South Dakota is such a gorgeous state. Complete with forests, lakes, green hills, and ancient history, there is something for everyone. From Columbian mammoths that died there, only to be revealed thousands of years later, to the most modern farm equipment, there is always something interesting around the next bend.
Custer State Park is home to about 1,300 buffalo—the same ones we’d watched being rounded up earlier in our trip. It’s also home to the Begging Burros. People travel there to feed them apples and carrots, and one lady told us a baby burro had actually crawled into her car and wouldn’t get out.
Sure it did.
There was everything except grizzly bears, which definitely made things a bit calmer. Still, these are wild animals, and wild animals don’t always behave according to plan. There had been a fatal encounter between a hiker and a buffalo in the park, a good reminder that no matter how peaceful these enormous animals may look, they deserve plenty of space.
Gambling is allowed in South Dakota, so dotted along our route we found little casinos in some unexpected places. But the Las Vegas-style casinos were in Deadwood. Yes, we went to Saloon No. 10, the modern-day namesake of the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was murdered while playing poker in 1876. Deadwood is one of those places where the Old West doesn’t feel quite so far away.
We also discovered that a lot of places were hiring. During one breakfast, the restaurant cook was also the cashier and the busboy. With tables full of customers, she did a great job, although we waited an hour to eat.
It was worth it.
Delicious.
Another day, we pointed the car in the opposite direction and drove to Wall Drug. If you’ve never been there, go for the Western art. Their collection includes more than 300 original paintings, and each time I’ve visited, I’ve walked away with the memory of a new favorite. I could spend a long time just looking at the paintings.
HHH and I also discovered the fresh blueberry pie.
Some of the best ever.
Sadly, rain and clouds took away any chance we had of really seeing the Badlands. We were there, but Mother Nature apparently decided we didn’t need the view this time.
That’s okay.
There’s always next year.
Sometimes a trip doesn’t need a schedule packed from morning until night. Sometimes you just need a car, someone you enjoy traveling with, and a road you’ve never been down before.
South Dakota gave us plenty of those.
Let’s take a drive.