South Dakota is a large state, but, I’ve heard many people say they fly in simply to see Mt. Rushmore and then feel there is nothing else to do. There is a lot of open space. I drove across the state and it does feel there is endless, vast, countryside; flat and plain terrain. But, there is so much more to South Dakota! On one side of the state you have Sioux Falls, a super cool small town you can read about HERE and on the other, you have Rushmore and the many other exciting attractions near it!
2. CRAZY HORSE I am pretty disappointed that I didn’t make it here. Newer than Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy horse sculpture is set to be the world’s largest mountain carving. The two are only 30 minutes apart. While Mt. Rushmore gives you this sense of pride in your country, I believe Crazy Horse is an even more important memorial. Crazy horse, Tusanka Witco, the Lakota leader who led the band of warriors against Custer’s Seventh U.S. Cavalry battalion in the Battle of Little Bighorn or, Custer’s Last Stand is carved in the stone. The memorial is a non-profit site with the purpose of preserving culture, history, and traditions of North American Indians. Currently Crazy Horse’s face is carved but the memorial is still underway with hopes of further carvings, a poem written by Korczak, the sculptor, and the Indian University of North America on either side of the Avenue of Chiefs. It is incredibly important to preserve this history and culture and I highly recommend donating, which you can do HERE. 3. VISIT OR STAY IN RAPID CITY The second largest city in South Dakota, it has that great small town vibe with local restaurants, creameries, a great stroll and a brewery! It will most likely be where you fly in but the town is worth more than a drive through. It is known as “the gateway” to Rushmore but doesn’t have to be just that. It is absolutely a better option than staying in the fake tourist trap town created right outside of Rushmore. 4. HIKE THE BLACK HILLS A small isolated mountain range expanding into Wyoming, the hills offer hikes, caves, waterfalls, open prairies, and even a wine trail connecting 5 different wineries. The highest summit in the range is Black Elk Peak at 7200 feet. Some great hikes include the Sunday Gulch trail, Crow Peak, Flume Trail and Horsethief Trail. 5. TAKE A DETOUR TO AMERICA'S FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT: DEVIL'S TOWER Dip into Wyoming for an incredible site. After driving through flat nothingness for so long you come across this randomly huge rock structure. One of the most fascinating natural occurrences, it is sacred to the tribes of the Northern Plains, as well as a popular spot for crack climbing. You pass a prairie dog sanctuary on your drive up so be very careful not to hit one of these sweet creatures. There are thousands of them, so adorable, popping out and up, looking at you curiously. Once you reach the top you can take the Tower Trail around the circumference of the fascinating structure. This 1.3 mile, paved and popular, stroll gives not only grew views of the tower and those climbing it but also some amazing lookout points at the surrounding landscape. It is a calming stroll through ponderosa pine. You’ll see prayer cloths dangling from trees as you walk. Do not touch, disturb, remove or photograph the cloths, as they are sacred to Native American religious ceremonies. How exactly the tower was formed is still debated by scientists but you can read a little about their theories HERE. 6. FIND OUT WHAT "WALLDRUG" IS
East Coasters, like me, are familiar with South of the Border. This is…similar. Wall Drug is a Drug store turned roadside attraction. The tourist stop started simply with the offer of free ice water! Read more about it HERE. You can find cafes, homemade donuts, 5 cent coffee and more! While the place may seem random, it is actually featured worldwide through the “How many miles to Wall Drug” billboards. They can be found in Paris, Taj Mahal, and even….Antarctica. The store itself offers free signs and bumper stickers for all! And of course, in our modern day of social media, it is recommended to take a picture and hashtag it! 7. GO TO BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Just an hour and 30 minutes from Mt. Rushmore is one of the most amazing national parks: the Badlands. Like Devil’s Tower it kind of appears out of nowhere and then suddenly you are surrounded by this eccentric terrain. There are several cool hikes and it is super doable with just a couple of hours. Try the Door, the Window and the Notch Trail!
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