Last week, we packed up and hit the road! A couple of years ago, Harper began to talk about visiting South Dakota after seeing commercials on television for it. We had it on the books for last summer, but Covid canceled our plans. So, we were jazzed to finally get to go! And, I think it was for the better. Harper and Jameson were each a year older, so we hope their memories of the trip will stay vibrant and special.
The Black Hills area is only five hours from home. We did not have to depart at zero dark thirty (yay!) in order to make it to our first stop, The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. This neat place is home to the world’s largest collection of mammoth fossils and is an active paleontological site. We signed the kiddos up for a junior paleontology class and dig, and they enjoyed kicking off their shoes and rooting around for mammoth and bear fossils.
When we left Hot Springs, we continued north to Keystone, home to Mount Rushmore and our glamp site. So, I am not a camper. I know … this is shocking. Jason did some camping, mostly in a popup, when he was younger but is out of practice. I say this, because if we are ever going to truly camp, we needed a soft introduction, and glamping was the solution. We splurged and spent the night here. We loved it, and I would try any of their locations. In fact, I am actively looking for an excuse to do it again sooner than later.
Now, there are many Colorado families who are very much real campers. I live in awe of you. I am not one of you. I, by no means, assume that my experience glamping was remotely like any of the actual camping that you do. But the perks sure were fun.
First, we had a view of Mount Rushmore from the grand deck off of the restaurant (yes, I said restaurant). Next, I had a toilet, a shower with hot water, a sink, battery operated fans, and a fluffy king sized bed. There were limitless s’mores and plenty of wine choices. I’m just saying, why would you not want these available to you?
After settling in to our tent and grabbing some supper, we took advantage of the evening summer sun and headed off to see Mount Rushmore. Having not been there since I was ten or twelve, I had such a giddy feeling walking up through the avenue of flags and seeing it once more in person. It is truly magnificent. Better yet, Harper and Jameson were thrilled by it too and had some delightful conversations about which president was carved best. We all liked Roosevelt. There’s something about his glasses that make you say, wow! It was a great place to celebrate our first sunset in South Dakota.
Later at the camp site, we toasted with s’mores and watched the monument get lit up. So neat! The breeze was beautiful, and we slept like babes “camping.” Jameson will tell you that the tent was no good, because it let in six moths. Jameson is 100%, totally committed, to the fear of insects at this moment in time. You understand.
The next morning was calm and lovely. We sketched, drank coffee and cocoa, and went for a long hike before we said goodbye to our tent.
Then, it was off to explore the Black Hills. We had the best time driving through Bear Country, a wildlife preserve just north of the Rushmore area. We saw reindeer, wolves, big horn sheep, bison, and so many bears! It was hilarious and cute!
After a Bear Country picnic (sans bears), we headed for our new digs for the night. A neighbor of ours recommended we try the cabins at a KOA Campground. We rented one here. The people working at the KOA were so kind and welcoming! The cabin itself was impeccably clean and had air conditioning- praise hands. The kiddos were thrilled to crawl up and claim stake in two top bunks.
This KOA also had a pool, a bounce pad, a playground, and a little store. It is obvious why it appeals to families and campers. We were not so crazy, however, about the grounds. Most of the campsites, including the cabins, were just resting on cleared out gravel spots. It did not feel very “outdoorsy.” We pictured trees and woods next to the fire pit, but instead we were parked next to an RV, which was parked next to a row of others and so on. For that reason, I’m not sure we would stay again. But, we made the most of it!
After eggs over the fire the next morning, we were ready to head to the Crazy Horse Memorial. This was a hit for the trip! What a fascinating place! I am so glad we got to see it.
I only wish we could see it finished. I wonder, when Harper and Jameson bring their kids, how different it will look. I sure hope it will look different. When we were there, we learned a great deal about Chief Henry Standing Bear’s work with the Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Since their dream began, so much more has been built, including the Indian University of North America. There is just one worthy cause after another. As we walked away from the memorial, Jameson said he “may consider” working on Crazy Horse for a career. That, or be a WWE super star. He’s undecided.
We snuck in a little alpine slides fun in the hills between Crazy Horse and our evening at Custer State Park.
Before leaving for our trip, we booked a Jeep Safari Tour and Chuckwagon Dinner at Custer State Park for our last evening in town. The park is truly beautiful. In fact, the Black Hills scenery is absolutely breathtaking. It is green and lush, and the wildlife is abundant. The air is crisp, and we were lucky enough to have blue skies each day.
The two hour jeep ride and fresh air wiped out our little cowboy.
But he perked up with a little grub and some singing.
We were tuckered out by the end of our tour and supper in Custer. The kids were eager to hop back into their bunkbeds for one more night. It was a quick few days, but we sure shared a great time together and made memories for the books.
Until next time, South Dakota!
