Missed Places in South Dakota
Dear Savvy Traveler,
The advice you gave to a family going across country with two children ages
13 and 9 was anything but savvy. It may have been fine if these folks have
plenty of money but you totally missed some inexpensive and magnificent
stops on their way out west. If they are smart they will just skip the big
cities (Chicago and Minneapolis) and concentrate on the fantastic natural
places they can encounter. The mighty Mississippi is worth more that just
a gander if they have never seen it before.
In South Dakota they should hit the Corn Palace in Mitchell, Wall Drugs if
they have to, and most importantly the Badlands which are free and
outstanding. How could you have neglected to clue them into this stop is
beyond me. The kids will have a great time climbing the weird landscape
and may just see some bison if they go off the beaten track. Also, in the
black hills besides MT. Rushmore, is Custer State Park, The Needles, Jewel
Cave, and Wind Cave. They are also very close to Devils Tower in Wyoming.
All of this is available even before they get near the Rocky Mountains.
They can take the kids to museums and planetariums at home. Get them
outside for these natural wonders and they will fall in love with South
Dakota as much as I and my husband did when we made this trip last year
with our two children ages 8 and 13. From one who's been there:
Rachel
a South Dakotan wannabe
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