As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Any tips? Besides Mt Rushmore, we don't know for sure what to do. Two adults, no kids, one night in the Badlands (Cedar Pass Lodge) and 3 in Custer State Park (Blue Bell).
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We did the buffalo safari in Custer State Park.
If your stomach can handle it, drive the scenic highways -- Needles, Pinnacles etc. Roads like that give me the creeps and I've said I'd need valium to do it again, but I'm still glad we did.
The Borglum museum (in Keystone I believe) was interesting -- gave a bigger perspective on Mt Rushmore.
Don't shortchange your time at Mt Rushmore. We expected to be underwhelmed -- thought we'd get there, go "yeah, it's faces in rock" and be willing to leave. But it was impressive. Nice visitors center/museum and a walking trail along the bottom of the mountain.
When you go to the badlands, stop in Wall Drug. It a very touristy place but that is what is fun about it. Been around since the depression.
I would skip Crazy Horse. It really has been the joke to most of the residents of SD. It will never be finished in our lifetime. I doubt in my children's life time. You can see Crazy Horse from the road & save the $20.
The needles are very pretty. The roads to wind and have sharp curves but it is a pretty drive.
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Wind Cave was a very nice guided hike with a National Park Ranger. Different legnth hikes were available at different (resonable) prices. Jewel Cave is also run by the park service.
If you are interested in the Cold War, visit the Minuteman Missle Site. This is located very near the Badlands. Run by the National Parks, this had to be reserved far in advance, but was free for a tour with a very small group.
I'll second the idea of Needles highway, a great scenic drive. Another great drive/hike is Spearfish Canyon. Many waterfalls are a short to medium hike away from the road. (The winter scene at the end of Dances with Wolves was filmed there.) Gorgeous!
A little further south of Custer State Park is the town of Hot Springs where the Mammoth Site is located. This is an active archaelogical dig in the summer. It is now under a roof and air-conditioned. You stand on walkways above the dig and can converse with the team working there. Many museum quality exhibits too.
We took a day trip away to visit Devils tower. Deadwood was interesting, but not being gamblers, we probably would not go back again.
Take time to watch all the great wildlife. There is too much to do in this beautiful area, but avoid the many tourist traps!
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10/96 - All Star Sports, 11/03 - CBR
9/05 - Wonder Cruise, 7/06 - Disneyland
11/08-All Star Sports - 7/09 Ft. Wilderness
11/14- AKL Jambo House
Wind Cave was a very nice guided hike with a National Park Ranger. Different legnth hikes were available at different (resonable) prices. Jewel Cave is also run by the park service.
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A little further south of Custer State Park is the town of Hot Springs where the Mammoth Site is located. This is an active archaelogical dig in the summer. It is now under a roof and air-conditioned. You stand on walkways above the dig and can converse with the team working there. Many museum quality exhibits too.
We took a day trip away to visit Devils tower. Deadwood was interesting, but not being gamblers, we probably would not go back again.
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We were also underwhelmed with Deadwood. Thought it was just us -- DH's friends from work love the place.
Mammoth Hot Springs was really neat. I'd forgotten about there.
If you're driving from TX you can probably pick up Devil's Tower on the drive one way or the other.
Thanks-Mammoth Hot Springs sounds especially cool-I didn't know about that. That cold war missle site sounds interesting. How far in advance would you suggest booking? Weeks? A month? Several months?
Check the NPS.gov website. I think that summer reservations opened up sometime in April. With 6 in my family, there was only one time slot for us available on the two days we could make it there. That was in a phone call in the afternoon of the VERY FIRST DAY they first opened reservations. The groups were small (maybe 8-10?) They did start doing some open houses there, but they were for larger groups and I don't think they had the personalized tour that visited the underground command site. I don't know if they still do that (we went summer 2008.)
The National Park Service website has lots of great info, check them out. There are so many National Parks, Monuments, and other sites in the Black Hills/Badlands area! Times, prices, tours etc. are all detailed along with necessary info (like how to dress and how to prepare for your visit) is included. We love the National parks with their knowledgable rangers and low or even free prices.
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Katydid
10/96 - All Star Sports, 11/03 - CBR
9/05 - Wonder Cruise, 7/06 - Disneyland
11/08-All Star Sports - 7/09 Ft. Wilderness
11/14- AKL Jambo House
When you go to the badlands, stop in Wall Drug. It a very touristy place but that is what is fun about it. Been around since the depression.
I agree as a kid we always stopped here and it was still a hoot to see Wall Drug.
I would skip Crazy Horse. It really has been the joke to most of the residents of SD. It will never be finished in our lifetime. I doubt in my children's life time. You can see Crazy Horse from the road & save the $20.
I have to disagree with chillepepa on this one - True Crazy Horse may never be finished in our lifetime but the center the Ziolkowski family have built there is really remarkable. It had been over 15 years since I'd been to the area and while it seemed to me Mt. Rushmore and the Keystone area had become the western version of any tourist trap town (think Poconos, Gatlinburg etc.) I was pleasantly surprised by the changes at Crazy Horse. Where Devils Tower tramples on the rights and wishes of Native Americans - the center at Crazy Horse celebrates them and tries to educate the public. Before you make up your mind check out their website Crazy Horse - Black Hills South Dakota
We stayed one night in Deadwood - Not impressed
We tried to book a Missile Man Tour about 2 months before our trip but we could not. Although you should have an easier time with only 2 people.
Enjoy the Badlands - I loved it and it may not be around much longer considering all the idiots you see off the marked trails despite warnings posted everywhere.
I'm glad I looked at this thread. DH and I are looking for another road trip to do this summer. We were thinking about driving all the way to yellowstone (about 24 hours ugh!) thinking Mt Rushmore would be a good stopover point. I may see if he just want's to do the badlands area. Sounds like a lot to do.
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I drove through SD on my cross country move in 2001. My friend/driving buddy and I made a stop there and did Black Hills (BEAUTIFUL), Mt. Rushmore, and the Rushmore Caverns (our tour guide there was dreamy ). We did Wall Drug as well...yummy corn on the cob.....OH, I don't remember what state it was in but the Corn Palace was pretty at night....it was a fall move, don't know if they do the whole corn thing in the summer though.
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). We did Wall Drug as well...yummy corn on the cob.....OH, I don't remember what state it was in but the Corn Palace was pretty at night....it was a fall move, don't know if they do the whole corn thing in the summer though.
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