Spending a week in SD, what should we see?

[SDNick]

We are headed to SD to spend a week a Custer State Park.  Going to see Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave, Mamoth Digs, and Deadwood.

Anything else we should be sure to do / see?

Thanks,

SDNick

[AustinBoston]

We are headed to SD to spend a week a Custer State Park.  Going to see Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave, Mamoth Digs, and Deadwood.

Anything else we should be sure to do / see?

If you enjoy Wind Cave, be sure to check out Jewel Cave National Monument.  Never been there, we skipped it.

Another National Park that I have seen and know is worth seeing is Badlands NP.

You really can't miss this one unless you are blind.  Wall Drug Store is just about the only thing in Wall, SD.  The main attraction is that it is the ultimate tourist trap.  There are signs from 3 states away directing you to Wall Drug.  There have even been signs posted at the North and South Pole, and in outer space.  They still have free ice water for travelers, which is how they got their start as a tourist trap.

Have fun!

Austin

[trumpet87]

We are headed to SD to spend a week a Custer State Park.  Going to see Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave, Mamoth Digs, and Deadwood.

Anything else we should be sure to do / see?

Thanks,

SDNick

Hi!  My sis-in-law just returned from SD and CO.  She liked Custer state park the best, and she also visited the badlands.
Hve fun on your trip  

[altozwei]

We have family in SD and have camped there several times. Custer is an especially beautiful state park; one of the very best state parks anywhere (IMO). The Badlands NP is fantastic -- an absolute must see. We were not able to camp in the NP there but camped at the White River KOA near the park. Don't know how it is currently, but it was quite pleasant and well maintained when we camped there. We were especially pleased with the huge trees (great shade) as we normally tend to think of KOA's as treeless parking lots. Jewel Cave is incredible. It will be well worth your time to make the drive to see it, if you enjoy caves. It is quite unlike Wind Cave with a lot more variety to the formations. Check into both caves before you go as they each offer more than one kind of tour. We took a "historic" tour of Wind Cave which was conducted through a part of the cave off of the regular tour with each person carrying a lantern. The Crazy Horse Memorial is also an interesting stop. Like Mount Rushmore, it is a mountain memorial but it is still a work in progress. Deadwood is great for history and gambling. Spearfish has the Black Hills Passion Play. If you like steam trains, there is one at Hill City that you can ride. It travels round trip between Hill City and Keystone. It takes about two hours or so for the round trip. There is the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, outside of Hot Springs, SD if you have an interest in seeing wild mustangs. As someone mentioned there is Wall Drug, the world's largest tourist trap. It's a bit strange but you really haven't been to SD unless you have seen it. And, finally, there is the Corn Palace at Mitchell. It is a building completely covered in multi-hued kernals of corn. Really, it defies description. You just have to see it to understand. Anyway, whatever you end up seeing, have a great trip.

Patti
Steve
Elspeth
Kestrel
Rowan
and Nike, the wonder dog

!997 Starcraft Venture 2108
2001 Nissan Quest

[triggfamily]

Do you have children?

If so, Deadwood Gulch in Deadwood would be fun, and so would Flinstone Village by Rapid City.

Amazingly, I only live an hour from SD, but it looks like everybody has already covered much of what to see there.

So far, I have seen the Mammoth Site, Bear Country USA, Reptile Gardens, Flinstone Village, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Deadwood and Deadwood Gulch, Museum of Geology (SD school of mines & technology //www.sdsmt.com).  I love driving through the Black Hills NF, and on one the the backroads going between Jewel Cave and Hot Springs is a park that I almost hit a Buffalo on.

My children make me revisit Bear Country USA, Reptile Gardens and Flinstone Village every year....They absolutely love it, and so do I.


I have heard Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, and the Badlands are awesome.  I plan on hitting those later this year.

Hope you have a good time.

[SDNick]

Thanks to all who responded.  We are really lloking forward to doing this trip with our two girls (ages 7 and 10).

Thanks for the suggestions,

SDNick

[trumpet87]

We have family in SD and have camped there several times. Custer is an especially beautiful state park; one of the very best state parks anywhere (IMO). The Badlands NP is fantastic -- an absolute must see. We were not able to camp in the NP there but camped at the White River KOA near the park. Don't know how it is currently, but it was quite pleasant and well maintained when we camped there. We were especially pleased with the huge trees (great shade) as we normally tend to think of KOA's as treeless parking lots. Jewel Cave is incredible. It will be well worth your time to make the drive to see it, if you enjoy caves. It is quite unlike Wind Cave with a lot more variety to the formations. Check into both caves before you go as they each offer more than one kind of tour. We took a "historic" tour of Wind Cave which was conducted through a part of the cave off of the regular tour with each person carrying a lantern. The Crazy Horse Memorial is also an interesting stop. Like Mount Rushmore, it is a mountain memorial but it is still a work in progress. Deadwood is great for history and gambling. Spearfish has the Black Hills Passion Play. If you like steam trains, there is one at Hill City that you can ride. It travels round trip between Hill City and Keystone. It takes about two hours or so for the round trip. There is the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, outside of Hot Springs, SD if you have an interest in seeing wild mustangs. As someone mentioned there is Wall Drug, the world's largest tourist trap. It's a bit strange but you really haven't been to SD unless you have seen it. And, finally, there is the Corn Palace at Mitchell. It is a building completely covered in multi-hued kernals of corn. Really, it defies description. You just have to see it to understand. Anyway, whatever you end up seeing, have a great trip.

Patti
Steve
Elspeth
Kestrel
Rowan
and Nike, the wonder dog

!997 Starcraft Venture 2108
2001 Nissan Quest

Yeah, my sister in law went there too and said it was really amazing! Worth the stop.

[trumpet87]

Yeah, my sister in law went there too and said it was really amazing! Worth the stop.

Sorry, I was referring to the CORN PALACE