At this Great Place in South Dakota, visitors are able to explore the great outdoors and soak up a bit of the area’s history.

Lake Herman State Park is situated in southeast South Dakota where thousands of years ago melting glacial ice formed a 1,350-acre lake. Today, the state park, located on a peninsula, offers a great view of the lake, recreational opportunities and a taste of history.

It was long before the days of RVing and camping in the modern way that this area was used for camping. Even before the arrival of white settlers, Native Americans used this location for shelter and refuge while traveling to the nearby Pipestone quarries.

However, one of the first permanent settlers here was the Herman Luce family. His cabin, which still stands in the park, was built in 1871 from oak logs and served as a United States Land Office. In 1977, the Herman Luce Cabin was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available for those who want to explore the lake and the surrounding scenery. Both a campground (with 72 campsites) and camping cabins (2 cabins, each sleeps 4 people) are available, along with a ski beach, playground, boat ramp, and the ability to check out fishing gear on site.

The park is located just outside of Madison. Reservations for camping can be made at www.campsd.com or by calling 1-800-710-2267. Campsites are open May-October and the camping cabins are open year-round.

One of South Dakota’s Great Places is the second largest state park in America, home to one of the world’s largest publicly-owned bison herds, and known for interesting landscapes. It is Custer State Park, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Stockade Lake, Custer State Park

Custer State Park’s 1,300 bison have 71,000 acres to roam. Other wildlife, including pronghorn, elk, mountain goats, prairie dogs, and the park’s entertainers – the begging burros – also can be found at the park. It’s a place were visitors can see the wildlife, up-close and personal, along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road.

The park is not only known for the wildlife, but also the breathtaking scenic views around each corner. From granite formations, known as “The Needles,” to sweeping prairie backdrops and curving creeks, visitors will find the unexpected.

The campgrounds in Custer State Park offer unique landscapes alongside creeks or amidst pine forests. Additionally, Custer State Park Resort company offers several lodging options, including the new Reunion Cabin. Staying in Custer State Park puts you just minutes from three scenic byways; Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and the Wildlife Loop Road.

There is no shortage of outdoor adventure at the park. Rock climbers test the limits along the “Needles” formations and fly-fishermen can enjoy abundant fishing. Mountain bikers, hikers, photographers, and road cyclists will all find the park exceptional for their trade.

 The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is one of the grandest events at the park. It’s a weekend filled with Old West entertainment and heart-pounding adventure as cowboys and cowgirls round up nearly 1,300 bison. Thousands of spectators take in this mandatory park management event each September. The 2011 Buffalo Roundup is September 26.

Amid bustling Rapid City, there is a place where favorite childhood stories live. Rapid City’s Storybook Island is one of South Dakota’s Great Places.

Storybook Island opened in 1959 after the Rapid City Rotary Club saw a need for establishing and operating a free children’s park. Through donations from individuals and community businesses, Storybook Island was born and was an instant success. Residents and visitors of the Black Hills area continue to enjoy the family tradition that has been in existence for over 50 years at Storybook Island.

Upon arrival at the park, guests are instantly reminded of beloved storybook favorites. The park is filled with sets that portray characters from children’s classic stories, famous fables, and favorite nursery rhymes. See Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs house, travel through Winnie the Pooh’s 100-Acre Woods, and take pictures with the famous Dalmatian dogs.

The park features a train ride, a maze, various playgrounds, and swing sets.

Storybook Island also features a children’s theatre. Although the park is free there is a small admittance fee for theatre performances. The tickets per person are $1.00. Performances include: Rapunzel, The Crocodile Prince, Rumplestiltskin, and The Greatest Superhero. Most of the shows are scheduled for every Tuesday through Saturday at 10 am, 11 am, and 12 pm. Visit Storybook Island’s Children’s Theatre website for more details regarding performance times for the summer.

Storybook Island is open 7 days per wwweek from 9 am to 8 pm. To learn more visit the Storybook Island website.

This information is part of the South Dakota Department of Tourism’s Great Places series.

It seemed to take awhile, but the summer weather has finally arrived. Now it’s time to celebrate! There is no better way to celebrate the summer heat other then spending time cooling off from it! And there is no better way to cool off other then enjoying a day filled with sun and surf at one of South Dakota’s water parks.

Wild Water West, located in Sioux Falls, is one of South Dakota’s larger water parks. Combining sun and slides, Wild Water West is the perfect spot for sun worshipers and thrill seekers alike.

For those seeking adventure while at Wild Water West, try all four major slides at the waterslide complex. It includes a body slide and tube slide, and two six-story speed slides. Plummets Peak, a straight drop into a refreshing splash pool, will be sure to get your adrenaline pumping. On the Black Hole you are dropped through a pitch black tunnel and then eventually see the light of day as you rush towards a splash pool waiting for you at the bottom. Or, try the wave pool, the newest attraction at Wild Water West that is filled with 500,000 gallons of water!

If a day of relaxing in the water is more your style then I would recommend grabbing a tube and floating down the lazy river. Over 21? Float your way in from the lazy river and stop at the connecting swim-up bar for a refreshing adult beverage.

A lazy river, waterpark playground, and arcade games are all a part of the WaTiki Indoor Waterpark and Resort. The convenience and quality of waterpark attractions make WaTiki Indoor Waterpark and Resort a cool family getaway regardless of the time of year.Looking to cool off while out west? Visit WaTiki Indoor Waterpark and Resort for the ultimate family getaway! Connected to two hotels, visiting WaTiki Indoor Waterpark is easy. The climate controlled indoor waterpark features six slides, including a body slide that travels through Sliders restaurant bar and grill. Also featured is the Superbowl Slide. The Superbowl Slides allows you or you and a partner to ride on an inner-tube in an enclosed tube before dropping you into a giant bowl for a few swirls and then cruising out to the bottom of the slide.

Wild Water West and WaTiki Indoor Waterpark and Resort are just two of many different water parks in our state. Try Rushmore Slides near Keystone or Evans Plunge in Hot Springs for other unique water park getaways.

So unfold that oversized beach towel, grab the sunscreen, and cool off from the summer heat at one of South Dakota’s great water parks.

Summer breeze and a majestic prairie night sky serves as the backdrop for the annual Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant each summer. During three consecutive weekends in July, the charming town of De Smet, South Dakota becomes filled with visitors who are looking to see what life on the prairie was like for one of America’s most treasured authors, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Every year a live re-enactment of one of Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie” novels comes to life in De Smet. The performance takes places in an open-air theater beneath the prairie sky, making it a unique experience for all attendees.

This year’s 40th anniversary pageant performance is “By the Shores of Silver Lake.” In Dakota Territory Pa works for the railroad, and Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and their mother come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. The Ingalls family spends the winter in the Surveyors’ House and as spring arrives, they watch as the little town of De Smet becomes a bustling, busy town.

Make the trip to De Smet an all day affair! There is plenty to keep you and your family busy prior to show time. Satisfy your taste buds while you sample delicious treats at the Prairie Popper. Visit the Ingalls homestead. Commemorate your trip with a special souvenir in the Whatnot Shop. Take a family photo, listen to pre-show music, and enjoy a free wagon ride, just like the one Laura Ingalls Wilder use to ride in.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant participants

Seating is provided by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant Society, which consists of traditional wooden benches. However, if you prefer, you may bring your own lawn chairs and blankets to make you as comfortable as possible for the show.

The price of admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Children under the age of five are admitted free. Seats are general admission and you can purchase tickets at the gate. The gates open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 8 p.m.

The dates for this year’s pageant will be:
 July 8-10
 July 15-17
 July 22-24.

For more information on this event visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant website.

By Joe Laing, El Monte RV Rentals 

Scenic South Dakota is prime RV camping territory, thanks to the state’s wide range of historic
sites and unique natural attractions. Take a trip to teach your kids about Missouri River traffic in
the time of trappers and traders. Get a glimpse of geologic wonders with a trip to the Badlands.
Or take an unforgettable RV journey to experience the majesty of Mount Rushmore and the
Crazy Horse Memorial. No matter how you choose to focus your time RV camping in South
Dakota, it’s going to be a trip you’ll talk about for years. 

RV Camping to Visit the Badlands 

RV in Badlands National Park. Photo by South Dakota Tourism

RV Camping to the Missouri River 

The Missouri River played an important part in South Dakota’s early history, and continues to
provide excellent recreation opportunities. Park your RV at a Sioux City RV campground and
then explore the Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail by canoe.
This is a trip for experienced canoeists, but you can also get out on the water by fishing, boating
or swimming at such scenic spots as Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, formed by the
waters of the Missouri River. Well-planned visitor centers at Lewis and Clark provide history
lessons for young RV campers. 

RV Camping to Visit Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial 

Motorhome campers will be pleased to know South Dakota campgrounds offer comfort a short
drive from two of the state’s most famous attractions. Mount Rushmore National Memorial,
carved into the granite of the Black Hills, is located near Keystone, SD. Although there’s no RV
camping on-site, campgrounds such as Holysmoke Resort, just one mile from Keystone, give
RVers a comfortable home base for their explorations. 

Travel seventeen miles from Mount Rushmore to the Crazy Horse Memorial for the chance to
understand in-depth the Native American legacy of South Dakota. “The world’s largest mountain
carving”, according to the Memorial’s website, this gigantic work-in-progress draws visitors
from around the world. 

There are sites to see in South Dakota for every kind of RV traveler. Transport yourself to a state
of wonder with an RV camping trip to South Dakota soon. 

About the Author 

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. For other great RV camping
vacation ideas see the Monty’s Musings RV Camping Blog or the new Monty’s RV Vacation
Photo / Picture Gallery.

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings is one of South Dakota’s newest premier attractions. This museum, which allows children to explore hands-on exhibits, is one of South Dakota’s Great Places.

Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of South Dakota

The museum opened on Sept. 12, 2010, and was the first children’s museum in South Dakota. The museum strives to promote learning for children of all ages. Children can make music, build, climb, dance, discover their inner artist and just be a kid.

Kids can discover the prairie and how it has shaped the lives of those that live here, or create their own home and learn what makes a community. They can get all wet while learning the properties and characteristics of water by using buckets, pipes, and valves. They can even turn into “mini explorers” while investigating South Dakota’s prairies, Badlands, Black Hills and Missouri River.

“Mama,” a full-size, 25 feet tall and 60 feet long, permanent, animatronic T. rex and her animatronic baby boy, greets visitors upon arrival at the museum. “Mama” is the only life size animatronic T. rex on display in the United States.

The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m, and Sunday, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is $6.00 per person, ages one and up.

For more information about the museum visit www.prairieplay.org, call 605-692-6700, or stop by at 521 4^th Street in Brookings, S.D.

South Dakota’s Great Places weekly press release series is a project of the South Dakota Department of Tourism, designed to highlight places in South Dakota that are unique to travelers and residents alike. Click on the special “South Dakota’s Great Places” link at www.MediaSD.com to access the complete list of articles.  

Information for this release was obtained from The Children’s Museum of South Dakota website.�
Photo: Children are able to “make music” at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. Photo courtesy of the Children’s Museum of South Dakota.

Splish, splash, cannon-ball! Probably not outdoors in the winter months up here in South Dakota. But wait, South Dakota has several indoor water parks allowing families to enjoy the splash and echo of a cannonball year round.

Watiki Waterpark, Rapid City, SD

Watiki Waterpark in Rapid City is a popular destination year-round destination for families. This is the largest waterpark resort in the Dakotas. It boasts over 30,000 square feet of waterpark and concessions. If you’re planning an overnight stay in Rapid City, enjoy your choice of 250 hotels rooms attached to the waterpark. No more frozen kiddos to bundle up after an afternoon of swimming. Check their website for rates, operating hours and more information about this great spot for a winter getaway in South Dakota.

Natural spring water flows from a thermal spring in Hot Springs at about 5,000 gallons per minute. Families of all ages can enjoy this rejuvenating warm water at Evans Plunge – the World’s largest natural warm water (87 degrees), indoor swimming pool. People have enjoyed this water for over one hundred years. Today, kids can enjoy this indoor waterpark complete with waterslides, Tarzan rings, fun tubes and kiddy pools while mom and dad relax in the warm water.

Many Ramkota hotels in South Dakota have indoor water play areas on site. The addition of indoor water parks makes a big difference in how excited a kid will get when entering a hotel pool. Check out each of these locations to see what you can find at Ramkota Hotel in South Dakota:

            Best Western Ramkota Hotel Aberdeen, South Dakota
            Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center Rapid City, South Dakota
            Best Western Ramkota Hotel Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Ramada Inn and Suite of Sioux Falls has Buccaneer Bay – an indoor water park that also is conveniently located inside the hotel. This Ramada Hotel is only a mile away from the Sioux Falls Regional Airport and only 3 miles from Downtown Sioux Falls, which is filled with adventures for the whole family.

The kids by now are ready to practice their backstroke and butterfly (and cannonballs of course), and wash away the winter blues. So, make South Dakota your winter getaway and enjoy one of several water parks.

Festive lights are beginning to sparkle across South Dakota. The snowy white grounds have us excited and ready to talk about what to do in South Dakota this holiday season.

Here is just a glimpse at a few events that will bring holiday cheer to your family this year. Several communities celebrate the holidays with a parade of lights. Come see all the lighted floats in communities across South Dakota on the following dates; check local listings for more information.

Friday, November 26, 2010
Pierre Parade of Lights
Mobridge Parade of Lights
Sioux Falls Parade of Lights
Watertown Lighted Parade
Huron Parade of Lights
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Festival of Lights Parade – Rapid City
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sturgis Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A Custer Christmas Parade – Lighted evening parade

Christmas at the Capitol in Pierre, SD, is celebrating the 30^th Anniversary this year. Come see more than 100 trees that have been decorated throughout the capitol building and on the grounds for the holiday season. Trees have been decorated by organizations, schools and other groups from across South Dakota. The trees are on display at the capitol building until December 26. The lighting ceremony kicks off the holiday on Tuesday, November 23, at 6:00 p.m.

The 1880 Train Holiday Express takes travelers on a journey to the “North Pole” where Santa waits to board the train. Each child has an opportunity to meet Santa and receive a small gift. This holiday ride is one that the whole family will enjoy! Space is limited at this event, and purchasing tickets before the ride is highly recommended.
Event dates:
Nov 26, 2010
Nov 27, 2010
Dec 11, 2010
Dec 18, 2010
Dec 22, 2010
Dec 23, 2010

Another fun event taking place is Breakfast with Santa at the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History on December 4. Families can visit Santa, his Zoo volunteers, and the animals for breakfast! Enjoy good food, a puppet show, crafts and other fun activities at the Zoo! Keep in mind tickets must be purchased in advance, call the zoo for more info.

The Custer National Forest is located in two states – Montana and South Dakota. This national forest takes pride in its ecological diversity. Throughout the forest you will find rolling prairies, Ponderosa pines, and populations of rare species like the Merlin falcon.

It covers a large area in Montana, about 1,112,379 acres. The park covers 74,536 acres in northwestern South Dakota. It is separated between five units throughout South Dakota. 

The Custer National Forest in South Dakota offers a wide variety of activities, including hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing. If you are looking to do any of these things in a beautiful area and solitary setting, then this is the perfect location. While there are no maintained hiking trails, the land is very conducive to hiking and you will see beautiful views along the way.

Or, try camping in the forest. In South Dakota’s Custer National Forest, there are two different locations to camp. There are four camping units in the Slim Buttes Unit. Amenities at the Slim Buttes Unit include electrical outlets, vault toilets, drinking water, and shelters. At the North Cave Hills Unit there are 10 camp sites with the following amenities: vault toilets and drinking water. Call the number at the bottom of this post for more information about camping in the Custer National Forest. 

Of course, the other option is to do some primitive camping – this is allowed anywhere in the forest. Please remember to take out what you bring in. Also, a safe guideline to follow is to stay 100 feet away from any water and all trails.

The Custer National Forest in South Dakota is home to a variety of wildlife species including elk, deer, antelope, cougars, bobcats, turkeys, Merlins, porcupine, and more.

The very best part about visiting this park – it’s free! Custer National Forest is open year-round 24-hours per day. If you are interested in learning more about the park, the Sioux Ranger District Office if located in Camp Crook, South Dakota. Or call 605-797-4432.