Summer 09

I%26#39;m planning my summer vacation. Still deciding between Yellowstone and Black Hills. I have a couple of questions I was hoping to get some help with. We live in the Twin Cities, have two teenagers, 16yo son and 14yo daughter. Neither are thrilled about any vacation, but my son is getting closer and closer to college. I want to get one more vacation in before he leaves. We haven%26#39;t had a vacation in years. So, with the teens TV, pool, would be great. Wireless would be an absolute vacation saver. My daughter actually loves to walk, in fact walks almost every single day, still is doing it. My son loves history, not so much of an outsdoor person, but he%26#39;ll go along with it. I love history and wildlife. Hubby will probably bring his bike and do some hiking also. The MOST important thing will be temperatures. I know SD is probably like MN in that it changes and is unpredictable, but I need some input here. We are thinking about the 2nd or 3rd of June. I have seizures and one of the meds I am on decreases my sweating. I know gross, but that%26#39;s life. I%26#39;ve looked up average temps, but that%26#39;s all those are.

After this book, any advice on which would be best for teens and temperatures? Yellowstone or Black Hills? I really appreciate the help.

Missy

Summer 09

I should probably mention, my ideal of a perfect temperature is 60, but I can handle 70. I can also plan to come back to the hotel in the afternoon.

Thanks.

Summer 09

Hi Missy,

We have visited both places. Both are fantastic in their own ways. Based on the description of your family, I%26#39;d choose Yellowstone. SD can get very warm, but I imagine that early June would be ok..it%26#39;s later the summer you can experience the heat. We visited SD in late August and had cool, comfortable temps.

Yellowstone will be cooler, especially at night. Wildlife abounds at every turn. The entire park is very walkable..Most of the major areas all contain boardwalks that are easily navigable. There are so many points of interest in Yellowstone. You will find wildlife, thermal areas, mud pots, waterfalls and other scenic areas, hiking trails, and so much more! You also have Grand Teton National Park, which is also very worthwhile for wildlife and gorgeous scenery.

You mention pool and wireless for your teens. With these in mind, I would advise against staying inside the parks, as you will not find a lot of amenities with in -park lodging. You could make a base in West Yellowstone, MT for touring Yellowstone, and Jackson for touring the Grand Tetons. Both of these small towns will have the amenities you are looking for.

If you haven%26#39;t done so already, I%26#39;d also post in the Yellowstone forum to get some input for that area.

Whatever you decide, you will have a great time. Yellowstone is my favorite vacation,and the Black Hills is my 2nd favorite! Have fun planning.

Hi,

We%26#39;ve been to YNP, GT and Black Hills in early June in 2007 and 2008. Your kids would like both. I actually like YNP the best. If you stay just outside the park then you will have internet and TV. I know how important that is. I have a teenage son. The weather is really nice and cool in early June. Are you driving or flying? If you had long enough you could stop by Mt. Rushmore, etc. on your way to or back from YNP if driving. Post on YNP site and we will be glad to give you lots of help with your trip.

Hi Missy,

As much as I LOVE Yellowstone, I think your kids might be happier in the Black Hills. Yellowstone is an amazing place, but sometimes teenagers don%26#39;t appreciate its wonders. The big attractions involve walking around geyser basin boardwalks, hoping for something to erupt, hiking, and watching wildlife from the side of the road, usually through a telescope.

The Black Hills have things like water and amusement parks and black-light mini-golf. While these are certainly not unique to the area, it allows you to mix historical, natural and cultural attractions with things they are used to doing for fun.

We have been to the Black Hills, the past two years over Memorial Weekend, and high temps were not an issue. In fact it was much the opposite problem. If it does get warm mid-day, you can take a drive up to higher elevations for sight-seeing or hiking (and A/C in the car) or take a cave tour (average temp in the 50%26#39;s).

When you mention that your husband may bring his bike, I assume you mean bicycle, not motorcycle. If that%26#39;s the case, you might check out Mickelson Trail sdgfp.info/parks/…index.htm

Yellowstone has few bike trails and riding on the roads is allowed but somewhat dangerous due to narrow roads and shoulders and large RVs with mirrors that stick way out. Not to mention bison and bears. :-)

You might order a free copy of the South Dakota Travel Guide for more info about the Black Hills, and for Yellowstone, there are many websites with great info, or check your library or local book store for the book Yellowstone Treasures by Janet Chappel.

Just a few thoughts in favor of the Black Hills (and nearby Wyoming attractions)....

1. Caves...always cool (literally and figuratively) so a great place if afternoon temps are too warm. Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and others. Lots of caves in the hills.

2. Stay ';in the hills'; more so than down in Rapid City. Higher elevation is cooler as well as avoiding downslope heating effect in RC.

3. History abounds...not only in Deadwood either. Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse have decent museums with historical items. The Black Hills 1880 Steam Train (http://www.1880train.com/) would be an interesting history angle. About 7 miles into Wyoming on I-90 at the exit for Hwy 111 is the Vore Buffalo Jump where an ongoing archeological dig showcases where the native sin the area drove Buffalo (Bison) over a cliff into a sinkhole. The bones are piled 25 feet deep. http://vorebuffalojump.org/ and

www.sundancewyoming.com/parallel/vore.htm

4. Evan%26#39;s Plunge in Hot Springs is a nice water park / pool but wireless reception may be sketchy or analog only. There is a decent pool at the Bavarian Inn Motel in Custer, SD...actually one indoor and one outside. http://www.bavarianinnsd.com/

5. Some of the reservoirs (like Pactola) are large enough to stay cold all year and chill the air adjacent to them a bit. The earlier in June the better.