We're taking a major road trip this summer -- 6000 miles round trip from California to Michigan via South Dakota and Louisiana-- with our four kids, ages 18,16,13&9. I'm looking for some "travel break" stops along some parts of the route, something that will give the us all a break from the monotony of a long day's drive, but not take so long as to mess up our day's schedule. Whether it's the world's largest ball of twine or the corn palace or just a great park that's easy to find. So how 'bout it? Anybody have ideas about a great little stop? The routes that I'm especially interested in are Denver to Mount Rushmore, Mount Rushmore to Chicago, Indianapolis to Louisiana (via St. Louis) and Louisiana to Oklahoma City (via Dallas). Thanks.

I think I've seen a book that highlights such places in the travel section in the bookstore (check on Amazon site). Might be fun to buy and have the kids go through ahead of time and each choose a few favorites that they'd like to see. How long is your vacation going to be? Are you spending the entire time driving? Or do you have plans to stay in Michigan for a while once you get there?

Check out the Roadside America web site for some destination ideas:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map.html

How about Wall Drug in South Dakota. You will see signs for hundreds of miles before you get there, even if there is nothing there, you will have to stop, just because of the signs. You can have a buffalo burger there. & yes, if you don't already know, there is a Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. I remember stopping there on a trip when I was 14 yrs old. Also, depending upon which route you take & if you have time, there is a very scenic drive from Minneapolis to Winona Mn along the Mississippi River, with a number of towns along the way, & scenic overlooks & the possibility of seeing bald eagles or golden eagles. I have seen them along that drive. You can pick the interstate HWY again just south of Winona.

Let us know if you see Al and Tipper hitchin' anywhere.

Shirley, South Dakota is blessed with several such places. In Deadwood, not far from Rapid City, your kids can see Wild Bill Hickock's and Calamity Jane's graves in the terrific town cemetery. You know about Wall Drug, then a bit further east on I-90 is Mitchell, SD, with the wonderful Corn Palace, an ideal hour or two's stop. Later, in southern Minnesota, don't miss the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth.

Thanks for the help. I'm so happy to get ideas for South Dakota, as the stretch of the trip after Mount Rushmore until we reach Michigan was looking like a lot of driving without many interesting stops.
To answer a few questions: we're talking about 4 weeks for the entire trip, which includes almost a full week with out friends in Mount Pleasant Michigan.

If the 9 or 13-year-old are girls, consider stopping at some of the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites in South Dakota and Minnesota. There are several. Contact tourist boards in both states.

Ahhh, the memories. I remember doing the same thing as a kid. Between backseat squabbles, license plate bingo and singing the same song 500 times till parents were insane we saw everything. The F-Troop set, Stuckeys, the World's Largest Ball O' String...

Funny, I think the reality of it is it isn't until years later you look back and understand what a great experience it is.

I envy and pity you all at once.

Sioux Falls, S.D. might be a good layover for you between the Black Hills and Michigan. Interstate Highway 90 is a nice stretch of road. Here are a few of my regular stopovers

Wall Drug. Lots of Kitsch that the kids will love.
Al's Oasis. A nice sized truck stop with a decent cafe, lots of selection to restock provisions, etc.
The car museum in Murdo.
The Corn Palace in Mitchell.
Sioux Falls.
It'll take you six or seven hours to drive the length of the state. If you want, you can scoot up to Pierre to see the state capital and see where Dances With Wolves was filmed.
East of Sioux Falls, in Pipestone, is a nice state park with a large herd of buffalo. Jim Brandenburg's studio there is also of interest. He's a former National Geographic photographer who has specialized in pictures of wolves in the wild.
If you get to Jackson, Minnesota, you can duck down into Iowa (a 20 minute drive) and spend the night in the Iowa Great Lakes. Lots to see and do there. The coney-island style amusement park is a must.
If you think you might be in Iowa, let me know and I can give you other ideas about things to see and do here.