Have a great time, We went on our Black Hills/Yellowstone trip in 2008. It was well worth the trip even at the high gas prices. We stopped at the Rafter J Bar Ranch in the black hills of SD, it is located in the center of many attractions. While we were at the Rafter J for three days, we visited, 1. Mt Rushmore 2. Crazy Horse 3. rode on the 1880 Steam train 4. Custer State park 5.Wind Cave 6. Alpine Slide 7. We Drove the Needles Hwy loop, (counter clockwise) A must do! Don't bring the TT, five SMALL tunnels, some that look out onto Mt Rushmore in the distance. 8. Sylvan Lake, (The second National Treasure movie was filmed there) A good place to stop and have lunch, and take the paddle boats or a short hike around the lake.
We loved the Black Hills, We are from the Very ___Flat___ part of the Midwest, so any hill, bump, or a piece of rock that sticks out of the ground is a marvel to us!
Happy Camping!
2005 F150 XLT Supercab LB Heavy Payload 5.4, 4.10
2007 Jayco Jayflight 31BHDS
Back-up camera on the TT with infrared & microphone
Prodigy
ScanGauge II
Reese duel cam hitch, U-bolt style ($40 at a garage sale)
2 canoes, 3 kayaks, & camping dog (Tootsie)
You mentioned that your 6yr old would like to see a gun fight. When we were in Keystone they had a comedy/western show that started as a gun fight on the main street. I agree that you could do Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse in one day. Infact we went on a Bus tour from Ft. Hayes ( Dancing with the wolfes film set) that took us to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custar State Park, Black Hills, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, etc.. Highly recomend the bus tour as everyone can sit back and enjoy the scenery and learn a little about the area from the tour guide. You can always go back on your own if you want to spend more time in one area.
Party of 5 + 1 mutt
2006 Chevy Suburban
2004 Jayco Jayfeather 29Y
Fuuny you mention that...I've been considering one as well.
Too bad I sold mine a few years back or I'd meet you somewhere to sell it. I regularly drive the north I-25 corridor.
New ones are available between $125-$250. I recommend keeping it simple. The best add-on/option was a sun shade. I had an add-on storage compartment but that turned out to be more of a pain. Plus the more load you have high and away from your back the more it pulls back on the shoulders. A bouncing child is enough strain! One more word of caution: don't give the kid a sippy cup of milk when he/she learns how to open the top!
2004 Toyota Tundra SR5 (V8, 4WD, TP, TRD)
2005 Fleetwod Allegance with axle flip
Honeywell 2000i Generator
Me, DW, DS, DD, Dog & Camping Kitty
Fuuny you mention that...I've been considering one as well.
Too bad I sold mine a few years back or I'd meet you somewhere to sell it. I regularly drive the north I-25 corridor.
New ones are available between $125-$250. I recommend keeping it simple. The best add-on/option was a sun shade. I had an add-on storage compartment but that turned out to be more of a pain. Plus the more load you have high and away from your back the more it pulls back on the shoulders. A bouncing child is enough strain! One more word of caution: don't give the kid a sippy cup of milk when he/she learns how to open the top!
lol. I can only imagine.
I actually got a Kelty Kids backpack-style carrier that opens into a kiddo carrier and has an internal frame. They were cheaper and less bulky.
As for the bus tour...that sounds like a great, stress-free option. We'll look into it, though I am slightly hesitant since the (then) 6mo might require us to go at our own pace.
Fuuny you mention that...I've been considering one as well.
Too bad I sold mine a few years back or I'd meet you somewhere to sell it. I regularly drive the north I-25 corridor.
New ones are available between $125-$250. I recommend keeping it simple. The best add-on/option was a sun shade. I had an add-on storage compartment but that turned out to be more of a pain. Plus the more load you have high and away from your back the more it pulls back on the shoulders. A bouncing child is enough strain! One more word of caution: don't give the kid a sippy cup of milk when he/she learns how to open the top!
lol. I can only imagine.
I actually got a Kelty Kids backpack-style carrier that opens into a kiddo carrier and has an internal frame. They were cheaper and less bulky.
As for the bus tour...that sounds like a great, stress-free option. We'll look into it, though I am slightly hesitant since the (then) 6mo might require us to go at our own pace.
Reptile Gardens sometimes has an old west shoot-out during the peak of tourist season. It's a great stop for little ones.
Custer State Park has a couple fairly large prairie dog towns that your kids will enjoy, but don't let them get down onto the ground. Those little critters carry fleas, etc. If you can keep your 6 y.o. on his feet, it would be well worth it. Devils Tower, if you get that far, has an even bigger prairie dog town.
On the CSP wildlife loop you should come across some wild burros that'll come up to the windows of your car looking for food. Bring some carrots to feed them, apples, whatever. Both kids should enjoy this. They're cute!
I also recommend Bear Country. Stop at the very end of it and watch the bear cubs in the fenced-in area. Oh, and just west of that a mile or two is a petting zoo the kids should enjoy. It's near the entrance to Rushmore Shadows Resort (not that you're going there).
My kids and grandkids always enjoyed/enjoy the Black Hills. I think it's a great area for family vacations.
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