The first night we hit massive billardball size hail!! Katie was yelling "Daddy make it stop." We were in the storm less than a minute, but it did $3,000 worth of damage to the truck and added 3+ hours to our trip as the next town to wait out the storm was an hour and a half away.
We stayed 2 nights in Wall at a Best Western although I wouldn't recommend the place normally, it looked like the best place in town to stay and it was right outside the Badlands. The Badlands were great we hiked around and ate lunch there. That night we went to Wall Drug, you will see signs for it in Wyoming! It was fun lots of silly photo props. Just don't eat there the food is expensive and terrible.
On our way into Rapid City we stopped at the Air and Space museum. The museum is free but there is a tour onto base and to see the minute man missile that is $4? a person. We didn't do the tour, but the museum was neat.
We then had lunch at Storybook Island. A MUST with the kids. mine could have stayed there for hours (as it was I think we were there 2 hours). Very neat, and you have to hit the merry go around ;-).
We then headed to Jewel Cave. We did the 90 min tour which was a little much for TJ, but Katie LOVED it. So much so she asked Grammie to take her to Cave of the Winds. There is a shorter (20? min) tour.
We were supposed to camp that night, but because of weather forecasts we stayed at Holiday Inn Express in Custer. Great hotel, highly recommended. We also recommend the Purple Pie Palace for Icecream.
The following day we went to Flintstones, we were going to skip, but the kids could see it from our hotel room. We are glad we went, it was a lot of fun and they have a nice playground.
Then we did Crazyhorse. Not a huge fan, but in it's defense I was hungry and grumpy.
We then did Needles Hwy. A lot of fun and we saw a TON of wildlife.
Last for that day we did Rushmore. We LOVED Rushmore. So much more than you see in pictures. We were both really moved. It is really well done. We just loved it and could have spent a whole day there had it just been the 2 of us. Do the .2 mile hike it is amazing.
The last 3 nights we camped outside Rapid City at Rushmore Shadows. It is a KOA kind of camp, but nice. Pool, laundry, playground ect.
We went to cosmos. Quick fun, cheap and easy to get to. Highly recommended.
We went to the Geology Museum at the SD School of Mines. Small, but free and worth the time. Don't miss the fluorescent rocks! Our personal fave.
We went to Reptile Gardens. Another not to be missed. Expensive though. Snake, Croc, and bird show all start about an hour apart. We watched and liked all 3.
Finally we went back for the Rushmore lightening ceremony. The kids fell asleep and our arms were killing us by the time we got back to the car, but AGAIN not to be missed.
The next morning we went to Bear County. It is a drive through zoo. LOVED it, but VERY expensive I think it was $38 for us. I wasn't a fan of Babyland, but the rest was great.
We then got rained out for lunch so we ate at the Gaslight between Rapid City and Keystone. It came highly recommended by people at the campground. Apparently, they don't have taste buds. Don't go there.
Since it was raining we did Needles Hwy again in the opposite direction. The clouds broke and we were able to get out and climb and hike some.
We hit Mammoth site on our way home. It is nice if you can fit it in on the way there or the way home, but it is 45 min South of Rapid City. Not sure it is worth the drive.
