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For our family vacation this year... we took a nice long trip to the Dakota's and parts west from here. After softball (the last game of the regular season), we piled into the car and headed for Marshall, MN.
Our first real stop was at the Big Sioux River falls, which were beautiful. (more information from their site HERE) Then on to DeSmet and Laura Ingalls house, and a replica school house from the stories that she told. Storybook Land in Aberdeen was fascinating. It is an amusement park that is part of a larger complex, but this part is free to visitors. The kids had a blast and there is camping and a water park as well (but we did not have time to experience everything).
The drive from here to the Badlands was interesting, with some scenery to look at, including a brief drive through Buffalo Gap, SD.
Next On to the Badlands themselves. Made up of sharply eroded buttes and other scenic but harsh environment, this area is really unique.
Mammoth site was next, with some... well.... mammoths.
Big sinkhole. Mammoths fall in. Don't get out. People find them later. We drove to Wind Cave National Park next, and saw rocks!
This is Boxwork. It is a type of rock formation found in caves. About 95% of the world's boxwork formation are found in this one cave system. We headed on towards Mt. Rushmore, Custer State park to be specific and on the way we encountered many interesting creatures...
Then we got to Rushmore
Yep. Mountain with pictures. Big pictures. Very cool. We headed to Jewel Cave. Another deep underground playground. Another very neat place.
Onward back through Custer State Park to see some more stuff
People feeding wild donkeys in Custer. Then we headed on toward Devils Tower
The native people's legend (several of them actually) have this as a place of legend... We moved on to see Medicine Rocks state park next.
We arrived right at sunset and got a couple of amazing pictures. Moving on to Makoshika state park later....
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