We will be spending about five days in the Black Hills region of South Dakota in early October, driving in and out of Kansas City. We will be based in Rapid City, and I have already made hotel/motel reservations for our time there and along the route, as we will have our dog with us. We have visited the appropriate SD tourist websites and received their travel booklet.

So - we pretty much know what there is to see and do, which won't, for us, include camping or hiking because of time, age, and physical condition. However, if any of you out there are familiar with this region, I'd appreciate specific advice about restaurants and how to focus our visits to the various historic sites, museums and such in the area, etc. - in other words, not what to do, but how best to do it. What places are absolute "must sees," and, on the other hand, what could we realistically eliminate? I'm thinking, for instance, that Deadwood might not be worth the trip up that way. What do you think?

Thanks!

Ann

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that Deadwood might not be worth the trip up that way.

Annie,
South Dakota and the Mount Rushmore area are on my short list for a US vacation next year. Friends who attended a family reunion recently near Rapid City said Deadwood was a great place to visit. (Tom's exact words were: "I love Deadwood!") When they were there, anthropologists were excavating the Chinatown district, so they got to see the various items as they were dug up. They also said that Custer State Park was lots of fun.

One of the highlights for me when we visited by motorcycle 20 years ago was the Crazy Horse Memorial. It looks like they've made lots of progress over the past 20 years.

I was in Rapid City last week for business, and had no idea I was in the middle of such a great area! I had a free night before I flew home, so rented a car and drove to Mt. Rushmore (about 20 miles). What a fantastic evening ceremony....goosebumps and tears were all over the place!

I've decided that this area goes on my definite list of places to go for a vacation. I'm thinking of taking my nephew there in a couple of years when it is his turn for a trip with T'nan!

Sorry, no specific suggestions, other than catch the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. I really enjoyed the muesum with the history of its making and all the other works of the sculptor.

Anne

Dan and I visited this area for our anniversary trip in June of 2004.
I have to agree with those who said that Deadwood was worth the visit. And like Colleen mentioned, the Chinatown history is the most facinating part.
Plus, Mount Moriah Cemetery where people like Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried.
Mount Rushmore is a spectacular place. And Crazy Horse is cool too, even if I wish they would move a little faster on it.
Devil's Tower was one of my favorite places. I can't tell you how many photos I took of the big hunk of rock. It kept changing with the light and as we walked around it. Beautiful!
The one place I think is really overrated and so NOT worth the time is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. Huge tacky tourist trap in my opinion.
Here is one of my favorite pictures from the Badlands. I bet that car is still there.

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The one place I think is really overrated and so NOT worth the time is Wall Drug in Wall, SD. Huge tacky tourist trap in my opinion.

Thanks, Deborah, for your suggestions and for this comment about Wall. I was wondering whether it would be worth our stopping off there on our way to Rapid City. I had just about decided that we could, indeed, skip the Wall Drug Store except perhaps for a quick look in, but then I read about the Wounded Knee Museum.

Did you go there? Has anybody? They have a good website, but that might be good enough if we're pressed for time.

Your picture's great! We'll be sure to look for the car.

And thanks, Anne, for telling about the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. I didn't know about it. We planned to go there; now I'll make sure we're there at the right time.

Ann

My great-grandma is buried in Mt. Moriah cemetery so I've made several pilgrimages. We had a family reunion at Legion Lake once.

It's been awhile--at least 12 years--but there is--or was--a nice museum in Deadwood. It's probably changed a bit since the HBO hoopla, but last time we were there it was very possible to have a good time there even if you aren't into the casinos (I'm not; I was doing family history). Wall Drug is bizarre and kitschy but skippable unless you're into moth-eaten animatronics.

The Needles Highway going up to Rushmore is lovely--very twisty and turny, lots of vistas. I did like Crazy Horse better than Rushmore, because it's a work in progress and you get a sense of just how difficult making huge monuments is. But Rushmore is worth it--no photo does it justice, and there's a comfy lodge and cafe where you can re-enact the faux shooting scene in North by Northwest if you are so inclined. I loved the Badlands--just driving through it is like driving on the moon. We did a big hike once but not necessary to enjoy it. Gas up before you head out.

Every time I've gone I've stayed at a cabin or in a lodge in one of the Custer State Park facilities. Here's a map of Custer State Park and here's their website. The State Game Lodge is nice--Coolidge used to stay there-- and I think they just renovated it. The lodge at Sylvan Lake is lovely too. You can go on jeep excursions into the buffalo herds from several of the lodges. We went trail riding once I think from Blue Bell.

Thanks for the additional information, Trish. I just checked, but unfortunately the cabins don't permit pets. So I think we'll just keep our Rapid City motel reservations and check out what's going on in the city as well.

Incidentally, TripAdvisor rates this restaurant #1 in Rapid City. It's one of several in the upper midwest, and it's only a short distance from where we'll be staying. Have any of you had any experience with any of these Minerva restaurants?

Ann