the other way…. specially through one of them tunnels carved in the side of the mountain. I think it's four or six lanes going up there now.

Don't know if these things are still available…. or you have time but…. here is stuff I use to do when I was in god's country…. …..

The Needles Drive is a must.
Evan's Plunge (natural springs) in Evans SD was family swimming fun for everyone.

I directed traffic once in Deadwood during Wild Bill 'Hickup' days and the enactment of the trial of Jack Mcall…. not too exciting. The old pink door which opened on main street Deadwood (brothel) was a-runnin at the time but I (of course) bein' of christen upbringing never stepped inside. Slots were legal in Deadwood and Lead…. the town on top of a town. One of these days the whole place may sink into the Home-stake gold mine.

The Terry Peak chair lift is good if still runnin'…. kin see four states (I think) from the top when you gits' there.

Spearfish Canyon is a nice drive but the town was nuttin special.

I worked (and lived) in Nemo SD near the 4T guest Ranch…. in the Hills between Rapid City and Deadwood. Was a good place fer family horse rides and stage coach rides, had a neat old bar and restaurant, a general store with a gas pump, small cabins fer rent and (last I heard) a new post office….. all run (then) by the Troxtel brothers (spelling) headed up by ole' Buck T. This place is (or at least was) a must visit fer sure…. nice place to play cowboy.

Cosmos House where everything is tilted was a nice tourist trap.
Wall Drug was another TT but it should keep the kids busy.
Bad Lands cut through road is an interesting drive …. bring water :---)

Crazy Horse mountain monument might be interesting. The old guy that started it passed but his family (I think) has resumed building. Every time I visited the place the wife of the bearded old guy who was carvin' the mountain had jest had another child. I think the old boy spent more time adding to the shack his family lived in then a-workin' on the mountain. The house was a truly amazing add-a-shack.

Fishing, fishing, fishing….. both lake and stream trout….. best I ever did. If yer interested PM me and I'll try to clue you in on what (at least) were once good spots.

[EEEO]

You have to see the Corn Palace! (not really)

Wall Drug is good for bumper stickers---you might keep the kids entertained by having them count the number of signs for Wall Drug too.

[Chris the Rep]

All good recommendations. Wife's family is from South Dakota so I've spent more than my share of time there. A lot depends on the collective interests.

I went through the EROS Data Center just a few miles north of Sioux Falls once and really enjoyed that, but after 9/11 I don't know how much of it is still open or whether they still offer tours. http://edc.usgs.gov/

The Corn Palace is just a few minutes off of I-90 at Mitchell, so do swing in and see it, even if you just drive by. Big Bend Dam is just north of Chamberlain at Fort Thompson, or a little further west is the Oahe Dam at Pierre. The dams are huge, and really something to see. Fort Pierre Nation Grasslands is between I-90 and Pierre, where they filmed portions of "Dances With Wolves". Either way, enjoy the long downhill ride toward the bridge across the Missouri at Chamberlain.

At Murdo there is the Pioneer Auto Show, with a big collection of antique and classic cars. www.pioneerautoshow.com

As for the Badlands, I tell everyone to take the highway into the Badlands, and when you get to the Visitors Center about 10 miles in, turn around and head back to I-90. The next 40 miles through the Badlands looks exactly like the first 10 miles (like a moonscape) and is usually a very slow ride. (took us close to 2 hours to drive through.

Wall Drug is always a good place to stop. Get your free ice water, walk around and look. No place like it.

I would agree about Mt. Rushmore at night. As impressive as it is by day, it's quite a site when it's lit. Go mid-to late afternoon and plan to stay late so you can see it by day and by night. The crowds are big this time of year, so plan on lots of traffic all through the hills area.

If you want to take a side trip to probably one of the least visited National Parks in the lower 48, head north to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in southwest North Dakota. http://www.nps.gov/thro/

Lots to see and do, and make sure you visit Medora, tour the old west town and see the Medora Musical. http://www.medora.org/attractions/musical/index.html.

Since you're making the trip anyway, I'd head east from there and blow across North Dakota (where the state tree is the utility pole) and into Minnesota to see the headwaters of the Mississippi River near Bemidji. I remember as a kid walking the stepping stones laid across this stream that becomes the big river.

One thing to remember in South Dakota; just because there is an exit doesn't mean there is gas or facilities available. Pay attention to your mile markers so you know where you're at if you break down.

Have fun and be safe.

Chris

[Bugman]

Todd mentioned tornados. Brought back memories of a very scary night in Sioux Falls, SD, in June 2003. Frances and I spent the night in Sioux Falls. Weather was hotter than Hades and the first room they put us in had an AC unit that just didn't cut it. Went to the front desk and got a different room. AC worked fine. Just getting settled in, noticed the weather was getting pretty stormy, when there was pounding on the door. Motel manager was telling everyone to immediately grab pillows and get into your bathtub. Tornado warning. About then the sirens went off. We turned on the TV and all there was were tornado reports for the whole SE part of the state. Before the evening was over I think 12 tornados touched down in the area. Wiped out one little village north of Sioux Falls. We stayed in the room until it appeared to be clear around 11 PM. Found an all night restaurant in town. Before we finished eating, the manager got this strange look on her face, was on the phone a lot and finally said that we might have to move into the walk-in cooler because of another tornado warning. Nothing happened, but there were a bunch of completely soaked people taking refuge in the restaurant. We finally went to bed and figured if our time was up, so be it.

I would stop at Wall Drug, if for no other reason than to stretch your legs, get a good drink of cold water, and check out a major tourist trap.

Theodore Roosevelt NP is interesting if you have the time.

Needles highway is great. All paved, but two lane. You meet yourself coming and going on some of the hairpin turns.

Have a good trip.

[John Bridge]

Dave is on the road. I'm sure he'll be checking in, though, to scoop up all the suggestions. ;)

[davem]

Actually just about to hit the road. We have to be in Ludington by 7 am to catch the ferry, and don't see the point in sleeping for a couple of hours and heading out at 2 am so we're leaving at midnight. The kids and Laura can sleep on the way, and I'll catch some z's once we get there.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I emailed myself this thread so I can read in on my Blackberry. I'll post some pics and stuff to let you know how we're doing. :)

[gary]

south dakota was the best vacation we ever took. loved it

[davem]

Greetings from ripon wi. Ferry ride was cool, uneventful. So far so good, but I'm tarred. Tile work in the ripon mcdonalds is way below average. :)

More later...

[bbcamp]

Great! Trip reports and you ain't even there yet. :rolleyes: The only time I ever check in on vacation is when I'm sick and can't do nothin' else. :sick:

[Bugman]

Hey, I lived in Ripon, WI for 7 years. Moved on in 1974.

[davem]

Bob, I wouldn't be checking in from one of your vacation spots either. Watching the munchkins gnaw on Mickey D fries in Ripon wasn't very exciting though, so I fired up the Blackberry for a quick peek at the forum. :)

Flatfloor, can I write off the trip now? :D

[davem]

We made it to Chamberlain, SD today. We drove past the Spam museum without stopping, though I was tempted. :) We did stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, that was worth the stop, the kids enjoyed it. :)

[John Bridge]

Dave, Maybe if you act a little more businesslike when you check in we can write your vehicle off, too. :D

[flatfloor]

Make sure you get receipts, the floor in McDonalds is a good place to get em. Give a prize to the kid who collects the most and a prize for the highest dollar value recept. :rolleyes:

Speeding tickets can't be written off but bribes can. :bonk:

[davem]

What a great trip. I thought 5 days would be enough time in the Black Hills, but we didn't get to everything we wanted to. Did enough though, it's good to be back. :)

We stopped at the Corn Palace, drove through the Badlands (beautiful) and stopped at Wall drugs. Once we landed in Custer we set up base camp and headed out from there every day.

We went to Custer state park for the first two days, went on the wildlife loop and had to stop for buffalo and pronghorn antelope in the road. Laura and the kids went horseback riding, and we drove the needles highway. The tunnels were great, we gave a standing ovation to the tour bus driver who squeezed through the tunnel right next to the needle. He had about 4 inches to spare on all sides. :D

We drove up the iron mountain road to Mt. Rushmore, great drive and we encountered the Begging Burros on the way. Stan had a ball feeding them. :)

I was truely impressed with Mt. Rushmore. We arrived at around 6:30pm, so we could see it during daylight and for the lighting ceremony. As we sat in the stands it started clouding up and a lightning show began. It began raining but very few people left. At the end as the lights were coming on during "America the Beautiful", right near the end of the song where the music was really rolling a huge lightning bolt lit up right behind the faces. It was awesome. :)

We went to Reptile Gardens, to a chuckwagon dinner, went on the 1880 steam engine train ride from Hill City to Keystone, swam an Evans Plunge, went to the wolly mammoth site. I'm probably forgetting some stuff, but it was all great fun.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Dave, we didn't have time for fishing, but thanks for the tips. I'll keep them in case we get to go back. :)

[cx]

Sounds like it was a good Hasta, for sure, Dave. :)

[Tool Guy - Kg]

That sounded so enjoyable, he's making me wanna load up and go onna same trip. Only I don't gotta cross Michigan 'cause I got that part licked. :tup2:

[davem]

I forgot we also went to Jewel Cave and took the tour. That was really something to see. Here's a pic of us at Rushmore. :)

[Bugman]

Dave, Your description brings back some very pleasant memories, including the thunderstorm at Mt. Rushmore. Only we had to evacuate the amphitheater because of a severe thunderstorm moving through the area. The faces looked so strange with the water running down them. We stayed in the glassed-in area until it passed through. The music and the lights still make the hair on my neck stand up.

Love the family picture. So glad everyone had a good time. Weren't the burros something else!

[davem]

They were fun. I just have to say "burro" and Stan cracks up. :)

[Mike2]

I wanna know who finished that sandwich after friend burro took his big 'ol chomp outta it. ;)

[EEEO]

Sounds like you folks did alot! Great picture with the burro and the sandwich. That's super cute. Glad it all went without a hitch.

The first time I went to Mt. Rushmore back in '88 or so I was in my '78 Ford T-Bird. The water pump went out in Rapid City. Just past Wall Drug(on the way back) the fan belt broke and took out a radiator hose. Not 50 miles later we skinned a tire(it was still inflated, just minus the tread), and just outside of Worthington, MN we blew another tire. :bang: It took a little longer than we anticipated to get home.


I sold the car after that. :yeah: