Crazy Horse
The Crazy Horse Memorial is one of those places that is continuously evolving over time. The sculpture on the mountain shows change, albeit slowly, each time we've come here. There is a museum and an orientation film shown in the theater that traces the early history of this ongoing project, a memorial to the Lakota Leader, Crazy Horse.
The first blast off the mountain took place on June 3, 1948. Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began the project and his family has continued his work after his death in 1982.
There is a museum dedicated to Ziolkowski and his work as well a Native American Cultural Awareness Center that you could spend hours visiting.
Free coffee and donuts for Veterans - Wall Drug
Driving east along Interstate 90 in South Dakota Wall Drug in Wall, SD has a number of signs, big and small along the highway telling us why we should stop. Well, we are stopping....for lunch and some shopping. Home Decor, Western Wear, 33 miles to go, Wall Drug or Bust are but just a few of the signs we've seen. They appear to start at about 50 miles out and continue at varying intervals and locations off the highway, guaranteed to make the passengers (and maybe the driver) take notice and stop.
A delicious lunch for everyone at Wall Drug. Filling for sure and the 5-cent cup of coffee tops it off. In the backyard area is a play area for kids plus a photo gallery with lots of historical remembrances of Wall Drug past and of course the area in general. There is one thing that's of an historic nature and that is the Tyrannosaurus Rex display that comes to life every 12 minutes or so to feed. Great for scaring little kids and an opportunity for fun for the big kids. (Check back and we will post our video). I'm sure we all got our shopping fix for the day, plus the free coffee and donut for veterans.
Badlands National Park
Approximately eight miles south of Wall is Badlands National Park, the last national park stop on this, The Great American Scenic Safari. A kaleidoscope of colors with mounds and valleys, pinnacles and spires. Each so very distinctive from every angle and every set of eyes that see it. We stopped at several of the viewpoints along the way to take in the panoramic wonder that is the Badlands. I've been here a few times before and each time I'm here I see something I hadn't seen before. An extra bonus today was the sighting of several bighorn sheep grazing very near the roadside on hillsides much too treacherous for the likes of me to walk on. Further on a colony of prairie dogs gave everyone a chuckle as they darted in and out of the little mounds they call home. The drive around Badlands Loop Road once you enter the park at Pinnacles entrance is about 24 miles taking you to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Including the occasional stops at the viewpoints and the walking and photographing it can take upwards of 2 hours or so to complete. In that time the panoramas of the formations, the colors within the hills and crevices, paint a wonderful picture of another of Mother Nature's masterpieces, one not to missed on a trip to South Dakota.
The Restaurant at Cedar Shores
Once in a while we'll find places to have our meals that are simply amazing. The restaurant at Cedar Shores Resort in Oacoma, South Dakota was one of those places. Today had been a busy day with considerable road time, plus a time change. Cedar Shores was ready for us when we walked in with a most delicious buffet. Add to that a most efficient and friendly staff taking superb care of us throughout dinner. Not only were we done and out the door in 45 minutes but it never felt like we were rushing. A leisurely, delicious dinner and friendly staff. What more could you ask for? I know this, though. We will be back. Cedar Shores will be on our list so whenever we're traveling this way in South Dakota, we' ll be sure and stop in.
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