Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota 🇺🇸
I’m >>this<< close to finishing a personal bucket list item — visiting all 50 states. I’ve only got 3 left – North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. So, we’re off on a Great American Road Trip. We’re starting in Rapid City, SD. I’ve been to SD before, but Ken has not. Compromise.
Took a Texas sized pass on the Mount Rushmore tour. Visited there when I was a kid – it was portal to tourist hell then. Did a drive-by instead. Beautiful drive through the Black Hills Forest (but take a Dramamine if you’re prone to car sickness). Can confirm the Presidents have not aged a day since 1980.
Decided to spend most of our SD day in Badlands National Park. PSA: For anyone who doesn’t already know this, if you are a veteran, you can get a lifetime pass to all of our National Parks for FREE.
Hiked around the park this am. Perfect weather. I wasn’t too hot, and I wasn’t hungry, and the hike wasn’t beyond my ability (thanks, Ken). So everyone was happy. Saw this colony of cliff swallow nests – fascinating how they build the nests out of mud.
Did a lot of scenic driving and overlooking today. There were people in the park, for sure, but I didn’t have to throw elbows with anyone over a photo spot.
Had an up close and personal moment with this bison. We were exiting the park, and a herd of bison was crossing the road. MASSIVE animals. Disclaimer: I took this photo from about 10 feet away. From *inside* the car. At no time did I exit the vehicle. Because I’m not a dumbass.
Overall: Badlands NP is absolutely spectacular, and definitely worth a visit. The geology is mind-boggling. Really wishing I had paid more attention in my geology classes in college.
Critter count: 2 herds of bison 
, 2 chipmunks 
, 1 mole, and 604 prairie dogs.
Stopped at Wall Drug (the one crapatorium to rule them all) on our way out of the park. I had to pee. And I needed ice cream. My grandparents took my brother and I to Wall Drug when we were kids. Probably to pee and get ice cream. It’s the blueprint for all tacky tourist stops. But the restroom was clean, the water was free, and the ice cream was yummy. So I won’t throw (much) shade on the highly suspicious turquoise for sale there.
Sidebar: Shoutout to the lady with the 37 pieces of flair on her hat and the snazzy whiskey pants. PJ bottoms? Whatever. She is exactly “I don’t give a f*ck years old” and I’m here for it.
Cheers!
Travel date: September 6, 2024
We have done the Mt Rushmore tour during uncrowded October. As Canadians, we were surprised how most treated it like a cathedral. As to Wall Drug, yup, a whole lot of crap but a great place to take a break. Happy Thursday.
A cathedral? Yikes. That’s off-putting. The last time I was there, I was a teenager. Probably waaaay too focused on how my hair looked to have any real cultural observations. 😉 Happy Thursday to you, as well!
Do you follow Tourons of Yellowstone on Instagram? It’s all about tourist morons (tourons) who try to pet buffalo, or bathe in a geyser at state parks. Hysterical. Except when they’re carrying their babies. Can’t wait till you experience Montana. One interesting point – my husband and I are/were both geologists!
An Instagram account devoted to the morons of Yellowstone – oh, I am ALL OVER that!! Thanks for the tip! So cool that you and your husband are geologists. That’s definitely something I wish I had paid more attention to when I was in school. So interesting!
Oh, how wonderful to get to all 50 states.
It was a goal of mine for years! Felt good to check that box!!
I don’t see a date on this post but obviously this wasn’t a recent trip (or climate change is even worse than I thought). We took a road trip back in 2015 that took us through some of the same areas. I hadn’t been to Mt. Rushmore before so, of course, I had to go see it for myself. We must have been off season because I don’t remember crazy crowds. Loved Wall Drugs just for its kitschy weirdness. Corn Palace too.
Three more states for me to reach 50: North Dakota, Minnesota, and Rhode Island.
I am looking forward to being “I don’t give a f*ck years old.”
Travel date is on the very bottom. Our trip was just this past fall. Here’s to three more states for you and whiskey pants for all!!
Oh how stupid one can be in one’s youth! I may be a N European Australian but have been in the US multiple times, mostly for business interspersed with pleasure – hmm! Food and shopping and theatre and city sightseeing on both coasts! New Orleans for jazz and Portland Ore for close friends! Did we have the good sense to ‘do’ the National Parks! No, now ashamed to say, except for the overcrowded Grand Canyon and a bit of New England. . . love your natural photos as I am ticking myself off! Oh – actually think the ‘old lady’ in the PJ pants rather sweet – at least with lots of guts if not elegance :)!
I’m all about the whiskey pants – pretty sure I need a pair! There are so many national parks in the US – I think 63 of them. Not easy to visit all of them. The Grand Canyon is a cesspool of humanity. Everyone should see it once, but unless you really love people, once is enough! Cheers!!
[…] the state line into Idaho today! I reminded Ken in a subtle and non-competitive way that I have now visited all 50 states. And, he . . . has not. He is still trying to find a […]