Best of the Black Hills, South Dakota - RV Travel - Summer 2022

Best of the Black Hills, South Dakota - RV Travel - Summer 2022

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it's a birthday we're gonna party like it's a birthday well let's walk around this very busy Campground it's almost stressful to be here I mean if you had a kid like for children they have all kinds of activities and games and bike rentals but if you want peace and quiet this is not the place there's traffic there are lines at the store and uh yeah it's busy very busy you're watching the rest of Summer 2022 and our adventures in the South Dakota Black Hills continue today we're going to visit the sculpture we won't see finished in our lifetimes Crazy Horse we're going to visit Mount Rushmore at night fabulous Caster State Park I mean this place has everything we'll visit Deadwood Spearfish Canyon and reluctantly wall drugstore again before going back to Badlands National Park [Music] wherever I want to be you guys I'm free in my RV entering the Fun Zone it is one of those RV resorts that has pretty much everything and it is huge here they even have a saloon well they call it a grill and tap room but in this area I'd rather call it a saloon I mean this is the Wild Wild West after all right they have horseback riding which is something I haven't done since I was a teenager and it is such a beautiful setting out here well the tap room is closed so let's go into town Hill city is just 10 minutes away did I mention this KOA is impeccably located perhaps a little on the pricey side but hey it is my birthday weekend and Ellie just flew back from Miami so let's have fun let's have a nice lunch here in Hill City [Music] [Music] busy little town let's go to the Alpine Inn [Music] all the APA with way too much head and I get the German bread special yum [Music] now we can continue exploring so after quick nap at the campground here we are at Crazy Horse is impressive even from out here it is 30 dollars to go in and that includes the museum the tour and re-entry for the laser show at night Ed this striking even in its unfinished state before taking the bus let's go inside the museum because they are performing the Native American hoop dance and they only do it seasonally at certain times of the day and the museum actually seems very nice lots of Native American art and artifacts [Music] you can ask me [Applause] well my name is Jim welcome to Crazy Horse everybody construction London Monument began in 1948 and it is far from completion and if they ever finish it it will become the world's second largest statue Crazy Horse was a Lakota world leader and he was killed in 1877 while he was in his mid-30s here we stop to get a closer look and to get a lecture about the history everything that is involved creating a statue of this magnitude they have private tours that take you all the way to the top and we might do that someday should be interesting let's go back to the museum so we can explore at leisure this is what it is supposed to look like when it is finished they still have a very long way to go while there are no pictures of Crazy Horse this model was created in the 1940s from word pictures given by old Indians who had known Crazy Horse finish it it's going to be truly magnificent they do have a laser show at night and we're gonna come back but not today perhaps tomorrow right now we're going to Mount Rushmore for the evening lighting ceremony which only happens from late May through late September foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] I gotta say the National Park Service could do a little better with audio and people could be a little more respectful but hey it is what it is now they are going to show a movie and I think after that they light up the statue [Music] it's hard to imagine but that not long ago this great land of ours was pure Wilderness check it out Lewis and Clark it was an exciting time of Discovery for new Americans [Music] so they talk about each of the presidents a little bit of History it is actually a very emotive ceremony and I think now is the moment we've all been waiting for [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] there it is Washington's profile well good morning today we're going to Custer State Park which is almost bucket list they say it it's it's better than many national parks and it is a South Dakota state park so explore [Music] [Music] [Music] entrance to Custer State Park is twenty dollars and it's good for up to seven days and they also have an annual pass a huge Park several Loop roads and scenic drives and the first one we're going to do is the wildlife Loop Road I'm super excited to visit this park I've heard so many great things [Music] wow look at that I was hoping to see wildlife but this is by far exiting my wildest expectations this has to be the largest bison herd I've ever seen since I don't know Lamar Valley Yellowstone and this one may be even bigger foreign [Music] thank you foreign [Music] so far the wildlife Loop has lived up to its name let's see what other Wildlife we encounter around here [Music] I guess patience is a virtue huh really dude I know you have the right of way and you are a fascinating creature but at some point I'd like to see your other neighbors [Music] to go around foreign [Music] check it out prairie dog town [Music] what have we got here we've got Burrows [Music] ER these wild donkeys have earned the nickname of begging Burrows because they've become famous for approaching vehicles and expecting food they are the only animals you are allowed to feed in Custer State Park well here we are hanging down in the middle of the road with all these friendly Burrows here hello there he was following me earlier now he lost interest somehow let's see if we can find another Borough to talk to okay they really are swarming these folks I guess they've given them food [Applause] hello fella I don't have any food sorry food is that way [Music] foreign [Music] Wildlife at three o'clock is that a pronghorn [Music] it's coming our way maybe people have been feeding them [Music] and this one is behind the fence presumably looking for his friend [Music] really guys when you have to go you have to go and this is kind of sad like two friends reunited yet separated by a fence maybe I'm reading too much into it more than I should [Music] and here we have a lone bison [Music] what is this are those elk let me tell you so far Custer State Park has not disappointed please [Music] there you go follow the leader [Music] foreign [Music] let's stop by the visitor center [Music] The Visitor Center was informative to have a map there and a Gentleman explaining you know where where the wildlife sightings are and and to answer questions basically that's why I didn't film all that much other people here it's a nice map now we're gonna go do the Iron Mountain it's called Uh the Iron Mountain Road that's what it's called [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] the Black Hills National Forest think now is when the road gets interesting we have some narrow tunnels coming up check it out Mount Rushmore it seems to me they could fit a few more presidents on that rock what do you think [Music] we have several narrow low clearance tunnels coming up so do not attempt to do this road with an RV [Music] here's the first one the Scoville Johnson tunnel and home to Rushmore on the other side let's park here real quick [Music] I'm sure this is one of many Mount Rushmore views we're gonna have on this road [Music] next we're going to stop at the Norbeck overlook [Music] thank you let's check out the scenic view here [Music] [Music] [Music] it is shall I say a commanding View yeah you can see Mount Rushmore from here too [Music] [Applause] [Music] fill up oh this is the one this is the one that frames it perfectly foreign [Music] now we're going to look back and do one more Scenic Drive and that is the famous Needles Highway and then we're going to eat and yes we have to pass by Mount Rushmore once again this is probably the last time though [Music] thank you [Music] one last time the profile [Music] and this is it the Needles Highway and maybe next time we should try and stay at one of these campgrounds [Music] foreign [Music] Lake here and it seems to be super busy as it would be on a hot Saturday afternoon maybe we should come back tomorrow morning lots of people picnicking and swimming tubing kayaking and there's a trail that we want to do that goes around the lake so we're definitely coming back tomorrow first thing in the morning [Music] thank you this is called the needles eye tunnel very very narrow [Music] yeah parking skills are very much overrated actually get a better view from this one [Music] thank you there it is that's the tunnel from this side now we have a traffic jam because people want to take pictures you know as you do why wouldn't you and that is just a Tacoma I'm waiting to see if a dually can make it through [Music] foreign this Lake the most amazing Pinnacles and there are several trails in the area but we're not gonna do them this time around [Music] let's go into Custer there's a brewery in town [Music] laughs [Music] here we are it is called Mount Rushmore Brewing Company [Music] I like this place already look at all the presidents looking kind of tipsy [Music] have the the pounding fathers restaurant let me show you the graphic for that one [Music] we decided not to eat at the brewery and instead we're going to grill some burgers then tonight we're going to the Crazy Horse laser show [Music] this is such a huge Campground I kind of wish they would have parked us a little closer to the entrance foreign [Music] this is the grill provided by the campground let's see if it's any good I don't feel like taking out my my Weber so how does this work I mean it doesn't look like much on the outside but I saw them clean the actual Grill yesterday so it should be good but this should clean the outside a little bit too I think by the way that ball if it wasn't for all the kids there's it's a madhouse it looks very inviting [Music] geez Gouda cheese [Music] soon to be melted to the shoes that's it just a little barbecue sauce from Cincinnati and we're gonna have a plane one of the best things about this site's location besides being a deluxe site you know with a grill and all that right next to the pool that I'm Not Really Gonna use is we're right next to the laundry and they were doing laundry right now and let me show you something that you don't get to see anymore and I imagine because the cell connectivity cell phone connectivity is so bad here they have to have it we have a public phone I mean it's not like the ones that you put quarters on but there's the public fun and they have like the phone numbers for for emergency or border patrol I thought that was a peculiar now let's go change the the laundry form the washer to the dryer oh look at that all right yeah they have activities all kinds of activities perhaps not the best campground for us I mean these days I prefer a little more peace and quiet but as a family vacation destination this place might be perfect [Music] let's go back to Crazy Horse [Music] foreign [Music] because they have a slideshow slideshow I keep saying slideshow a laser show but in about half an hour we have about it's 9 p.m now we have about a half an hour to kill so we're gonna go into the museum again since yesterday was a little rushed but it's like a driving theater you park here you can do it at the Terrace in there too parking here and then you see the laser show should be should be cool let's just walk around the museum a little bit since yesterday we were kind of rushed we didn't get to see all that much [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] we have Legends in light because of the way laser interacts with the camera's shutter and because it is pretty dim let's be honest video doesn't really do it justice [Music] favorite part is at the end when they superimposed the finished product over the unfinished statue and if you get to see it in person it is totally worth it [Music] well what do you know good morning early bird gets to find parking at Silver Lake check it out Sylvan Lake beautiful Lake we're gonna I don't know should we go clockwise or counterclockwise let's go counterclockwise it's a beautiful day a little hazy I think there's some smoke there there may be some forest fires Southwest I don't know but this is amazing [Music] [Music] do you think they left all this stuff here because they're coming back today let's explore this rock right here oh look at that [Music] foreign [Music] very cool let's try to go back [Music] by the way doesn't this diffused Morning Light look amazing [Music] thank you one shocking thing I've found in this Trail is that the amount of trash I mean yesterday there were hundreds of people here but you know you see like swimming goggles discarded you know on a rock or towels or sandals I mean all kinds of things that people have left here maybe they intend to come back and and use it today again I don't know but what kind of person lives that amount of trash at a place and it's just not one person it's like it's scattered all over the place pretty shocking shocking tool is this the sheer beauty of this place everywhere you look is this is the reason why I love the western United States nothing nowhere comes close it is amazing the the sheer Beauty of Sylvan Lake here yeah you know it looks everything looks different you know from a different angle so it's uh yeah it's definitely a must-do hike if you come to Custer State Park and it's so far it seems pretty easy although I do believe we have gone we may have gone off Trail here well there you go we have very faded blue blazes so I guess we must follow those [Music] yeah a little more primitive and hard to follow than we were expecting but yeah I guess it's through here because there's another blue blaze somewhere down there [Music] everywhere you [Music] know what the heck did they bring this chair all the way here look at that it's a creek it's a natural spring [Music] actually it is a waterfall draining from the lake well that's very cool that little waterfall there very clear water and look at that [Music] this time I thought this wasn't naturally occurring Lake well I'll be darned there's a dam foreign [Music] yeah [Music] I think it must be this way to the dam let's hope we don't fall in The Frigid Waters of Southern Lake [Music] I'm just gonna make a joke but I'm not gonna foreign [Music] hike I mean look back there it's uh I mean we're not done yet but I definitely recommend it [Music] oh amazing amazing hike everywhere you look Sylvan Lake totally worth it we're getting close to the parking lot now and we are so close that might as well do the eye of the needle one more time not once twice our time here at the Mount Rushmore KOA has come to an end and we're moving to another KOA actually the one near Deadwood not because we particularly love koas or expensive campgrounds but because they have one of the best online booking systems in the industry Reserve America and recreation.gov are also really good for state and national parks and Camp spot gets an honorable mention here too because they let you choose your site on a map [Music] before we get to the KOA we're going to visit a point of interest that I wanted to see when I was here in 2019 but didn't have the time [Music] thank you this charming and super touristy town is called Deadwood and we're definitely coming back later but while we wait for our checking time we're going to go somewhere else by the way the Wild West Town of Deadwood was founded in 1876 when Prospectors came across a Gulch full of dead trees and the creek full of gold within a matter of weeks dancehalls gambling establishments saloons and brothels were all constructed along both sides of lower Main Street and the rest is literally history We're not gonna go much deeper into the history but later today we're coming back for sure right now I have that other point of interesting mind we're entering a town called belfush with trailer in tow because that's how we roll we're actually killing some time as I said waiting to check in at the Deadwood KOA [Music] this is it there is a Tri-State Museum but I'm more interested in the monument in the back of it which marks the center of the nation let's look inside the the RV of yesteryears geoscenter of the U.S we've seen several of these Geographic points in Lebanon Kansas in Rugby North Dakota and here we have the geographic center of the nation [Music] well here we are we've made it to the geographic center of the nation but a couple of years ago we were at the at the geographic center of the lower 48 that's in Lebanon Kansas but this is the geographic center if you include Alaska and Hawaii so here we are right now in the middle of America of the United States of America here's that historic cabin from 1876 the first one to be built in this vicinity [Music] let's go check in at the campground and then explore Deadwood a neighboring lead as well here we are [Music] we didn't know at the time but the Winnebago echo in front of us belongs to none other than Tania and Dave from Turn It Up world and let's turn it up world it is a Small World After All in YouTube land [Music] the KOA is more or less equidistant between the towns of lead and Deadwood so let's check out lead first the town was founded also in 1876 named for the leads or loads of the deposits of valuable ores particularly gold up until 2002 it was the site of the most productive gold mine in the Western Hemisphere and the main well that's pretty much all we're gonna see here today [Music] here's the mine on the left let's see if we can get at least a glimpse oh wow look at that oh that's a huge hole in the ground let me see if we can get a better View and then we're going to Deadwood Mile Trail part of me wants to do the whole One Mile Trail but another part of me is getting hungry and thirsty and wants to get something to eat at Deadwood maybe not just to eat Deadwood seems to be a fun town and much livelier than this one at least today now this is as far as we're gonna go today yeah let's go eat at Deadwood and then tomorrow we might do the the Mile Trail the one mile mine Trail that's what I meant to say [Music] oh we decided to park at the garage it's ten dollars but it's in the shade I won't have to worry about it so [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] just outside of the entertaining as to the historic you know District here and it's right there I believe what I meant to say it is not on the main drag ILY is having a skinny drink I'm having an IPA [Music] beer was good now let's go back [Music] you ask me let's go find something to eat [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you cheese soup that was surprisingly delicious the Big South Dakota ribeye and they're still going at it at the dia del Taco Festival [Music] I know just fancy we're just gonna go back to the campground and color the night but before that let's check out the Franklin Hotel here and the casino casinos are not my specialty this one looks like old money yeah this is an idyllic place [Music] well good um good afternoon that is we've been working all morning and now we're going to Spearfish Canyon it's supposed to be very good very good very nice very very big first up bridal veil Falls [Music] we're entering the canyon and the main thing to do here is to see three waterfalls and just enjoy the natural beauty of the scenic byway and the first waterfall doesn't even require any hiking also I believe the final scene from the movie Dances with Wolves was filmed somewhere around here [Music] and here's the first waterfall bridal veil Falls and this is the one you can see right off the side of the road hello there Lupa do you know where to get how to get to oops never mind bye guys let me throw you in the pictures it looked bigger [Music] [Music] let's continue [Music] there's like a reservoir here on the left so let's stop really quick [Music] thank you [Music] here we have the Spearfish Canyon Lodge and this on the left the latch string restaurant and there is a sign that this parking lot is for restaurant guests only it is odd because they even have a trail map here at the parking lots but you can't park here unless you're going to the restaurant which we might do that later [Music] okay it's gotta be here oh here we go this is called the roughlock falls and it's supposed to be an easy hike so let's do it let's see what this is apparently this goes towards the dam [Music] yes it does look at that [Music] thank you [Music] this is amazing now let's get back on the trail [Music] amazing [Music] what a beautiful place this is foreign we're having perfect hiking weather today I don't know what the temperature is exactly because we don't really have much of a cell phone signal here but it's probably high 60s it's very pleasant in the shade and the sun is not as strong as to you know make you sweat so [Applause] this is very nice very rewarding hike so far [Music] we must be getting close to the waterfalls this would be rough luck false [Music] and here they have a Footbridge [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] fish in the penny oops [Music] [Applause] [Music] so here we are we made it to rough Blood Falls in this one now we're going to turn the gold all the way to the top [Music] all right by the way if you don't feel like doing the whole hike there's a parking lot and a picnic area very close to the falls what a place huh it's beautiful out here [Music] now we're gonna do this other Trail this is like a Spur that connects both Trails um the one we just did and now we're gonna do spare Spearfish Falls which is a shorter Trail is supposed to be a little more strenuous but we'll see [Applause] now here's the lodge and that's that restaurant and behind the restaurant that's where where the trailhead is there's supposed to be a parking lot back there too [Music] thank you okay so here we are we're gonna go down across the Footbridge and then an observation deck easy peasy [Music] [Music] yeah this is it wow [Music] foreign [Music] that's pretty Epic foreign we have conquered peership no Spearfish false this is the Spearfish Canyon Lodge beautiful setting let's check it out [Music] let's have a celebratory IPA yeah I think we earned an IPA today but let's go eat surf and Turf with the view that was fabulous this is the outside sitting area by the way that would have been you know dinner with the view the upper View here right behind the restaurant so we're standing down down there just a few minutes ago look at that thank you [Music] and this is it we're going back to the campground tomorrow is moving day with the good morning very cool morning here actually and today we're going to back to the Badlands check this place out this this KOA very tight actually these guys sites are pretty pretty tight but I mean we're here for the setting which is beautiful beautiful here and and this the location is so great we're like halfway between lead and Deadwood and like five minutes from either so I decided not to go to that mine after all let's see what they have at the store for breakfast if anything why they had many donuts and frozen pizza and you know things like that I think we're gonna have some breakfast here in the camper today we start the Long Journey Back East Destination Florida eventually but first we're going to visit the Badlands properly not like I did when I was solo a few days ago and just like that we are out of the Black Hills on to the Prairie [Music] if I too long oh yeah against my better judgment I'm going to do it we're going to visit wall drugstore I'm doing it for you actually besides I want to give it a second chance because the last time I was here I was not feeling it don't you love it when passenger vehicles parking are valuable oversized parking area I mean there is plenty of passenger vehicle parking but there's always someone or many people in this case the park in the RV parking with their cars so there's no more RV parking pet peeve well here it is the famous Wall Drug store since 1931. in the early days they came up with a brilliant idea of offering free ice water to Travelers crossing the hot Prairie and it was a success over the years the small drugstore became the Behemoth we see here today The Travelers Chapel it is nice that they have a chapel but still no not my kind of place really let's see the backyard I've never been to the backyard before yeah this is the backyard the part that I forgot to I forgot to see last time so let's check it out I guess the appeal in part is this place being so large and so in the middle of nowhere at the same time [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] we decided to come up to the Three Amigos Cantina for lunch we're in the mood for Mexican today [Music] thank you all right let's go oh South Dakota once well we came all the way through Wall South Dakota to eat Mexican but hey there are no rules right and now we continue towards the Badlands but I'm going to save that for the next episode until then thank you so much for watching and see you on the road [Music] I'm writing riding in my RV

2023-03-21 11:53

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