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Council Bluffs to Rapid City

Posted on August 29, 2017October 4, 2017 By Tom No Comments on Council Bluffs to Rapid City
Travel, Washington Sabbatical

Day Three Route

Day Three of our travels was a whirlwind. The cats settled in much better, and even slept last night. We got our start at about the same time as yesterday. The mileage would be a bit less, but we had so much more to see.

Highlights:

  • Loved watching the topography change from Missouri into South Dakota, then across South Dakota.  The state seems greener than when we did this before.
  • Took photos of the Porcher Sculpture Garden from I-90 because we didn’t want to pay the $14 per person entry fee.  They have added a lot since our last trip, which is not a good thing.  Sometimes less is more.
  • Drove through Mitchell to see the Corn Palace and had lunch.Mitchell Corn Palace-001
  • Stopped at the Lewis and Clark Overlook and admired the new Sakajawea statue.Sakajawea Statue-002
  • Stopped to take photos of the man walking his dinosaur.Man Walking Dinosaur-001
  • Drove through Badlands National Park.  Initially balked at the $20 per car entry.  Totally worth it.  Saw bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and prairie dogs.Badlands National Park-011
  • Skipped Wall Drugs, despite the bombardment of advertisements.  Noticed all the other billboards for tourist traps.
  • Hotel is an old-style motel, but the rooms are adequate.
  • Drove straight up to Mount Rushmore through one of the worst tourist trap corridors I’ve seen, apart from maybe Pigeon Forge.
  • Mount Rushmore was stunning as usual.  Thought it would be badly backlit.  It was, but the setting sun over the monument made up for the lighting.Mount Rushmore-007
  • Had dinner and ice cream at the monument.  I ate buffalo stew.
  • Came back and crashed at the motel.

States crossed:

  • Iowa
  • South Dakota

Mileage – 592.7 (including whatever we did getting up to Mount Rushmore.)

Day Three Route

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