Badlands

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studioseven

studioseven

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I am working on crossing items off my bucket list. Last year it was seeing the Grand Canyon. This year it's seeing Mount Rushmore. The wife and I will be staying in Deadwood the first week of October. I'm hoping to indulge in a little Texas Hold-Em but I would also like to see some of the sites in the area. One of my other hobbies is photography. Does anyone have any must sees or dos in the area? Thanks in advance.

Seven
 
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Not quite "in the area", but not too far a drive to Devil's Tower. That's good for a picture or two. If you really want something special, then keep driving west until you hit the Tetons and Yellowstone. You can wear out a couple of cameras in that area easily. It's a long drive, but if you have never been there it should be at the top of your list of places to see.

Of course, you could always head east to Faith, SD if you like taking photos of people. Some real characters in that town. :biggrin:

Ed
 
Did part of that area two years ago. IMHO:

1. You should see Mt Rushmore, but it's only good for an hour or two.
2. Drove past the Crazy Horse Statue. Pretty impressive from the road but didn't stop, so can't comment.
3. Badlands National Park is a must-see. My wife and I spent two nights in a fly infested motel just outside the south entrance and had a great time. Room was furnished with a leather fly swatter. Lots of wildlife and unbelievable moon-like landscapes. The ranger station is just inside the south entrance of the park and had great evening programs.
4. Wall Drugstore just north of the park. Interesting and worth seeing, however The lunch we had there was expensive and (charitably) mediocre. You will see signs for it for hundreds of miles in both directions on I-90.

FWIW,
Bill
 
Nearby Custer State Park is also very much worthwhile. They have America's largest heard of buffalo, which has been the source for almost all the other heards around the country. They spend most of their time right by the road. It also has truly beautiful landscape and rock features.
I second the comment about Badlands. It isn't that far away and it has its own interesting landscape features, radically different from Custer.
Devil's Tower, Yellowstone and Tetons are all great places to see. My wife and I went to all these on a two week trip, and everyone of them was really fun.

Whichever you do, you will be happy you did.

Douglas
 
Crazy Horse Monument is a must see!!! we have been many times thru the area. If you like off the wall kind of things I recommend "The Mystery Spot" and Bear Country USA. All relatively close to Mt Rushmore
 
A few months ago I was out running an errand and made a wrong turn, a very wrong turn http://www.penturners.org/forum/f18/they-got-me-141544/ and ended up right where you're headed. There are a ton of things to do other than Mt. Rushmore. Definitely take a long drive thru the Black Hills, over to Keystone and Hill City and thru Sturgis (bike rally just ended). Beautiful country! Between Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore are a bunch of attractions. Then if you REALLY want to make your trip complete, head about 120 miles east to Faith, SD. That place is bustling with fun people and attractions and what has become the most visited IAP shop in the country. I'm pretty sure the guy who runs it is a descendant of Inspector Gadget from the Pink Panther fame, or maybe the reincarnation of McGyver.
Have a great trip!
 
Marnat3 said:
Crazy Horse Monument is a must see!!! we have been many times thru the area. If you like off the wall kind of things I recommend "The Mystery Spot" and Bear Country USA. All relatively close to Mt Rushmore
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This is a personal opinion and is not that of any other member of this site.

I have been to SD a number of times, as Custer State Park is gorgeous! I have done the 1880's train, which is a must do while there, as well, as Crystal Caverns, Wind Cave NM, and Jewel Cave NM. All are awesome.

As I say that, don't waste your money paying to get in to see Crazy Horse. I have twice, 7 YEARS apart, and after we got home, my wife and I were talking about the trip and we both mentioned how CH had looked almost identical to the first time we were there. So I dug out the photos I had taken the first time and compared them to the second time. There was NO visible difference in the 2 sets of photos. The only difference was the cost to get in. $8.00 the first time, $20 the second. The only major change to the whole area, was a brand new 2 million dollar tourist trap, er, I mean Visitor Center. To get to the outdoor viewing area, you MUST walk the entire VC, past all the "Buy Me Now" trinkets and other stuff. IMO, this whole thing has become nothing more than a money making scheme for the family of the original sculptor.

And, if you think I am being obnoxious, has anyone seen OZZY and son's new TV show? Well, one of the places they visited, last year, I believe, was CHM. They were able to get out to the actual monument and stand on the top of the arm. From everything shown in that episode, they have made 0 progress. Based on what I personally have seen, it will take over 100 more years for them to complete the sculpture to the original specs. I do understand that this is privately funded, by you, me, and everyone else who pays to get in, but, they claimed over 1,000,000 visitors in 2012, the last time we were there. At the rate of $20 bucks a pop (car) and an undisclosed amount per bus, conservatively, they made well over $10,000,000. Why is there not more progress?

Don't take this the wrong way. CHM is an awe inspiring undertaking. The sculpture is HUGE! And, much larger than Rushmore. But you can see it just as well from the road, get the same pics from the road, and not have to pay their demands to do so.

Again, these are my opinions, not those of anyone else, as far as I know.
 
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My wife and I just returned from three days in Lead, South Dakota. Just down the road from Deadwood. Mt Rushmore was great. We did quite a bit of mine tour stuff that was interesting. The Crazy Horse thing was a little on the touristy side, but interesting. There were lots of things to see and do that we didn't have time for.
Beautiful country and friendly people. Not nearly hot as north Texas.
 
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