Here are Mary’s 5 “must see” tourist stops when going to the Black Hills:
Corn Palace, Mt. Rushmore, Badlands, Crazy Horse, Wall Drug
She was my first guide years ago when we taught a class in South Dakota so when Roy and I did the same mini-vacation, we wanted to repeat ALL the highlights. Wall Drug was the 2nd stop – it is a huge souvenir, tourist trap but I remembered the unbelievable, delicious,great tasting donuts from years ago. Guess what? They are still the unbelievable, delicious, best tasting donuts I’ve ever had. I prefer the plain but the frosted ones are also great with hot coffee. We enjoyed 6 and brought 4 home to Rick and Mary. We enjoyed our time out west – we would add #6 to the “must see” list – Custer State Park. We took our dog, Hope, and she loved the nature trails. Fun!
PS from Mary – Connie will be teaching from our book Civil War Remembered on a cruise in January and I know several of you readers will be joining her. She’s looking forward to meeting the new gals and greeting old friends on this trip. Since I’m not much for traveling, Roy will accompany her on this trip.
You didn’t have time to stop at any of our 3 great quilt shops in Rapid City??
Betty – Roy was along – if I was her traveling companion, you’d better know we’d have found the quilt shops! It all depends on who is planning the trip – ha!
It’s been over twenty years since we went to South Dakota and we did everything except visit the Corn Palace but we did go to Custer State Park where I tried freeing an interesting rock from the ground and looked up because I was hearing a rumbling sound and there was a herd of Buffalo, or I should say, Bison running towards me–never got the rock. And I don’t remember anything about Wall Drug Store donuts–guess we have to go back. And as far as quilt shops, I wasn’t a quilter back then.
I remember fondly of a trip to the Badlands. It was the late 1960’s, I was part of a bus load of church kids. We had the thrill of camping in tents, playing capture the flag, experiencing a rattlesnake in the biffy, slideshow the forestry service put on, visiting with a family from Scotland and many others. Wall Drug and the Corn Palace were favorites, as well as the old Indian at Mount Rushmore.
You could add the Falls park in Sioux Falls to your list. That is a beautiful place for a picnic! Sounds like a fun trip!
I took that trip in 1960 with my family and 1982 with my husband and kids. Fun to remember. There is also a neat place called Medora, North Dakota. In 1960, we stayed in a new hotel that had tile made in Olean, NY which was right near where we lived–small world. Connie and Roy’s trip sounds great.
Oh Connie! My first vacation with Jay was to the Badlans. We drove through it at night and felt like we were on the moon! Mount Rushmore was amazing and Wall Drug was a highlight. I want to go back. Have fun on your cruise.
Thanks for the description of the Wall Drug donuts….I am fond of French Donuts.
Back to some packing…….