Ideas for 13 year old other than Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse

We are visiting the SD area in June for 7 days with our 13 year old son. I have Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Badlands, Jewel Cave, Devils Tower, WY and then up to Teddy Roosevelt Park, ND on our list to see. I am looking for age appropriate, ';other'; fun activities. Thanks!

Ideas for 13 year old other than Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse

Evans Plunge indoor water park in Hot Springs? http://www.evansplunge.com/

Also near HS the Mammoth Site? http://www.mammothsite.com/BlackHills.html

The 1880 Train? http://www.1880train.com/

The Reptile Gardens over by Rapid City? http://www.reptilegardens.com/

On the way to/from Devils Tower a quick stop at the Vore Buffalo Jump? http://www.vorebuffalojump.org/

Bear Country USA? http://www.bearcountryusa.com/

Ideas for 13 year old other than Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse

Dear tasbm1:

I have 2 suggestions, but they both fall under your original list:

1) Custer State Park: horseback riding (we went used the stables at Blue Bell Lodge). My boys-10 at the time so a little younger-loved it.

2)Badlands: if you are experiencing hot weather try to go early in the day so you can climb around. There is one particular ';climbing'; path that is really neat. It is marked by yellow stakes, so you find one stake, then look for the next, etc. (this was one of my kids favorite things to do there).

If I think of anything else, I will post again. Have fun.

kelly

You%26#39;ve gotten some really good suggestions already. With 7 days, I%26#39;d add Wind Cave to your list. Our daughter loved both Wind %26amp; Jewel and was 8 when she visited.

If your son likes history, I%26#39;d recommend the Adams House in Deadwood--great tour guides and interesting story. This could be seen enroute to Devil%26#39;s Tower. Be sure you drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway either coming or going.

There%26#39;s an alpine slide in Keystone near Mt Rushmore. I believe it%26#39;s called the Presidential Slide.

Outside Rapid City, you have the Cosmos Mystery Area where ';interesting'; things happen. Balls roll up hill, etc. We didn%26#39;t go here, but it is probably just some hokey fun.

Your son might enjoy Wall Drug when you visit the Badlands. It%26#39;s a real tourist trap, but a souvenir lover%26#39;s haven.

You will have the Wild Horse Sanctuary near the Mammoth site in Hot Springs. It is a pricey tour, however,and I believe you might see mustangs at T Roosevelt NP. A poster on this site put up some pics of wild horses she photographed there. And..it will cost much less money!

There are many privately owned caves in the area other than Wind %26amp; Jewel that your family might find interesting, such as Rushmore, Sitting Bull, and Crystal caves. There are several others.

As others have said, Custer SP will take up quite a bit of your time as well, between its wildlife, hiking, horseback riding, and scenic drives.

You also have mining museums in Lead/Deadwood and opportunities to pan for gold. Broken Boot Gold Mine is in Deadwood, and Big Thunder Gold Mine is in Keystone.

There are even more things I%26#39;m probably not thinking of. I hope this helps you. Have fun planning! You will have a wonderful time in SD!

Be sure and spend a night in Sundance so you can check out the Vore Buffalo Jump, Devil%26#39;s Tower and the manned fire tower at Warren Peak. The museum in Sundance has a lot of information about the Sundance Kid.