Roadtrip!

[CMOTDibbler]

My parents and I are going on a sight-seeing roadtrip through:
Sioux Falls, SD
Rapid City, SD
West Yellowstone, MT

Has anyone been to these places, live there, or have any suggestions on places to eat?

Note: We'll only be spending a day in Sioux Falls and a day in Rapid City, but several in West Yellowstone.

[Zeb The Troll]

Oooo, Alarra grew up in Rapid City. I shall direct her to this thread once I get home from work.

[SDF]

Check out Wall Drug. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug) It's a decent touristy spot. Went through there about 9 years ago, so I can't remember all the places we stopped. We drove from north MN, through ND. Stopped by the Corn Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell,_South_Dakota) (Interesting, but not something you want to go way out of the way for) and stayed near Rushmore in the black hills.

[purple gelatinous cube o' Doom]

Personally, I'd suggest spending more than one day in Rapid City. There's a ton of stuff to do around there with Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Badlands. It's been probably 15 years since I was last there, so there's probably much more to do even now (I do recall a really cool maze, but not sure of the name). I'll second going to the corn palace and Wall Drug too. As for places to eat, go to the food network website and see if there's anything in the area that's been on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, those kinds of places are always the best.

[Alarra]

Well, for where to eat in Rapid City....you should most certainly go to Peppy's Pizza. Cause, well...my family owns it. :smalltongue: Although it is a fun place, and has lazer tag and a big arcade and really good food.

Wall Drug....you know, I never really saw the appeal of that place. I mean, you should stop by cause there's signs across the world telling you too, but it's really not all that cool.

When are you going? Because if it's in August, you should definitely hit the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which is really really cool, even if you're not into bikes. Of course, if you are there then, hotel prices are jacked way up and there's tourists eeeeeeeeeeeverywhere.

The black hills are gorgeous. You should try to spend more time there, if you can. Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, both must sees if you're sight seeing. I would recommend driving the pigtails, which are very cool. It's a winding, mountain highway where every tunnel frames mt. rushmore from one direction or the other. Definite must see. Spearfish Canyon boasts some of the most beautiful scenery I've found anywhere and is another just drive through type of place. Devil's Tower is also very neat, though that's a little further afield, especially if you're going up to MT.

There are caverns all over the place, which are pretty fun. If you're wanting something a little different and wacky, check out the Cosmos, where things are just...off. Like water runs uphill and a lot of other stuff that's mostly optical illusion, but very convincing.

In Rapid City there is also Reptile Gardens, (very cool), Black Hills Maze (fun, but probably skipped if you're only there for the day), oooh, Bear Country, Custer State Park is very pretty, but if you're going to Yellowstone, probably redundant.

Oh....do go through the badlands. One of the most beautiful places in the state and very different from anywhere else you'll be going.

Ooooooooooooh...and Deadwood. You have to go into Deadwood. It's an old west town full of casinos and neat shops. Definitely worth an evening at least.

Why are you spending a day in Sioux Falls? There's nothing touristy there. It's actually really boring, and windy, always.