Need vacation planning help

We%26#39;ve been to the Black Hills before. This time we%26#39;ll be taking our 2 kids (2 %26amp; 5) and a teenage visitor from Germany. In the past we%26#39;ve gone more off season and didn%26#39;t reserve rooms or plan anything ahead of time. We plan to travel the 2nd or 3rd week in July. Looking for afforadable cabins centrally located.

Would like to take in the Rapid City attractions, go to Custer State Park, possibly do a cave or gold mine if the 2 yr old is up for it. Our visitor has requested seeing a ranch, thought of possibly a chuckwagon supper if it%26#39;s not to commericalized. Are there any rodeos in the area at that time? Is Deadwood worth the trip? We stayed at a fun hotel there years ago but didn%26#39;t look around the area just were passing through.

I ordered a vacation guide but am getting too much info that way. Need help with somewhere to stay, and where to go to see the ';West'; without it looking fake.

Need vacation planning help

Hi,

If you are looking for a cabin experience, many on this site like staying at Custer State Park, which has a pretty central location to many of the attractions. Take a look at custerresorts.com to get an idea of the many cabins at the park.

You might be a little limited on seeing a cave or mine, but it really does depend on the child. The Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone has a relatively short tour which could be a good introduction to being underground for the toddler. There%26#39;s also a discovery tour at Jewel Cave that is only around 1/2 an hour. The tours at Wind Cave are all much longer--about 2 hours, which may be too much for the toddler. Your teenage guest would probably love them! Perhaps you could take shifts for cave touring..

I have not done a chuckwagon dinner, but the owner of our hotel highly recommended them. There was one that left from the Blue Bell Lodge in Custer SP. I believe there are others based out of Rapid City as well.

For young children, Deadwood may or may not be interesting. Our daughter was a little older (8), but she absolutely loved the Adams House. Your little ones might be bored with it. You and your teen guest would like it however. There%26#39;s a place there called Gulches of Fun that has go carts, etc. You could incorporate a quick stop to Deadwood enroute to Devil%26#39;s Tower, which is must see in the hills, imo. I know your little ones would enjoy the walk around the base of the tower, along with seeing the prairie dog town. All kids love them!

When we visited SD, I found the attractions there to be pretty authentic. Of course, being from the east coast like I am, I always find the west much more authentic and enjoyable than where I am from.

Feel free to ask more questions. Have fun planning.

Need vacation planning help

The Days of 76 Rodeo is July 21 - 25, 2009 in Deadwood. There%26#39;s also a parade with ';the Deadwood Stage, numerous horse drawn wagons and buggies from the Days of ’76 Museum Collection, regional bands, cowboys and cowgirls of today and yesterday and a great variety of historic floats and vehicles.';

Most of the chuckwagon dinners are a little hokey, but probably fun for the kids. Check out the cabins at www.sundancemountainhideaway.com

Also the cabins at Custer State Park as stated. I would highly recommend making reservations anytime in July.

Prairie Edge Trading Co. %26amp; Galleries: The Largest Collection Of Plains Indian Arts -located in Rapid City at the corner of 6th and Main.

Your entire family would enjoy The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs,S.D.

It is %26#39;google-able';.

Deadwood has done a fantastic job of preserving the old buildings. Parking was a problem. We drove up to Mt. Moriah Cemetery and hiked up to Wild Bill%26#39;s grave. Calamity is buried - literally- darned near on top of him.

For your visitor the contrast between patriotic Mt. Rushmore and Native American Crazy Horse might be interesting.

Deadwood does ';old west'; better than anywhere else in the Hills. But it%26#39;s still mostly all touristy. For REAL west check out what%26#39;s available over between Lusk and Douglas, WY where real cowboys still work. It means leaving the Black Hills for a day or two but might be worth it.

http://www.wyomingbnb-ranchrec.com/

There is a Stagecoach museum at Lusk. The wide open spaces of the national Grasslands might also be interesting for your visitor. You could combine a route with a swing by Devils Tower then loop back to the Black Hills.