South Dakota Vacation

We took a trip to South Dakota last week.  Pulling our pop-up camper the entire way. It really was a good trip.  We started our trip in Mitchell, SD.  In a hotel.  I seriously love the dear hubs for starting our vacay in a hotel.  It gave me that breath of "okay, I can do this" fresh air.  We woke to a continental breakfast and off to the Corn Palace.  We sat through the video describing the who's and the what for's.  I could have hung around that place for at least a couple hours. I mean, it was ALL about corn!  What's not to love?!

Next stop:  Badlands, SD.  We stayed at the White River KOA in the Badlands.  We were very pleased with our stay.  The grounds were well maintained, bathrooms were clean and up-to-date, and the pool area was inviting.   How can I describe the Badlands if you haven't been there?  One word:  unbelievable.  I mean, it totally looks as if man chiseled the rock formations, it is so perfect.  Seriously, only one person could own such beauty and that is God.  Pure and simple.  Talk about majesty, the Badlands sure has it going on.  It's one of those places you can just sit and take in the surroundings.  The days were super hot but it didn't feel like it because the wind was always blowing and the humidity was low.  While there, we had the opportunity to see a wild coyote, bullsnake, prairie dogs, big-horned sheep and a rattlesnake along the road. 

the girlies being brave

 Really, my all-time favorite was the sign that said "beware of rattlesnakes".  I'm not kidding you.  I got an up-close and personal pic, I was so fond of it.  lol. Those are the little girlies being all brave. You know they were more than a little nervous they'd come across a rattler as we were hiking.  We did come across a snake.  A bullsnake, which we heard were not poisonous.  The girlies and I ran for cover while the dear hubs took lots of pictures of it.  True story.


We can't forget about Wall Drug.  If you don't know much about Wall Drug, you're not alone.  I didn't know anything about it.  And since I didn't really read the 411 in the cute little pamphlet we picked up, read this.  We ate at the Cactus Cafe, which was just "okay".  I did like their home-made onion rings, but boy, did I pay for it later. 

On the way out of town, we stopped off at the Prairie Homestead.  The girlies got to dress up in "old" fashion and play the part of pioneers who came through the Dakotas and settled in the Great Plains.  We visited the old sod house and got a vision of how they lived back in 1909.  I'll just tell you, we had the cutest little prairie girlies I've ever seen.  They totally enjoyed dressing up and playing the part.  


Next stop:  Custer, SD.  We stayed at the Flinstones Bedrock City Theme Park and Camping Resort for four nights.  I'll spare you the fiasco we gave the check-in dude and not mention we switched sites three different times within the first 30 minutes of arrival.  Oops!  Did I just say that?!  Once we got situated, though, we were set.  The grounds were clean.  Bathrooms could stand a coat of paint, or two.  No ice cream at the store (which we are totally used to ;).  The first night was unbelievably windy.  I thought our camper was ready for take-off on more than one occasion.  How windy was it, you ask?  It was so windy I took a Dramamine before I went to bed that night. It felt like we were on some kind of bad commuter flight.  No kidding. 

The second day in Custer, we headed for Mount Rushmore.  Yeah, it was that and more. It's like I couldn't really quit looking at it.  We seen it from so many different angles, it was crazy.  We saw Washington's face driving up the mountain before we even got to the gate of the park.

Washington

This is what it looked like from our vantage point.  Then you're inside the park and you're walking towards the monument and at first it seems kinda smallish.  But you continue to walk closer and closer and you're like, wow.  This thing's huge.  We took the hike up the mountain and down the mountain, taking pictures all along the way.  It's like you can't quit taking pictures; like you can't get enough.  Because you know you're leaving in a few days and you want as much memory as you can hold; both mentally and physically.  It was amazing to think of the men that sat on top of that mountain, for years, sculpting the president's heads.  The endurance and perseverance they had to see this to completion.  I love seeing things like this at my age.  I definitely appreciate it so much more and can see all the hard work and patience that went into this project that we, and millions others, are able to enjoy.

We visited Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD.  It was interesting and the girlies had fun.  You can only guess what we seen at Reptile Gardens.  Yep.  Reptiles.  I didn't see any gardens, though.

Custer State Park revealed less wildlife than what we seen in the Badlands.  That is, until the second day we drove through.  The dear hubs was NOT leaving SD until we seen a buffalo.  And not just one buffalo.  He wanted to see a herd.  Okay, this proved to be harder than what seems it should have been.  But alas!  As they say, the proof is in the pictures.  And we got pictures.  Lots and lots...and lots.  Okay, this isn't a herd, but it's a pretty good picture, right?


The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD was a very cool attraction.  Check it out!  I will never look at a sink hole in the same way.

Okay, I didn't mention Cosmos Mystery Area.  This was one whacked out place!  It was all about the gravity in this certain area back in the woods on a hill.  You'll have to read about it because I'm still not sure I understand it myself.  Well, they call it a mystery for a reason.  Trust me, it was worth the side trip.  Got some good pictures too!  Did I mention we took a lot of pictures on this trip? 

Okay, where are we?  Oh yeah, Custer, SD.  We're back at the campsite getting all packed up.  It was a good trip.  We all survived.  What I neglected to tell you was that we were in one of the worst hailstorms of our lives.  Remember what I said about the proof?  Yes, we have proof.  In pictures.  It was unbelievably crazy, but no one was hurt.  Our camper is a different story.  The hail put about 7 holes in the top of our camper.  Bottom line:  new camper top.  

Okay, we're home now.  And that was a semi-quick rundown of our SD trip.  The dear hubs asked if I would make that trip again some day.  Um...been there, done that.  On to newer ground.  Until next time:  Happy kids, camping, and beyond.