South Dakota Trip Report 1
Jun 14th, 2003, 05:37 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
South Dakota Trip Report 1
Eleven days on the road are history. Our visit to South Dakota was wonderful. We left South Arkansas at 11AM and arrived in Salina KS at 8 PM, ate at a huge buffet at the Sizzler and stayed at the Super 8. Our son loved the skate park across the street, and for him the trip could have ended there.
After driving thru rain all day the next day we stopped for coffee in downtown Denver at a cutesy little spot called the Evil Bean, after an espresso, cappichino and reg coffee, we drove on into Wyoming.
Wanting to stay out in the middle of nowhere, we stopped for the night at another Super 8 in Chugwater WY. Very cozy, with Western motif and log cabin feel, the adjacent restaurant served buffalo burgers that were very dry, but the people were extremely friendly.
Day 3 the vacation really begins here. We stopped during a sunny period of the day, took a side road up high into the country and watched what we thought were antelope play in the grassland, got great photos, we were told later these were pronghorn deer. Onward to Montana, visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It was awesome to see the gravestones marking where the soldiers fell scattered along the country side. Last Stand Hill gave me the same foreboding feeling I had standing in front of the Vietnam Memorial in DC. I was glad to see the Indians also had a memorial on the battlefield. Looking over the land one can understand why the Indians believed it to be sacred, miles and miles of beautiful rolling hills. The museum and story were very moving.
We spent the night in Hardin, Montana which is a pit. The frustrated girls working behind the counter at the DQ were covered in dried food as tho a food fight had earlier occurred. We were determined to drive the 50 miles back to Sheridan WY when we came upon a little mom and pop motel off the beaten path. The Western Inn was clean and away from the bars and casinos of Hardin. However, it was in a more residental area and it seemed drunken parties were in progress all over the neighbor hood, after a less than restful night, we were happy to move on.
The next morning we drove to Devil's Tower, of the whole trip, this was the one place we could have skipped. It was a photo op but not much else, in the rain the winding roads that went in and out of the area were not pleasant to travel, the country side was nice though.
More to come...Rushmore, Crazy horse etc.
After driving thru rain all day the next day we stopped for coffee in downtown Denver at a cutesy little spot called the Evil Bean, after an espresso, cappichino and reg coffee, we drove on into Wyoming.
Wanting to stay out in the middle of nowhere, we stopped for the night at another Super 8 in Chugwater WY. Very cozy, with Western motif and log cabin feel, the adjacent restaurant served buffalo burgers that were very dry, but the people were extremely friendly.
Day 3 the vacation really begins here. We stopped during a sunny period of the day, took a side road up high into the country and watched what we thought were antelope play in the grassland, got great photos, we were told later these were pronghorn deer. Onward to Montana, visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It was awesome to see the gravestones marking where the soldiers fell scattered along the country side. Last Stand Hill gave me the same foreboding feeling I had standing in front of the Vietnam Memorial in DC. I was glad to see the Indians also had a memorial on the battlefield. Looking over the land one can understand why the Indians believed it to be sacred, miles and miles of beautiful rolling hills. The museum and story were very moving.
We spent the night in Hardin, Montana which is a pit. The frustrated girls working behind the counter at the DQ were covered in dried food as tho a food fight had earlier occurred. We were determined to drive the 50 miles back to Sheridan WY when we came upon a little mom and pop motel off the beaten path. The Western Inn was clean and away from the bars and casinos of Hardin. However, it was in a more residental area and it seemed drunken parties were in progress all over the neighbor hood, after a less than restful night, we were happy to move on.
The next morning we drove to Devil's Tower, of the whole trip, this was the one place we could have skipped. It was a photo op but not much else, in the rain the winding roads that went in and out of the area were not pleasant to travel, the country side was nice though.
More to come...Rushmore, Crazy horse etc.
Jun 14th, 2003, 12:01 PM
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After four dfays on the road we were happy to arrive at our cabin at Mountainview Lodge in Hill City South Dakota. We were pleasantly surprized to find a small cabin with knotty pine panelling ceiling to floor, a deck complete with a gas grill and a campfire pit. We enjoyed grilling our dinner and breakfast and eating outside. The owners had a campfire and served smores in the evening and the guests could join in getting to know each other and sharing experiences of what they had visited. Because of this, we visited Bear Country and was pleased to have done so. Watching bear cubs play was intriguing, plus there wer buffalo, praire dogs, wolves, sheep and rams, bobcats etc. to see.
Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Wind Cave were our first stops. Rushmore was alot smaller than I thought, but from a distance it seemed larger than up close. I was amazed to find out Crazy Horse had been in the works since 1948. We probably will not live long enough to see it finished. It was a joy to watch the Sioux war dancers at the monument. Wind Cave was pretty tedious of a climb and not that impressive.
Flags and WHeels indoor go cart and paint ball place in Rapid City provided entertainment for some of the rainy days. The highlight of the trip was the dinner at the Ft. Hayes Chuckwagon dinner and show, which was stolen by Porkchop the comedian. The meal was delicious. The buildings surrounding the dinner building were the set of the epic film DANCES WITH WOLVES and interesting to see. The scenery behind the theatre was grand.
The drive thru Custer wildlife loop was long, but the drive up thru Needles Byway was great. Climbing on the rocks was thrilling. We had to measure our van to make sure we would fit thru the smallest of the tunnels, we did with several inches to spare.
On to Wall Drug, which I loved, I found lotsa bargins and shopped unitl I dropped. We drove thru Badlands and got a sunburn sitting oput on the rocks.
Ate at the Cave across from Wall Drug, the owner doesn't want pizza served in the dining room so we took our son into the bar to eat pizza. I suggested to the bartender to remind the owner that in some states children under 18 are not allowed in the bar. He should really rethink the situation, especially the number of families that visit wanting pizza with small children, my child is 15.
This is the down side of the trip we drove home thru Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri. Of all we tried to stay all night in Omaha, but could not find suitable lodging everything was on top of itself.
I have 2 hours of video and eight rolls of film to have developed. And must return to work in 2 days. next vacation i n OCT. How far away is that???
Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Wind Cave were our first stops. Rushmore was alot smaller than I thought, but from a distance it seemed larger than up close. I was amazed to find out Crazy Horse had been in the works since 1948. We probably will not live long enough to see it finished. It was a joy to watch the Sioux war dancers at the monument. Wind Cave was pretty tedious of a climb and not that impressive.
Flags and WHeels indoor go cart and paint ball place in Rapid City provided entertainment for some of the rainy days. The highlight of the trip was the dinner at the Ft. Hayes Chuckwagon dinner and show, which was stolen by Porkchop the comedian. The meal was delicious. The buildings surrounding the dinner building were the set of the epic film DANCES WITH WOLVES and interesting to see. The scenery behind the theatre was grand.
The drive thru Custer wildlife loop was long, but the drive up thru Needles Byway was great. Climbing on the rocks was thrilling. We had to measure our van to make sure we would fit thru the smallest of the tunnels, we did with several inches to spare.
On to Wall Drug, which I loved, I found lotsa bargins and shopped unitl I dropped. We drove thru Badlands and got a sunburn sitting oput on the rocks.
Ate at the Cave across from Wall Drug, the owner doesn't want pizza served in the dining room so we took our son into the bar to eat pizza. I suggested to the bartender to remind the owner that in some states children under 18 are not allowed in the bar. He should really rethink the situation, especially the number of families that visit wanting pizza with small children, my child is 15.
This is the down side of the trip we drove home thru Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri. Of all we tried to stay all night in Omaha, but could not find suitable lodging everything was on top of itself.
I have 2 hours of video and eight rolls of film to have developed. And must return to work in 2 days. next vacation i n OCT. How far away is that???
Jun 15th, 2003, 07:59 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Arkansasnurse for the report! We are going to Yellowstone in Aug. From there we drive to Deadwood for the night. How long of a drive is it to Mt Rushmore from Deadwood? Is Wall Drug in that area? Do you know how long of a drive is it from Deadwood to Custer State Park which is our next destination? Any info will be appreciated.
Jun 20th, 2003, 11:58 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The hiway between Deadwood and Custer SP is closed for construction, it's #385. Deadwood is north of Custer approx 50 miles away, Rushmore is closer than that. of all I wish we hadn't wasted a day at Custer SP, because you have to make reservations by 2pm to ride the chuckwagon out to the prairie for dinner, we missed this, otherwise I would have skipped the park all together. Wall is approx 50 miles east of Rapid City, Badlands entrance is near Wall. Badlands is about a half day adventure, then we visited Wall Drug in late afternoon. if you go into Badlands take plenty of water, it is hot and dry. Hope this helps. please let me know what you thought/did/enjoyed.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jfawp
United States
45
Nov 18th, 2009 10:10 AM
lyntom
United States
2
Aug 2nd, 2005 02:52 PM
