Sunday, May 22, 2016

Onward Through South Dakota - Black Hills

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One of our most favorite parts of our South Dakota trip was driving Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.

Even though we were visiting in an off season, we saw lots of wildlife!

Bison were everywhere.



The famed Wild Burros were few, but at least one friendly 'guy' made his way up to greet us!


This was a new animal to us. It is called a Pronghorn.
I do wish the visitor centers in this park had been open for us to learn more about the area and wildlife.

From there, we traveled onto the Needles Highway. 
Truckin' Man LOVED this road. The twist's and turns, and tunnels were so fun for him.

I did not remember the altitude being so high. I guess when I traveled here back in the day with my parents, I did not have my fear of heights so it didn't mean anything to me back then.


If we aren't driving of the edge of a cliff, the height doesn't bother me as much 
and this overlook was absolutely breath taking!


 Of course, we had to take a peak at Mt. Rushmore. 


Just how I remembered it.

Until next time!

20 comments:

  1. I have never been so CLOSE to wildlife! Lucky you!!

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  2. Replies
    1. They are! It's hard to believe that the locals out there consider them a part of every day life!

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  3. But did you see the BACKSIDE of Rushmore?

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    1. Nope. Hiking trail I assume? Or the funny picture I found when I googled that?!

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  4. ALL stuff I want to see! Those are some amazing wildlife photos, I love the one of the burro. Too cute! I'm just amazed by some of those rock formations. I like rocks though, I'm kind of dork that way :-) I definitely have to see Rushmore at some point in my life.

    Have a great day Kris!

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    1. From one dork to another, the formations really are so interesting. I loved that the Visitor center in the badlands was open and explained how the formations were made. I wish we could have learned some of the same history in the Black Hills.

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  5. Hi,
    I love the 5th photo! That is so cool!
    Carla

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    1. It was neat! I am glad that our vehicle didn't touch either side!

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  6. Fabulous trip photos. I love Antelope (Or Pronghorn as you referred to them). What a cute little Burro and aren't Bison huge. I'd love to see Mt. Rushmore.

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    1. I can only imagine the photographs you would capture if you were to travel here.

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  7. This could be the setting for a classic Western. I expect to see John Wayne at any moment.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. I had the same thought! I did learn that Dances with Wolves was filmed in the Badlands. Not sure if we drove through an exact parts of that movie location, but we were there!

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  8. Oh what a great trip Kris! The landscape out west is so beautiful. I will have to take a trip there myself one day. And Truckin Man was pretty calm when that burro came up to greet you guys! That was amazing, but I'd be freaking out a little! : )

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    1. lol.... From my childhood trip, I remember the burros greeting all the tourists. I think Truckin' Man might have freaked out a little bit if I hadn't told him they were going to come greet him!

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  9. How cool! I love the wildlife and Mount Rushmore is definitely on our bucket list!

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  10. i love parks where you can interact so closely with the animals like that! cool adventure. :)

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  11. Wow! This looks like the set for every western I've even seen.
    Amalia
    xo

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