Well, I typed up a tremendously long post about all the awesome touristy things we did yesterday. And then I deleted it. I can't bear to do it all again, so let's see what justice I can do our day yesterday in many fewer words.
We drove through the Badlands, actually stopping to walk on the formations and take pictures once instead of seeing the whole thing at 45 mph. We ended up at Wall Drug, in Wall, SD, for an early lunch. This thing is a huge tourist destination (you might say "trap," but it is unabashedly so) that is signed along Rt. 90 for well over 100 miles. It was totally worth going to because it was fun, served a really quite special homemade donut, and the Hot Beef Sandwich lunch special was yummy to split with Molitor. It had ridiculous attractions like a 6-foot tall jackalope, fake stage coaches, and a water fountain thingy that delighted Alice.
Then on to Mt. Rushmore, which was simply wonderful. I was ecstatic both to see it (it is awesome) and to be able to cross it off my list of Things I Must Do One Day! It's a national monument, but they have conveniently skirted around the National Parks Pass (which we have) by saying that entrance is free, you just have to pay for parking. Hmph. A ton of foreign visitors. Alice really liked two Indian women's saris but was too shy to tell them.
We piled the kids back into the minivan at about 4 pm, waaaay past their nap times. They fells asleep easily (Alice insisted on wearing the Bose noise-cancelling headphones, which really ARE useful when Beatrice is fussing; she wasn't this time so it was just a very adorable affectation), and we did a quick, FREE drive-by of Crazy Horse. We weren't willing to spend the $22 or, more importantly, wake the kids, to see more.
I suggested we push on past Custer, SD, which is right by Crazy Horse to the next town, 30 miles away, Newcastle, WY. It turned out okay, but for a while it looked dicey, because much of that 30 miles was under construction. The driving was breathtaking, though. Classic western landscapes. I think I saw Clint Eastwood in the distance...
Now we're packing up at the Fountain Inn in Newcastle, having spent a pleasant night here. Amazingly, the first motel we tried, the quaint Pines Motel, was sold out! On a Thursday! The Fountain Inn is kind of a relic. There's a defunct giant fountain out front, and also a defunct indoor skating rink on the property, as the front desk clerk told me. I got to explore all of these at 5:45 am as I walked around with a very awake Beatrice. Beautiful morning, though. At 4300 ft. elevation, the sky is spectacular as the sun rises.
Alice and I drove through town to get groceries this morning, and it is a cute, though clearly poor western city. I'd say pretty much everyone drives a Gigantic Truck.
We drove through the Badlands, actually stopping to walk on the formations and take pictures once instead of seeing the whole thing at 45 mph. We ended up at Wall Drug, in Wall, SD, for an early lunch. This thing is a huge tourist destination (you might say "trap," but it is unabashedly so) that is signed along Rt. 90 for well over 100 miles. It was totally worth going to because it was fun, served a really quite special homemade donut, and the Hot Beef Sandwich lunch special was yummy to split with Molitor. It had ridiculous attractions like a 6-foot tall jackalope, fake stage coaches, and a water fountain thingy that delighted Alice.
Then on to Mt. Rushmore, which was simply wonderful. I was ecstatic both to see it (it is awesome) and to be able to cross it off my list of Things I Must Do One Day! It's a national monument, but they have conveniently skirted around the National Parks Pass (which we have) by saying that entrance is free, you just have to pay for parking. Hmph. A ton of foreign visitors. Alice really liked two Indian women's saris but was too shy to tell them.
We piled the kids back into the minivan at about 4 pm, waaaay past their nap times. They fells asleep easily (Alice insisted on wearing the Bose noise-cancelling headphones, which really ARE useful when Beatrice is fussing; she wasn't this time so it was just a very adorable affectation), and we did a quick, FREE drive-by of Crazy Horse. We weren't willing to spend the $22 or, more importantly, wake the kids, to see more.
I suggested we push on past Custer, SD, which is right by Crazy Horse to the next town, 30 miles away, Newcastle, WY. It turned out okay, but for a while it looked dicey, because much of that 30 miles was under construction. The driving was breathtaking, though. Classic western landscapes. I think I saw Clint Eastwood in the distance...
Now we're packing up at the Fountain Inn in Newcastle, having spent a pleasant night here. Amazingly, the first motel we tried, the quaint Pines Motel, was sold out! On a Thursday! The Fountain Inn is kind of a relic. There's a defunct giant fountain out front, and also a defunct indoor skating rink on the property, as the front desk clerk told me. I got to explore all of these at 5:45 am as I walked around with a very awake Beatrice. Beautiful morning, though. At 4300 ft. elevation, the sky is spectacular as the sun rises.
Alice and I drove through town to get groceries this morning, and it is a cute, though clearly poor western city. I'd say pretty much everyone drives a Gigantic Truck.
Wow! You made it to the Badlands and Wall Drug!! I also visited those places when I was helping my daughter move to Rapid City, SD, along with a jaw dropping visit to Mount Rushmore! It truly is an awesome experience, I agree!
ReplyDeleteI really am impressed and inspired by your sheer creativity and tenacity along your journey! Any possible settling down prospects yet? You sure have had a lot of amazing places to choose from!
Take care and keep up the pioneer spirit! Love, Margaret xoxoxo
I somehow managed to read the original post before it vanished - at least someone else knew it existed. :)
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