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I started playing with the idea of South Dakota vacation back to 10 years ago. Unfortunately, I haven't even been to the Midwest yet except for the layover at Chicago O'hare airport.
We are planning a drive through and a couple of days stop in S D and naturally want to see Mt Rushmore. A friend also suggested we stop in Deadwood. Can you tell me anything about that town? This is all part of our move from California to the East Coast... We want an interesting journey across the country.
Last year, I thought about doing snowmobile near Deadwood but I didn't make it.
"tepid" is a very bizarre word to use in this context. Even if you meant to say "bland", that wouldn't be accurate.
Mount Rushmore is an amazing work of art in a gorgeous natural environment. Viewing the monument can be very moving, if you're in the right frame of mind. Or a visit there can be an entertaining kitchy experience, if that's how you want to view it.
As for Deadwood, it is a interesting historic town with pretty historic buildings, some good museums, and some casinos.
IMHO the casinos and tourists who visit Deadwood only to gamble make the town kind of awful, but if you ignore the casinos and just take in the beautiful environment and historic sites and museums you can have an enjoyable visit.
BTW, Bay..., Deadwood and Mount Rushmore are iconic sites of the American West. A visit to these places wouldn't be a visit to the "Midwest" at all.
Deadwood used to be a very interesting little town before the casinos came in. Unfortunately, its historic downtown changed dramatically since then. I still visit it now and then, even do a little gambling, but the charm is long gone.
I'm afraid I feel much the same about Mt Rushmore since the feds found it necessary to build the gigantic parking garage, visitors center, etc. With all the concrete, the faces are diminished. Instead of parking on a gravel pad and walking up a narrow path lined with flags to an opening to view the faces, you park on one level or another of a parking garage that would be more appropriate in NYC, walk along a wide concrete boardwalk to a huge marbled visitors center. Oh yeah, and just beyond that is the grand lookout platform... and also the faces. Government spending at its finest. Somebody in Washington decided what all monuments should look like -- marble and glitz.
Milwaulkee -- Google "Black Hills" and you'll see lots of ideas for tourist entertainment. Lots! Many visitors spend a week or more in the Black Hills and still leave enough unseen that they return several times. If you have kids, I can't think of a better place to spend a few days. And despite my opinions on Mt Rushmore and Deadwood "improvements", they still have plenty to offer for a few hours each.
South Dakota is a well kept secret and I think most of the residents would love to keep it that way. I lived in NE SD for 4 years in the 80's and I loved every minute of it. Might just go back to live when I retire if I can talk my wife into it.
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