Review of the Black Hills

Trip to Black Hills, SD

We just got back from a family trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota %26amp; it exceeded our expectations in almost every way. Don%26#39;t get me wrong...like other tourist spots they%26#39;ve figured out how to wrestle away every dollar they can from you, but overall the diversity of attractions, places to stay, food choices, etc. should make it enjoyable %26amp; semi-affordable (we were going to camp but fell into a resort deal that we couldn%26#39;t pass up) for almost anybody. Our 7-year old boy is very impressionable, hung-up on Star Wars, video games %26amp; Indiana Jones %26amp; we wondered if he might think that the old west stuff was too corny. On the contrary, he loved it.

Our review (In completely random order)

Barefoot Resort-our home away from home for the week. I give it pretty high marks (%26amp; those marks may go way up after they re-model %26amp; renovate) as for one reason the scenic views from your balcony are spectacular. It is just outside of Lead, SD on the Terry Peak (ski resort) mountain. My wife would say to the husbands out there...have your car serviced before you go on the trip (we overheated a couple of times driving through the hills %26amp; mountains). The staff at the resort are super friendly %26amp; helpful in every way. We took picnic food %26amp; snacks everywhere we went all week %26amp; saved quite a few bucks in the process.

Devil%26#39;s Tower-You have to drive a few miles into Wyoming to see America%26#39;s 1st National Park/Monument but it is well worth the drive IF you like nature, history %26amp; seeing unique landmarks %26amp; scenery. I had wanted to see it for years ever since I watched the movie, Close Encounters %26amp; we were not disappointed. You can hike the 1.3 mile trail (a fairly easy to moderate walk on a nice trail) %26amp; you will see some absolutely breathtaking views. The rock/tower changes as you go, the vultures are flying overhead, %26amp; you%26#39;ll likely spot some wildlife on your route (take some water with you). For me, one of the highlights of our week!

Spearfish-We attended the Passion Play (I believe they are in their 69th year at that location). While they stay true to the traditional way they have always done it (IF you are ever in Eureka Springs, AR-see the one there-it is really good), it was well done just the same. Our son asked lots of questions %26amp; now knows more about the last week of Jesus%26#39; life than he did before.

We ate at a place that I think was called, Shoot the Bull-really a great restaurant!

Spearfish Canyon-When they say-scenic byway-they aren%26#39;t kidding. While I agree with other posters that the Roughlock Falls are nice to see right up the dirt road, don%26#39;t overlook the short hike to the Spearfish Falls w/ the cool bridge going across the creek-my son thought that was awesome...others there also liked the Bridal Vail Falls.

Lead/Deadwood-While there are probably way too many casinos %26amp; saloons, we still managed to find some family fun along the way. In fact, we attended a couple of the Days of %26#39;76 events while we were there. The parade was awesome (old west themed parade unlike your local parades back home) %26amp; we attended the award winning rodeo on Friday night. I%26#39;m not a rodeo expert, but it was as good as any nationally famous ones I%26#39;ve attended or seen on TV!-reasonably priced, too!

Homestake Gold Mine/Broken Boot Gold Mine- IF I had to choose between these two tours I don%26#39;t know which one we would%26#39;ve picked. They are both unique in their own ways. Homestake shows you the big hole in the middle of town, how the local economy has been affected %26amp; the many ways that they mined the gold as you tour through a fabricated rendition of the mine. Broken boot actually takes you inside the actual cave/mine for their tour. You can do some gold panning at both locations %26amp; we recommend that if you%26#39;ve never done it before...you can just get pans for the kids %26amp; help them unless you want to try your own luck...we found a few flakes so my son thinks we are now rich! The Old buildings/saloons, courthouse, depot, downtown streets, gunfight re-enactments (your kids can be sworn-in as deputies) are all pretty fun. Don%26#39;t forget that in some of the casinos they have props from Hollywood movies; massive train set displays, %26amp; kid arcades in some basements, etc. You can also tour the gravesites of Wild Bill Hickok %26amp; Calamity Jane. There appears to be some nice golf tracks in the area %26amp; some fishing possibilities as well-time did not permit exploration of either! Also, IF you are so inclined don%26#39;t forget the ghost towns of the area. While many are posted %26amp; unreachable there are some you can get to %26amp; stomp around. We found Preston, SD %26amp; it was a trip highlight to just romp around the old buildings.

Mount Rushmore-allow yourself plenty of time at this attraction so that you are not rushed. The earlier in the morning that you can get there the better as you will beat the crowds. The visitor%26#39;s center is nice. Either purchase a headset ($5) or go on a tour with a Park Ranger. Make sure you walk around the trail as you see different views %26amp; get more historical knowledge as you traverse along the path. We also made a return trip (your $10 parking pass is good for the whole year!) later in the week so that we could see the mountain all lit-up at night=that is a sight to see! Keystone had some shops %26amp; other attractions that your kids might want to see, but it was a little too congested for me. Had we stayed a day or two longer we might have taken a helicopter ride. It appeared that those rides were not as expensive as rides in the Grand Canyon, Vegas or other places we%26#39;ve visited %26amp; people who took the rides were ecstatic about their adventures! We drove the Needles highway (one of the coolest %26amp; neatest drives we%26#39;ve ever taken) %26amp; got out %26amp; took some pictures in, around %26amp; on the needles %26amp; the tunnels-we had a lot of fun there. We also drove the iron mountain road %26amp; saw some wild burros %26amp; other wildlife along the way. One of the major highlights of our trip was time spent at Sylvan Lake. You National Treasure 2 fans will recognize it immediately %26amp; our son loved climbing %26amp; exploring the rocks of the lake. We also swam there for two hours (so, don%26#39;t forget your swimsuits, goggles, rafts-tubes, etc.) We swam out to some rocks, jumped off them, %26amp; made some new friends. One regret is that we ran out of time %26amp; didn%26#39;t make it to Custer-I may not live that down. We ate supper in Hill City at the Alpine Inn %26amp; were not disappointed...I believe they have a menu for lunch, but only steaks at night...get there early as the lines are long, but the food was great!

Rapid City-Lots more to do there than meets the eye. One overlooked spot that the little kids like is Dinosaur Park (the other parks in town were nice too)...you have to keep your eyes on them so they don%26#39;t fall down a hill or off a cliff, but they will love climbing on the dinos %26amp; getting their picture on them. We didn%26#39;t make it to the air %26amp; space museum but others staying in our complex said that they really enjoyed it. They also liked the Cosmos experience. We ate supper one night at the Flying T Chuckwagon %26amp; singing cowboy show...there are lots of chuck wagon shows %26amp; if you like that kind of thing you should take one in. We like to visit different churches while on the road %26amp; have to give high marks to the 1st Christian Church on Quincy Road (intersects w/ Mt. Rushmore road I think)...very nice people %26amp; incredibly family friendly...also props to Northpoint in Spearfish

Hot Springs-My old roommate still talks about Evan%26#39;s Plunge, but I took my son down there to the Mammoth Site. IF you like history, paleontology, digging-up bones, etc. this is the place. The only place I%26#39;ve ever been that I can compare it to is the Labrea tar pits of southern California. This site has some 50 mammoths that once fell in a sink hole %26amp; couldn%26#39;t get out. Their bones are almost perfectly in tact %26amp; many of them have been exposed in an indoor facility for you to see %26amp; tour in a state of the art complex. I paid to have my son go on a junior dig (well worth the money-register days before you go as dig spots are almost always sold out unless it%26#39;s off-season) %26amp; he was mesmerized by the experience. The Mammoth Site staff is helpful %26amp; patient with the kids %26amp; the digging adventure teaches them a lot. I was surprised at how the older kids got into it as much as the younger ones. We had a great time at that place. They also have a great store with some unique things for sale. One more thing for the drivers who don%26#39;t like to follow slow-moving RV%26#39;s %26amp; getting snarled-up in traffic=you won%26#39;t be able to avoid it at some spots. However, think 79...it is an expressway you can take south of Rapid City (%26amp; a little east of most attractions but 4-lane) %26amp; it can connect you with about any place you want to go. It will save you time %26amp; get you out of some of that nasty tourist traffic. I also liked driving on 385...it is scenic (you may want to stop at Lake Pactola=what a spectacular view)

Wall/Badlands-We only saw the Badlands from the interstate (yes, I%26#39;m in trouble with my wife %26#39;cause I didn%26#39;t want to take the loop in case our car overheated again down there). Don%26#39;t be negatively influenced by some peoples%26#39; Wall Drug reviews. It is what it is...a unique store with lots of shops inside...you can eat there, take pictures there, play in the fountains %26amp; it is just a great place to let kids run around in. They do have some neat fossils %26amp; dinosaur bones, etc, there too...not to mention western wear, souvenirs, etc.

We stayed in AmericInn driving across SD %26amp; MN...all hotels seem over-priced to me, but these seem to have clean rooms, decent pools %26amp; a hot breakfast before you leave.

IN conclusion, this whole area seems to be overlooked by many vacationers, but we had one of our best vacations ever in the Black Hills. In fact, we had so much fun that we plan to put it back in our rotation %26amp; visit it again in the next few years.

Review of the Black Hills

I%26#39;m glad you had such a great time, though I do have to respond to one part:

';One of the major highlights of our trip was time spent at Sylvan Lake. You National Treasure 2 fans will recognize it immediately %26amp; our son loved climbing %26amp; exploring the rocks of the lake. We also swam there for two hours (so, don%26#39;t forget your swimsuits, goggles, rafts-tubes, etc.) We swam out to some rocks, jumped off them,';

I agree Sylvan is gorgeous and climbing the rocks really fun, however, it%26#39;s posted in several places that it is a $100 fine to jump off the rocks into Sylvan Lake. The rangers sometimes give a warning, other times, they immediately fine the jumpers each $100. It%26#39;s an injury thing, there are underwater rocks you can%26#39;t see.

Review of the Black Hills

Great Report Never enough time here...

Black Hills awesome,as you have said.

Surprised you did not make time for Custer State Park.Also a view of Crazy Horse at least from the highway.Agree with you 100% on the Alpine Inn.

Great thing about the Black Hills everything close by,Beautiful area..

Lohrs-Thanks for catching that...you are right, I mis-spoke or mis-typed as it were. Swimming at Sylvan Lake was more like standing up %26amp; stepping off the rock we had swam out to...thanks for catching that...don%26#39;t want to encourage any risky, unsafe practices. My 7 year old was just thrilled to swim out to the rock...it was the farthest swim he had ever done. Thanks again for noticing that...

And to Joe-we did do the needles highway, iron mountain drive %26amp; of course Sylvan Lake...had car not overheated we would%26#39;ve done Custer wildlife loop, but that just means will have to go back there again sometime!

colorsilk