South Dakota Vacations Idea #1:
Wind Cave National Park, in the south-west corner of the state, is mostly open grassland. It's small size and large populations of prairie animals like bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs make wildlife watching fun and easy. Beneath the 30 miles of hiking and nature trails lies Wind Cave with tours that range from 45 minutes up to 4 hours.
Vacation Ideas in South Dakota #2:
Take a scenic drive in the fall and enjoy the beauty of the colorful landscape as the season begins to change. The 20-mile route through
Spearfish Canyon is a great place to take in the fall colors. The
Native American Scenic Byway takes you through the heart of South Dakota's Indian Country. The
Lewis and Clark Trail follows the explorers' route through South Dakota in the fall of 1804. Besides the leaves full of color you will enjoy plenty of other sights such as waterfalls, wildflowers and wildlife.
South Dakota Vacations Idea #3:
Who can resist four 60-foot tall rock faces of American Presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It's
Mount Rushmore, of course. Get a good view from the half-mile walking trail
Presidential Trail, and Grandview Terrace. There are interpretive programs, exhibits and a film at the
Lincoln Borglum Museum. Take in the
Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony in the amphitheater.
Vacation Ideas in South Dakota #4:
For hiking you can't beat
Custer State Park. Hiking is allowed anywhere in the 71,000 acre park. There are also many designated trails with a wide range of difficulty. You can fish, swim, mountain bike, horseback ride, or auto-tour the 3 scenic drives. The park has one of the largest bison herds in the
South Dakota Vacations Idea #5:
For a road trip in South Dakota, try the
Native American National Scenic Byway. This route takes you through South Dakota's scenic praire grass country. You can spot praire dogs as well as herds of bison and elk, deer and pronghorn. The Native American Scenic Byway starts in Chamberlain, South Dakota and heads north for 350 miles to end up in Bismark, North Dakota. It runs through the Native American reservations of Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock, Crow Creek and Lower Brule Sioux. You can stop at the reservations and learn about Native American history and way of life. There are numerous places to visit along the way such as the replica of Fort Manuel, which includes a museum; Farm Island Recreational Area where you can go swimming, camping, boating, and fishing; The Sakakawea and Sitting Bull Monuments.
South Dakota Vacations Idea #6:
Another South Dakota road trip idea is the
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway through the Black Hills Forest, Custer State Park, and past Mount Rushmore, Harney Peak, Sylvan Lake, the Needle's Eye. This is beautiful country and you need to take your time to really appreciate and enjoy the trip with it's numerous sharp twists and turns, narrow granite tunnels and 1930's era "pigtail bridges". The Needles Highway was blasted out of the towering stone spires of the Black Hills and during the winter this section is used for cross-country skiing.
South Dakota Vacations Idea #7:
The U.S. gold rush of the late 1800s hit the town of
Deadwood, South Dakota like no other. This historic town was the scene of greed and lawlessness as the gold fever struck the country. Today the town is a National Historic Landmark. Come to Deadwood and see the Mount Moriah Cemetery, also known as Boot Hill, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. The Old Style Saloon #10 holds a re-enactment of Wild Bill's fatal shooting. As saloons and betting parlors were everywhere back in the day, today you can you can still play poker, blackjack, slots and other games at some 80 establishments. The Adams Museum and House has lots of period artifacts and photos on display. A fun way to experience the town is on a guided Segway tour offered by Rushmore Segway.
South Dakota Vacations Idea #8:
Wounded Knee, South Dakota is the site of the last major battle fought between the US army and American Indians. It was a massacre of the Indians and effectively ended the Indian Wars. The battlefield, along with a cemetery for those killed in the fight, lies within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. North from the battle site, at the West entrance to the Bad Lands National Park is the
The Wounded Knee Museum. Here the exhibits and photographs provide a vivid picture of the events that surrounded the Wounded Knee Massacre.
