http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , South Dakota , Badlands en-us Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:08:51 BST Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:08:51 BST Wall South Dakota gateway to the Badlands. More importantly home of Wall Drug. To steal a saying from the 1000 Places to See book Like ZsaZsa Gabour Wall Drug is famous for being famous. It all started way back in the Great Depression when this small town drug store was struggling along with the rest of the country. In order to bring in more people the owners got the bright idea to ad http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-324774.html Hi Sorry have not 'blogged' in a while finding Internet access is a pain in north US plus we have been hectic driving from state to state and even a small detour into Canada wasn't plannedAnyway arrived in New York on time after a 12 hr flight and did a bit of shopping visit to Broadway to see Wicked and a few drinks in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Marriott. Dave remembere http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-324070.html At this point Jim and I were really ready to go home. The heart of the trip was over and we were on our last ounce of energy. Traveling really takes a lot out of a person. We left the hotel the next morning and after a hardy breakfast started on the long drive to Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore was a short stop. It took us about an hour and a half to see the mountain carving and to go on a walki http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-319919.html What's hot Jackalope. Travel lesson of the day Build it and they will come.from KathyThis day August 4 deserves another entry for our return visit to Wall Drug in Wall SD and to Interior SD the birthplace of Clark Griswold our little Prairie Dog mascot. Whether yoursquore going east or west on Rt. 90. yoursquoll begin to encounter signsmdashlots of themmdashfor Wall Drug at least http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-312076.html We traveled 545 miles today from La Crosse Wisconsin over the Mississippi River into the southern part of Minnesota over the Missouri River over into Sioux Falls South Dakota and finally ended up in the small town of Kadoka SD near the Badlands for the evening. There really wasn't much to see after the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota. I would like to explore the lakes and Minneapoli http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-310718.html Devils Tower KOA Badlands National Park Wall Drug Deadwood Whistlerrsquos Gulch CampgroundAfter a little ldquoplumbingrdquo problem the waste water drain got stopped up we relieved the RV of itrsquos excess fluid waste and we were finally on our way by 820. As I pulled out of Devils Tower KOA I mistakenly made a left onto Rt. 24 which I confused with Rt. 14 and ended up http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-309150.html Well I finally got my computer and can now update you guys. Tommy I made it through 10 states including VA. So it was VA WV KY IN IL MO IA NE SD WY. We went to the Badlands National Park and to Mt. Rushmore in SD. We stopped along the way to see Crazy Horse went to the towns of Custer and Keystone both SD. We also did a train ride in Keystone with an old engine. We staye http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-305555.html Today we headed to the Badlands.But first we called into the world famous Wall Drug.It had to be done After reading so much about the place and seeing the numerous sign posts for it along the way.We weren't disappointed. Skim got to indulge in a bit of retail therapy for a change.And I got to sit with a couple of long drinks before taking some fun photos....Ted Hustead was a Nebraska native w http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-303907.html Most of the midwest along our route has proven to be pretty bland albeit prettymdashessentially lacking variety in the various features of the landscape. Until the Badlands that is. We began our fourth straight day of driving after having overnighted in a rest area for a few hours which was none too comfortable. I was immediately surprised by how hot the sun felt and how that was balanced out http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-298817.html Worthington MN to Rapid City SD What's hot Badlands National Park Also hot South Dakota Speed Limit 75 mph The road Clear hot dry windy windy windy. 440 miles today 2100 miles since July 6. Over half way to San Francisco. What's not Travel cooties Travel lesson of the day Moderation in all things including travel distances.from KathySouth Dakota Land where high test gasoline cost http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-298813.html A few of today's pics. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-297784.html We did some touring hiking a trip to the famous Wall Drug Store. We also met some nice folks from other parts of the country. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-295668.html Here are some photos of the drive from Mitchell SD to the Bad Lands. We did this on the 4th of July. It was a short drive... only 200 miles or so.Met some nice folks from Minnesota and Wisconsin and helped a stranded driver from Nebraska. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-295665.html Visted the southern section of Badlands. Beautiful desolute country. The visitor center was laid back and helpful. I was directed to the local college to view a visual and audio presentation of Wounded Knee. It was a sad but well presented story. What a contrast to my time a few days earlier at Mt. Rushmore. One sight invoking chestswelling pride followed with a sight revealing shame and s http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-293995.html Badlands National Park South DakotaWe slept in this morning not getting up until 6am. The hotel serves a continental breakfast I've never figured that term out which was ok. The weather was threatening thunderstorms with large hail for later in the day so we decided to drive the truck instead of riding the bike. We could have ridden the bike. Weather was great. Tomorrow we ride rain or shi http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-291046.html Eight years ago I would have never thought that I would spend my 8th Wedding Anniversary on top of a huge rock formation in Badlands National Park South Dakota The whole day was one to be remembered. We started off with our traditional bath at the local Flying J Truck Stop and then we were off to feed these cute furry creatures at Prairie Dog Town. On the way to see the prairie dogs we stopped http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-286795.html The Badlands was our destination after Minneapolis. After the most boring drive of the trip and windiest we ended up in some of the most beautiful territory we've ever seen. It was also incredibly different than anything we've ever seen. The first night we stayed in a campground in the Badlands....but after torrent winds that shook our tent so badly we couldn't sleep we gave up and slept http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-278498.html Again we got up at 6AM to get ready and pack up our stuff. I took a few pictures of the camp site before we hopped into the van and we were on our way. We stopped off at a petrol station where I finally found a half decent fitting pair of sunglasses and bought them. We drove for a couple of hours before stopping off at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial sign where we all took photos then headed http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-266627.html So it turns out I live in the U.S. and travel here as well This is another domestic entry.Over fall break Oct. 1923 a group of student photographers and myself along with our professor traveled to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Shannon County South Dakota. Our focus was to do a series of photo essays on women who are leaders in the Lakota community because we decided that the whole dr http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-225994.html Not a whole lot to report from the time I left Rapid City. Other than the Badlands South Dakota is pretty boring. As is most of Iowa and Illinois. The only bright spot was stopping to see my cousin and her family in Newton IA before I got to my parents' house.Congrats to my brother's football team for their 107 playoff victory on Friday night. Next week it's the big rival St. JoeWell I'm off http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-214824.html Obfuscator writes After sleeping on a pinecone for most of the night we woke up and took a walk down to Lake Pactola to see the dawn. The lake level was extraordinarily low and so on our way to where the lake actually is we got to walk on a lot of ground where the lake actually was. This was evidenced by the concrete bucket anchors we found littering the ground we were walking on. There wer http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-210242.html After spending the night at a cozy old little momandpop motel in Valentine SD Drew tried to make some of his famous espresso this morning but the little minicamp stove ran out of fuel before any coffee came bubbling out...so we had breakfast at McDonalds. We drove to Badlands National Park and spent a few hours on the scenic loop through the park. Not crowded we only saw a couple of tour bu http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-198152.html We started out this morning meeting with an old friend Troy for breakfast just outside of our campground. We met Megan his lovely girlfriend. We caught up with the last nine years of his life before saying goodbye and heading on west on 90. We hit periods of rain again today. We saw a lightning bolt hit in one of the cornfields we were passing. It is really flat here. Dave drove another al http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-194185.html July 24 2007Yesterday it was 102 in Sioux Falls and today it reached 106 in the Badlands. Holy cow it is really hot I wasnrsquot sure our poor van was going to be able to pull the camper in that kind of heat but someone we made it.Yesterday we stayed in Sioux Falls the whole day. Luckily there was a camper dealer next door who very happily kept our van for most of the day to add the ca http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-185571.html Badlands Best National Park EVERnbspNorth America raquonbspUnited States raquonbspSouth Dakota raquonbspBadlands By FoofurrJuly 11th 2007Sara Harrison At the suggestion of the ever helpful man at the rest stop I took a detour on my way to Mt. Rushmore. I drove through Badlands National Park and it was amazing Craters of the Moon Idaho used to be my favorite but now this one is i http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-181405.html A dramatic shift in the landscape from grassy plains to sharp jagged spires which seem to rise out of nowhere announce our presence in the Badlands. With a name like 'the badlands' you would think of it as nothing more than a barren wasteland but there is actually an abundance of flora and fauna if you keep your eyes peeled. The rains that came through last week caused the pricklypear cacti to http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-173360.html We woke up early to get a jump on the Badlands. We ate the continental breakfast and hung out in the lobby for a little while. After breakfast we packed up the car once again and headed for the Badlands. All I can say is WOW. The pictures donrsquot really show how beautiful this place really is. We got there and were just in awe. The badlands stretched for as far as the eye could see. They were http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-172066.html Day 4 Departed 600AM CST. Todayrsquos trip shall take us through the rest of Minnesota and Adrian MN and into South Dakota. Wersquore camping in the Badlands tonight. Mike and Benji upset our rich neighbors at the campsite by using the drill at 530 this morning. Mike also used his outside voice to help Benji hook up the camper. This resulted in the neighbors shutting their window rath http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-170019.html This has been a truly amazing day But do you know how hard is was to not type amaizeing...Corn Palace remember Yes we did stop at the Corn Palace. It was the first stop of the day and it had been misting and raining until we got within about 10 miles which turned out to be the standard for the day. It was really impressive actually. It is redecorated every year using 600000 ears of co http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-165039.html In Mitchell SD we went in to town for dinner and to explore the town. I had heard about The Corn Palace and wanted to see it. We were not the only tourists walking around it and taking pictures that evening. The Corn Palace was built in 1892. Corn is the regionrsquos most important product and the Corn Palace was built to honor it. The murals are redesigned each year and it takes 2000 bushels http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/Badlands/blog-163336.html