Trip Journal
Departure date: 06/19/2023
Check out our trip this year to South Dakota. We’re sure to have some wonderful photos.
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June 19, 2023 Monday-It is a hot travel day, sunny and in the 90’s. Our bus is cool and so is our afternoon tour at the Terry Redlin Art Center in Watertown South Dakota. There are over 160 original paintings displayed in an equally impressive building. It’s an amazing collection in such a small city. Tonight we’ll stay at the Hampton Inn in Mitchell South Dakota.
June 20, 2023 Tuesday – It was cooler and comfortable today. We had lunch and free time at Wall Drug. Good food and lots of picture opportunities. In Deadwood at Kevin Costner’s Tatanka Museum, we found out how important the buffalo was to the Plains Indians. Amazing sculptures depicting a buffalo jump which is one way the Indians used to harvest the bison. In Deadwood we had an entertaining tour aboard a school bus, then a shootout on Main Street just outside the door of our hotel. The next two nights we stay on Main Street in downtown Deadwood at the Mineral Palace.
June 21, 2023 Wednesday-The morning started out with heavy fog making us wonder if we would even be able to see Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. We crossed a mountain and the weather cleared, and soon the sun made an appearance. Following those two stops we drove the bus through Bear Country USA. We were among active bear, elk, big horn sheep and many other animals, it was very exciting. Our day ended back at Deadwood.
June 22, 2023 Thursday- The morning was cool with some light fog. We drove through Lead, SD on our way through Spearfish Canyon. We had a great picture stop along the Spearfish River and then we were on our way to Wall for lunch. In the Badlands, first, we saw one lone Buffalo, a prairie dog town, antelope, deer and big horn sheep. The drive through the Badlands was a nice change from always staying on the freeway. Tonight we’ll stay at the Baymont Inn in Chamberlain South Dakota.
June 23, 2023 Friday-A nice day to stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Last years theme was the Big Top and they are in the process pf removing the corn and grains preparing for this year. The Palace is decorated inside and has tours and a gift shop. Lunch will be in Worthington at the Pizza Ranch. The rest of the day we will drive home.
