sarahbyu1

I'm taking my Texan hubby and our three kids (6, 4, 2) up to South Dakota to visit family next week. We'll be gone for two weeks. We're driving up through:
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska
Iowa
and South Dakota
On the way there and back, we're trying to hit as many Jr Ranger programs as we can. Any advice on must sees and must dos along the way?

In SD, we're going to De Smet and staying at the Ingalls Homestead in a covered wagon one night, and watching the play.
We're going to Aberdeen to Wylie Park, the Land of Oz, and Storybook Land.
We're going to Mitchell to see the Corn Palace.
We're going to Rapid City to see cousins, visit Bear Country, Dinosaur Park, Storybook Island, and WaTiki Waterpark.
We're going to Custer State Park (my childhood favorite!) to stay in a cabin at State Game Lodge, go on the Chuckwagon Dinner ride at Blue Bell, and to see Mt. Rushmore.
We're going to the night lighting at Crazy Horse.
We're going to Hot Springs to see family, stay at the Historic Log Cabin hotel, do the summer camp at Mammoth Site, and play putt putt.
Then we're heading on home!
Any advice on new things to do or if these things are nasty/junky now? I haven't been to SD in over a decade.
Thanks!

hulajake

If this isn't too late to add on while you're in the Black Hills area Wind Cave is on the list.
Plus a couple of sites on the Nebraska side of the border around there are Ft Robinson the site of Crazy Horse's death and Toadstool Park.
On your return there is the Desoto Bend NWR and across the river in Blair is the Tower of the Four Winds.
http://www.benpark.org/about.htm
South of Blair is Ft Atkinson the first fort west of the Missouri River.