The family and I are headed to the badlands in south Dakota the week after memorial. Any things over that way that interesting other then the well known places of Rushmore, and hot springs? Looking for some small "gap fillers" between our big things were going to. I wish they had springs rat season open to non residents again! I'd make a dad's vacation just for that!

You need to visit Custer and Custer State Park. Bear country is cool too. Reptile gardens.

Do you like to hike, lots of good trails. If your looking for some ideas send me a PM and I can give you some ideas.
Places to check out that my kids and family enjoy.
Cascade Falls-nice little area to swim in the warm spring water, places to jump from the rocks into the pools. Best part is it’s free.
Sylvan Lake is a nice place to walk around, if your in the park make a trip up there and the Needles Hwy is interesting.
If your doing tourist stuff, reptile gardens and the Cosmos are interesting.
Spearfish Canyon in the northern hills is beautiful.

If you don't want to see I-90 twice, on the way home take U.S.-385 south of Hot Springs and then go east on U.S-18. A slower drive for sure but you'll see some of South Dakota that few rarely do; two of the largest NA reservations including some of the prettiest country on the Rosebud (also the furthest east extension of natural ponderosa pine stands), the Gregory County "forested" river hills, and crossing the Missouri River over Fort Randall dam. An interesting ride...

Just got back from my 6th trip out that way this spring I never seen so many elk and yotes running around but now it will have a lot of tourist traffic not sure how that will impact your scouting. Get up early and go for a long drive on the forest gravel roads and you should see plenty of wildlife deer all over also, look just before dark maximum movement then also.

Wall Drug the biggest tourist trap ever built its like a carnival that never travels. LOL

Bear country is neat, but expensive

could stop at Lead for an hour

I could spend a couple days in Hill City eatin and drinkn

$65 a carload my buddy was just there his family eats a lot of wild game the kids might of thought it was pick your critter for dinner place.

Lots to see there they sold guns years back the still might.

Walldrug is neat. Swing down through Nebraska and check out Scottsbluff, chimney rock, and courthouse and jailhouse rock too. Very pretty country.

Ck out poets table hike. May have to ask directions on internet

Go to Deadwood and see the re-enactment of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok and the trial of Jack McCall. Went there a few years ago and it was a lot of fun. It’s a nice place to have a few drinks and gamble a bit.

Thanks everyone, I'll be checking out a few of these with the wife tonight, I love seeing some amazing countryside

Custer State Park

It seems the prairie dogs have made a comeback out there also, seeing a lot of new towns some must be on the National grasslands and shootable.

They are definitely on the rise.

Reptile Gardens was pretty cool back in '79. I had to look them up and see if they were still around.


https://www.reptilegardens.com/