Black Hills

As we prepared for our trip and told people we would be stopping at the Black Hills, many shared that their own trip to the Black Hills had been one of their best vacations. We've certainly enjoyed our stay. The greenness and topography of the Black Hills contrasts with the high, dry plains to the east and contributes to its wonder. We stayed at the Peregrine Pointe B & B , which was secluded and very comfortable; I could have easily just spent hours sitting on their decks enjoying the solitude of the countryside. The conversation around the breakfast table was always interesting as guests exchanged activities they had done, places they had dinner, or past experiences traveling in the US and abroad.

Some areas of the Black Hills are a bit too commercialized (Keystone) for me, but there are plenty of attractions that would interest a family with kids. The scenery is stunning but can be difficult to take it all in when driving in a car. I can see why people with convertibles and riders on motorcycles are so prevalent (and the Sturgis Harley Rally is still two weeks away).

We did stop at Mount Rushmore. An impressive piece of sculpture and engineering; but, not wanting to be unpatriotic, I'm not sure if carving faces on a mountain side added anything to the natural beauty of the area. But it is a huge tourist attraction and enjoyed by many families.

We drove through the wildlife loop road of Custer State Park and saw only a group of burros who were panhandling from the cars that they had blocked on the road. As we got near the end of the road, we saw a nice herd of bison.

One was nice enough to come over and pose for us.

As we left the Black Hills, we stopped at Devils Tower in Wyoming.

An astounding geological feature. Even more impressive in person than any picture or movie can capture.

Now we have three stops at different places as we work our way to Oregon.