5 Fantastic Things South Dakota Offers Family Travelers

South Dakota is my home state, and a place I no longer return to on a regular basis. I’ve missed it. And although the state has a diverse range of terrain and beauty, I especially miss the gorgeous Black Hills. We just returned from family reunion there, and I was reminded of all the reasons this is such a wonderful destination for family travel.

During our long weekend stay, we were able to hit some highlights!  Here’s what I recommend as 5 fabulous things South Dakota has to offer you on your family vacation.

Trail Rides

Nothing is more South Dakota authentic than getting on the back of a horse!  Taking a horseback trail ride is an awesome way to truly experience the beauty of the Black Hills.  I swear, every childhood summer vacation spent here involved me BEGGING my dad to go on a trail ride.

Picture winding through a cool, shady forest trail on a warm summer day.  Riding a horse through this terrain allows you to cover more ground than a typical family hike on foot.  All levels of experience can be accommodated, even total newbies.  Boots are not required, but I strongly recommend you wear long pants!  My two shorts-clad cousins can testify to this wisdom.  Ouch.

We’ve always been happy with Andy’s Trail Rides.  Schedule ahead, as he is in demand and has a limited capacity for available rides.  The meeting location is just south of Deadwood, and the trails covered are spectacular.  Although a bit spendy (our ride cost $40 per rider, for a 1-hour trail ride), his horses are of high quality.  They are healthy, robust, and well behaved… although not to the point of being automaton robots.  Super enjoyable experience.

Farm Experiences

If you have young ones who enjoy farm animals, be sure to check out Old MacDonald’s Farm.  One of many tourist attractions just south of Rapid City, it’s a well run establishment that ends up being a lot of fun every time we visit.

Highlights included adorable piglet races, holding cuddly baby goats, and bottle feeding baby calves.

You can spend around 2-3 hours here.  Parents, be prepared for a highly alluring gift shop filled with lots of toys.

Mount Rushmore

Don’t miss this.  It’s a bit of a cliché, but impressive nonetheless.  I never tire of going to see Mount Rushmore!

Entrance is free, but parking costs $10 per vehicle.  Or $5, if you have a senior with you (which we did… we split them up so they could spot both our car-loads.  Thanks mom and dad!)

This area has changed significantly since I was a child, many moons ago.  There’s quite a bit more concrete, pomp, and circumstance.  But the faces stand steady, bold, and unchanged.  For a bit of perspective:  Did you know the carved opening “cave” of George Washington’s eye is 6 feet tall?  Hey kids, your dad could stand inside George’s eye!  Crazy pants.

So cool.

Hiking

Spearfish Canyon may be one of my most favorite places in the world!  You’ve just traveled to South Dakota’s mountainous jewel.  You MUST go hiking.

Even if it’s just a short hike, on a family-friendly trail, there are plenty to choose from.  Some mosey along a delightful babbling stream.  Others lead to a waterfall.  And all with give you beautiful views of those famous tan and black rock formations the Black Hills is known for.

Once you are there, ask around for trail suggestions. This is an area used to pointing tourists in the right direction and giving helpful tips.

Sunsets and Daisies

Little things, you may think.

“Why would I drive all the way to South Dakota to see a sunset?”, you may think.

Because unless you already live in an  open vista portion of the Western United States… it’s highly likely you’ve never seen a sky quite like this.  Summer thunderstorms and impressive cloud formations make it even more enchanting.   And watching the sunset next to a campfire is about as good as it gets.

Plus, Daisies. They were everywhere.  I love mountain daisies so much!

South Dakota Family Travel

I’m proud of my home state!  South Dakota is truly an epic destination for a family to experience, at least once.  My 5 favorites here are just a small sampling. I wish we’d had had more time there on our recent trip.  There truly is a lot to see, and I’d recommend allowing a full week stay if you can.

Feel free to ask me any questions if you’re planning a trip there!  I’ve been vacationing in the lovely Black Hills since I was a little child.

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