South Dakota (Part #1)

We are home from a wonderful weekend in South Dakota...taking in all of the tourist sites we could come up with.  My parents wanted to have all of us together to celebrate their 50th Anniversary as a family, no party at church, no open house...just back to good ole' South Dakota.  I will try to do our trip in order, but in a few posts.  Too much to write in one place.  

Our family left Waukee early Wednesday afternoon and made a stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD to see it.  My Dad played basketball there in High School. 

 Inside the Corn Palace, the gym my Dad played on is the gift shop in the summer months

Tommy not so thrilled about this photo op, but okayed it to go on blog just not social media. :)

We thought this was lovely on my Love...

What a beautiful drive...like a painting

Sunset in South Dakota...chasing the sun all day long

 Most of us then met in Pierre SD on Wednesday night. Our oldest niece Ariana couldn't get out of work to be there until Saturday so we started the adventures without her.  

Thursday Morning....

We loaded it up and headed from the hotel.  

We visited the Capital on Thursday, my Dad worked there as a lobbyist and my Mom a secretary when they were first married.  (that was news to me that Mom worked there too)

 South Dakota State Capital

 We pretty much took over the place

Shislers on the steps

 Posing as statues

More posing

We visited the Veterans Memorial they have in front as well, it happened to be the birthday of my Uncle Harold Lee that day which choked me up a bit.  He would have been 82 I believe.

We then headed west towards the Badlands.  We stopped enroute to visit the Prairie dogs and feed them.  Only in SD would there be a Prairie Dog spot.

 

 Max posed this picture...so funny

 Worlds largest Prairie Dog

Then onto the Badlands, what a beautiful place.  Just a random surprise as you are driving to have completely different landforms.  Beautiful.  We got out for some pictures and were praying there were not going to be any rattle snakes around.  Mom especially was praying.

 My Mom canNOT stand snakes...NOPE not one bit

From the Badlands we headed to Wall Drug...can't be on 90 and not stop at Wall Drug.  We had a donut there, just okay and headed back on the road.  

By 6 pm we were in Custer National Park at our cabins at the Blue Bell Lodge.  Tired out and hungry. We unpacked quickly and headed into Hill City to have dinner at a place my friend Ginnie suggested that serve only Filet Mignon and amazing desserts.  It was a farther drive than we anticipated but it was worth the drive.  

The next morning the kiddos and I went for a morning walk and everyone ran and greeted Papa.... 

More to come...