Favorite Places to Explore

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Mt. Rushmore:  Explore the Sculptor’s Studio, the Lincoln Borglum Museum, the Avenue of Flags and many hiking trails surrounding Mt. Rushmore.  There is also a nice restaurant that overlooks the Presidents, gift shop and they have absolutely fantastic ice cream there! If you are there in the evening, we highly recommend the Lighting Ceremony which is a very patriotic program that takes place each evening at dusk.  www.mtrushmorenationalmemorial.com

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Crazy Horse:  If you are impressed with Mt. Rushmore, then you will definitely want to visit Crazy Horse Memorial because when complete, it will be so large that you can fit five Mt. Rushmore’s in it!  Unlike Mt. Rushmore, there will not be any government money used to help finance the large sculpture of the Lakota leader Crazy Horse.  The mission of the memorial is to protect and preserve the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indian.  Don’t miss the 20 minute video in the Center that explains the history and the many displays, restaurant and gift shop there.  If you happen to be visiting the Black Hills on either the first weekend in June or the last weekend in September, the kind folks at Crazy Horse allow visitors to climb to the very top where you can actually stand in front of Crazy Horse’s face – a great photo opportunity!   www.crazyhorsememorial.org

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Custer State Park:  Take a drive through Custer State Park – the scenery alone is one of a kind!  Don’t miss Sylvan Lake and the Needles Highway.  The park is famous for its bison herds, scenic drives, historic sites, and hiking trails.  Swim, fish, kayak or boat in one of Custer State Park’s five scenic lakes.  We recommend lunch or dinner at the Custer State Game Lodge (President Calvin Coolidge’s “summer white house”).  If you are visiting the last weekend in September, don’t miss the annual Buffalo Round-up, where you can watch cowboys as they roundup and drive the herd of approximately 1,300 buffalo – very exciting!  www.gfp.sd.gov

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Deadwood:  The entire city of Deadwood is on the National Historic Register and its extensive Victorian architecture is unique to the West.  Head over to Saloon #10 and see the chair Wild Bill Hickok was sitting in when he met his fate and if you’re feeling lucky, you can gamble in one of the many casinos.  If it’s live entertainment you’re after, check out the many events going at the Deadwood Mountain Grand.  www.deadwood.com

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Hill City:   This quaint, little town is best known for its fine art galleries, museums and wineries.  It is also home to the Museum @ Black Hills Institute where you will view an extensive collection of dinosaurs including “Stan”, one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found.  Love railroads?  Visit the South Dakota Railroad Museum in Hill City.  Want a family fun excursion?  Take a ride on the 1880 train.  We recommend Prairie Berry Winery (home of the famous “Red Ass Rhubarb” wine) for free wine tasting, followed by lunch or dinner at the Alpine Inn, a quaint little German restaurant that is so popular you need to be there very early (11-11:30 a.m. – lunch or 4-4:30 p.m. dinner) as they don’t take reservations and the lines can be quite long in the summer months. They also don’t take credit cards, so take cash or check (an ATM is available on site)   www.hillcitysd.com

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Rapid City:  Visit downtown Rapid City starting at Main Street Square for many great shops and restaurants.  We recommend the President’s Trivia Tour and be sure to take in all the live music and activities at their big Summer Nights event happening every Thursday night during the summer.  If you are looking for a really great place to take smaller children, head to Storybook Island – lots of fun and it’s free!  www.visitrapidcity.com

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Sturgis:  What can we say?  I think everyone has heard of the famous Sturgis Motorcycle rally held in August – if you love cruising around on your motorcycle, live music, and hangin’ with other bikers, then don’t miss this annual event!  www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com

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Spearfish Canyon:  Take a drive through scenic Spearfish Canyon.  Its narrow, 1000 foot walls are among the most spectacular scenery in the Black Hills and are more ancient than the Grand Canyon.  It is also a spectacular place to explore by foot with several designated walking paths and hiking trails.  Don’t miss Roughlock Falls, one of the highlights of Spearfish Canyon.  We recommend Buffalo Stew in a Bread Bowl at the Latchstring Inn Restaurant. A beautiful spot any time of the year, but especially radiant in the fall!   www.visitspearfish.com

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The Badlands: Discover the rugged beauty of the Badlands where you will see striking geologic deposits that contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds.  Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here.  We recommend a drive through the park with a stop for lunch at Cedar Pass Lodge.  They also have a world class gift shop you won’t find anywhere else in the Black Hills! Or hike one of the many trails and then head back to Wall Drug for a hamburger!  www.blackhillsbadlands.com

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Pactola Lake:  If you’re into water sports, boating and fishing, then head to Pactola Lake – just 15 minutes from the Creek Front Cabin.  A most scenic lake and you can rent boats and gear there.  www.pactolalake.com

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Hot Springs:  Just one hour south of Rapid City is our most southern Black Hills town which boasts natural hot springs.  Visit Evans Plunge for a dip in the natural springs, or visit the Mammoth Site where you’ll find some of the best ice-age fossils on the planet on permanent display.  Or … take a bus tour through the Wild Horse Sanctuary where you’ll see wild mustangs with an experienced guide. You’ll travel with other guests along a six mile primitive road and see the Native American Ceremonial Sites and ancient petroglyphs.  http://www.wildmustangs.com             http://mammothsite.com

 

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The location of the cabin in the Hisega area adds so much history and charm.

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This neighborhood dates back to 1908 and it was named after the first letters of six women who visited here then:  Helen, Ida, Sade, Ethel, Grace and Ada. 
These women were part of a camping party, and later cabins were built, along with the Hisega Lodge.  It was a true vacation resort for folks coming from the prairies of eastern South Dakota by train. The full story of how Hisega transformed over the years is in the cabin for you to discover.

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