Happy (almost) 4th of July from my family to yours!
What are you doing this 4th of July? Traveling? Backyard barbecuing? Soaking in the bug spray and watching the fireworks?
I’m headed to the land of Great Faces and Great Places—South Dakota. I’m originally from Rapid, as we locals affectionately call it, and I still have a lot of friends and family there.
If you’re wondering what the heck there is to do there, you’re not alone. My Colorado cronies ask that a lot, so I put together a little Mini-SoDak Travel Guide in case you ever get a hankering to go.
See the “Heads”
Otherwise known as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the heads are worth putting down your selfie stick for. Wander the visitors center and learn how Gutzon Borglum and his men took only 14 years to carve George, Abe, Theodore, and Jefferson into the granite.
For family fun, walk the boardwalk shops in Keystone and pose for an old-time photo at Samuel's Studio.
For train fans, hop a hide on the 1880s stream train. We’ve done this a couple of times during the Christmas season and traveled all the way to the North Pole!
Explore Custer State Park
Custer State Park and Needles Highway are musts for any bonafide nature lover. You can see where the buffalo roam, explore underground at Jewel Cave, hike, or eat at the State Game Lodge like Calvin Coolidge once did.
The Small of America: Rochford
Once home to the smallest mall in America, one of my favorite places in the hills (and the world) is Rochford, SD. There, you’ll find the Moonshine Gulch Saloon. It’s way more hipster than when I frequented it and is the inspiration for the name of my business. I grew up exploring the forest service roads on dirt bikes and ATVs and visiting the springs at Black Fox Campground.
The Badlands National Park & Wall Drug
You might recognize Badlands National Park's otherworldly beauty from movies like Armageddon or Starship Troopers. With its striking rock formations and colorful buttes, you’ll discover some of the world’s richest fossil beds. It’s hot there, though, so pack water, try to go early, and watch out for rattlers. And don’t forget to make a pitstop at Wall Drug for “free ice water” and a ride on a Jackalope.
Also nearby, check out the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. If you plan just right, you can even schedule a tour to see the Delta-09 missile up close underground.
A Work In Progress: Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial has been a work in progress since I was a young whippersnapper. I haven’t visited for years, but I look forward to it on our next trip. For just $30, we can pack the car full of kids and cousins, get a good gander at the memorial from the veranda, visit three different museums, and take in any Native American cultural events happening that day.
A Family Favorite: Storybook Island
Storybook Island is a family favorite. I went there when I was little. We’ve been there with my cousins and my cousin’s kids, and my tweens and teenagers still love walking around and seeing what’s stayed the same and what's changed.
Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it was founded in 1959 by Merle Gunderson and the Rapid City Rotary Clubs. They’ve been in operation for 65 years and have always had free admission in the summer. It’s perfect for youngsters and the elementary school crowd. If your kids decide to ride the train or take a trip around the carousel, tickets run $3 each.
The Toilet Bowl: WaTiki Indoor Waterpark
For year-round aquatic fun, head to WaTiki Indoor Waterpark in Rapid City. It holds the title of the largest indoor waterpark in the Dakotas. We’ve been known to head down the drain of the “Toilet Bowl” water slide multiple times and then float along the lazy river. But be sure to check the weather forecast once we paid the hefty admission fee only for the facility to be shut down due to thunderstorms and lightning nearby. If you’re staying at one of the four hotels connected to the water park, where it’s located, you can get free admission. Bonus!
South Dakota Air & Space Museum
If you’ve decided to hit the Badlands and Wall Drug, consider stopping at South Dakota’s Air and Space Museum located on the way and near Ellsworth Air Force Base. Explore a vast collection of military aircraft, which tells stories about not only past aviation but also the future of aerospace. Admission is free.
Great Faces, Great Places, Downtown Rapid
Downtown Rapid City has a little bit of something for everyone—
- Take the City of Presidents Tour to see life-sized bronze statues of U.S. presidents on street corners, now complete with a self-guided AI Tour Guide.
- Visit the historic Firehouse Brewing Company, South Dakota's oldest operating brewery, for craft beers and delicious food.
- One of my usual summer to-dos is wandering through Art Alley to see what local artists have been up to and taking photos of the kids.
- Visit Main Street Square: During the day, kids can splash in the fountains, and at night, you can jive to a local band. Relax with yoga on the square or shop at the Black Hills Farmer’s Market.
- Dinosaur Park: The 80-foot brontosaurus has been guarding Rapid since the 1930s. Take in the view of Rapid from Dinosaur Park at sunrise or sunset. The cost is free, but there's a souvenir shop where you can shop for must-have tchotchkes before you leave.
Also, if Downtown isn’t your thing in Rapid, visit the Chapel in the Hills. The chapel is an exact reproduction of the famous Borgund Stavkirke of Laerdal, Norway. Built in 1969 as the home for the Lutheran Vespers radio ministry, today you can tour the church, take a prayer walk, visit the museum, or even get hitched there.
Deadwood
Deadwood isn’t far from Rochford, about 30–45 minutes as the crow flies. The town was founded in 1874 during the gold rush. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills. That’s where they came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold, and that's how it got its name. A cast of characters like Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Potato Creek Johnny, and Seth Bullock found their home there, and legends were born.
Nowadays, you can see reenactments of their Wild West gunfights on Main Street or visit a few of their graves at Mount Moriah Cemetry.
You can also try your luck at one of the town's many casinos, but that’s probably my least favorite thing to do there.
Scare the Kids at Bear Country USA
Drive through Bear Country USA, a wildlife park where you can see black bears, wolves, elk, and other wildlife up close from the safety of your car. Just be sure to keep those windows rolled up.
Funny story…
When I was growing up, my dad thought it would be funny to crack the window while a black bear passed our car. Well, five-year-old me saw bear claws in the crack of the window up close and personal. I’m still a little traumatized.
Do You Dig? The Mammoth Site
Located in Hot Springs, The Mammoth Site is an active dig site with the world's largest concentration of mammoth remains. It’s open year-round for anyone channeling their inner Ross Gellar.
My SoDak Bucket List: Things I Haven’t Tried But Want To
Rushmore Tramway Adventures: Alpine Slides, Aerial Adventure Park, Ziplelines and more
Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa: Soak in the Hot Springs and Take a Yoga Class
There you have it. I know there’s plenty I missed that didn’t make it on the list, but I had better get back to work.
Feel free to comment or send me your favorite SoDak spots so I can add them to the list later. And as always, if you have any questions, give me a holler!
Take care, and have a wonderful trip!
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