South Dakota Adventure
by Candyce H. Stapen
In South Dakota, you and your kids will discover
heroes, Western history and legends in awe-inspiring dimensions
as well as explore state and national parks that feature herds of
bison, intricate underground caves and fantastic rock formations.
Literally bigger than life--at 60 feet high--the chiseled faces
of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln,
and Theodore Roosevelt, heroes that carved U.S. policies, gaze out
from Mount Rushmore. Their gigantic stone images remind viewers
of the nation's aspirations as well as the perseverance of sculptor
Gutzon Borglum, whose studio you can tour. A walk on half-mile Presidential
Trail gets you close to the base.
Balance the history lesson by visiting a fifth
face, nine stories high, at the Crazy Horse Memorial. When
complete, the sculpture of the Native American hero astride his
horse will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long-the world's largest
mountain carving. Begun by Korczak Ziolkowski and continued by his
family, the monument portrays the Lakota leader after the Battle
of Little Big Horn when many Sioux were pushed onto reservations.
Crazy Horse points, his 227-foot arm extended, immortalizing his
words, "My lands are where my dead lie buried." For more Native
American history, browse the site's Indian Museum of North America-there's
a real tipi to sit in-and stay for the evening laser show of images
projected on the stone.
At Custer State Park, situated on 71,000 acres of rolling
grasslands and pine forests, about 1,400 bison-one of the U.S.'s
largest herds-graze the meadows. Jeep safari drives get you out
in the back country to see these living icons of the west as well
as the resident deer, elk and pronghorn sheep. During the Buffalo
Round-up Arts Festival, held September 30 to October 2, families
enjoy face painting, craft shows, musical entertainment and on Monday,
October 2 be at the park before 7:30 a.m. to watch the rounded-up
buffalo come thundering into the corrals.
About 13 miles west of Custer is Jewel Cave National Monument,
where you can wriggle through 24-inch passageways that are eight-and-a-half
inches high to see clusters of hydromagnesite, some of the rarest
formations on earth. These spelunking tours are available in summer
for ages 16 and older (reserve ahead). To see the cave, reputedly
the third-longest cave in the world with 133 miles of mapped passages,
you can also take a one-and-a-half-hour, well-lit tour through wide
passageways.
Wind Cave, the highlight of Wind Cave National Park, Hot
Springs, is reputed to be the fourth-longest U.S. cave with nearly
120 miles of mapped passages. Guides lead you through a one-half
mile tour that takes about 75 minutes and features abundant boxwork-thin
calcite fins resembling honeycombs. Also in Hot Springs is the indoor
Mammoth Site, one of the richest mammoth finds in North America,
revealing 53 skeletons, many of them in "situ," or, as found. With
the Junior Paleontologist Excavation, kids ages four to 13, from
June 1 through August 15, can dig for fossil replicas (reserve ahead
to dig).
Erosion--by wind, water and ice--designed the Badlands, carving
the landscape into jutting cones and peaks, twisting gorges and
canyons.
Do more than just drive through Badlands National Park; take time
to get out of your car to walk near the unusual formations. The
Fossil Exhibit Trail is one-quarter mile long and accessible by
strollers.
In Rapid City visit the Journey Museum, which recounts two
versions of Great Plains history, a scientific explanation based
on fossils and geologic cross-sections as well as the mythological
explanation of the Lakota Sioux. The Native American exhibit with
its hologram of a woman talking in a tipi is especially interesting
as are the discovery boxes. Kids can pull out these drawers beneath
the glass exhibit cases to touch turkey feathers, deer antlers or
sinew used for thread.
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Great Places, Great Deals
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Atlanta, GA: With the Ritz Carlton's "Tanks
for the Memories" package, you get four VIP, front-of-the-line
tickets to the world's largest aquarium, deluxe
accommodations, breakfast for four, and a welcome
amenity. Rates from $299 (800-241-3333; www.ritzcarlton.com).
Washington, DC: Root for the home team
with the Fairmont Washington, DC's "Take Me Out
to the Ballgame" package. Rates include overnight
lodging, two Metro tickets to reach RFK Stadium,
a welcome Nationals' poster and baseball cap and
complimentary parking. From $269 per night (you
buy your own baseball tickets; 800-441-1414; www.fairmont.com).
Nevis: Nevis blends rain forest and beach.
The island is a laid-back, off-the-beaten-path
Caribbean destination whose largest hotel is the
196-room, Five Diamond-rated Four Seasons Resort.
With a five-night booking
through October 31, 2006, receive a $500 airfare
credit. With the Family Plan, a second room for
kids 17 and younger is available less the credit
(800-332-3442; www.fourseasons.com).
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*****
– Candyce H. Stapen is the author of
27 books, including National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family
Vacations.
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