Hello and welcome back to Nomad Dad Life!
This post will be all about the Oregon Trail–not the game, but our journey to the West Coast! Unlike the game, we didn’t have to worry about dysentery, typhoid, or cholera on our journey. We also had a much easier time crossing rivers because we didn’t have to worry about caulking the wagon, fording the river, or having to pay to ferry across. $5 per person and oxen can add up quickly! Of course, our journey was much easier; we have it easy with our modern amenities. It wasn’t without its challenges, though.
First of all, this was our first real travel experience. The kids hadn’t been in a vehicle for more than 4 hours in a day. How would they handle being stuck in a car seat for 8-10 hours? Did we pack the right things? Did we pack enough things? We wouldn’t be able to take a quick drive to our storage unit now if we needed something. Would our children react well to a new place? How would they react to not getting to see their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or friends whenever they wanted?
How was it going to be for my wife and me? We had family and friends who could watch the kids if we needed a break in Minnesota. We didn’t know anyone in Oregon. How would work go for me two time zones away and limited time to get work done between watching the kids while my wife was working. Besides we wanted to explore our new “home” area for the short 3 months we would be there. How could that work out?
Deadwood, South Dakota
Our first stop, like the Oregon Trail, was a trip back in time. After a roughly 9 hour drive we stopped in Deadwood, South Dakota, for a couple nights. The first time you visit Deadwood, you might think you’ve traveled back in time. Deadwood was formed illegally in the 1870s after gold was discovered in the Black Hills. In its heyday the city had about 25,000 people. This was circa 1876-1879. It was known for its lawlessness; murders were common. Wild Bill Hickock was murdered while playing cards. Deadwood was the first small community in the United States to legalize gambling. Because of these events, people wanted the history of the town to be preserved and it really is like going back to 1880 when you visit, minus the lawlessness, of course.
There is way more than to do just gambling in Deadwood, however. During the summer months, typically from the end of May through the end of September, there are “shootouts” on Main Street Monday through Saturday. They have these reenactments three times a day as well as other daily activities about the “yesterday“ of the town. Deadwood is a tourist attraction so it does get busy in the summer months.
Around the Area
Deadwood is within 50 miles of Mount Rushmore and only 15 miles from Sturgis, which has the most popular motorcycle rally in the world. Sturgis is a town of 7,100 people has had more than 739,000 people attend the rally in August.
Many people stay in Deadwood when visiting Mount Rushmore. There are options around the area if you want to get away from people as well. Spearfish Falls is a place we visited with the kids that we would recommend. It was an easy hike even with small children. Cell phone service is limited so plan your trip ahead of time.
Another place we went to was the Broken Boot Mine. We got a tour of the old gold mine and learned about how the miners only got 2 candles a day to work in the mine; these candles were, of course, the only source of light in the mine. You’d need a lot of trust in your partner to make sure they hit the chisel with the hammer and not your fingers in that little light!
Rush Mountain Adventure Park is another fun place in the area. It is located less than 10 miles from Mount Rushmore, making it a great place to check out when you go visit the presidents. It has the closest cave you can explore near Mount Rushmore, a mountain coaster, zipride, wingwalker course, and a gunslinger ride. The mountain coaster is a pretty cool experience that I would recommend.
Rapid City
Rapid City is the largest city in the Black Hills area and the second most populated city in South Dakota. If you go to Rapid City, I recommend getting a National Parks Pass. They are $80 for an annual pass and easily worth the money. Rapid City is in close proximity to 6 national parks and if you visit all of those when you are there, you would easily pay for your pass. The 6 National Parks are Badlands National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and Mount Rushmore. The Crazy Horse Memorial is also close to Rapid City.
Bear Country USA, located south of Rapid City, is a 2-mile drive through a North American wildlife park. From your vehicle you’ll be able to view black bear, wolves, elk, buffalo, and other wildlife. After the drive through there is a wildlife loop that you can walk around. It features young and small animals that you might not see on the drive. The park is usually open May through November, weather permitting.
Another interesting place to visit in Rapid City is the Reptile Gardens. It started in 1935 with a small display of reptiles, but it has grown into the largest reptile zoo in the world. It has more species and subspecies of venomous reptiles than any zoo or park. Here you can see Maniac, the giant saltwater crocodile. He is nearly 16 feet long and weighs close to 1,250 pounds! They have giant tortoises that love attention and are great with kids, Prairie Dog Town, and many more exhibits including a playground outside for the children.
The George S. Mickelson Trail is over 100 miles of trail that runs north-south through the Black Hills. It’s a great way for bikers, hikers, or horseback riders to experience Black Hills National Forest. It maintains an even grade so it’s an easy trail for children. Deadwood is the northern trailhead for the route. Local bike shops offer rentals to explore the trail.
Food and Drink
Historic downtown provides many excellent options for restaurants and bars. The casinos in Deadwood offer “free” drinks while you are gambling. I put this in quotes because you have to be gambling to get the drinks so depending on your luck they typically cost you more. Most of the casinos also offer free meals if you are a rewards member and spend enough money gambling. Typically this amount is pretty low to incentivize you to stay in their casino and spend your money there.
There are many great local restaurants in the Deadwood area, especially steak houses. Deadwood Legends at The Franklin Hotel is the most popular restaurant and it is actually fairly priced. If you are looking for more variety, Franklin has a grand buffet that will provide endless options for the picky eaters in your family. Our kids are getting quite the variety of food during our travels. They’ve been to steak houses and have eaten chicken strips, Chinese restaurants and have eaten chicken strips, chicken strips at fast food restaurants, and chicken strips at an all you can eat buffets! I’m mostly kidding. . .
That sums up our first stop on the Oregon Trail. Up next will be the beautiful mountain terrain of Big Sky, Montana. Please follow along our journey on social media. There are additional posts there and updates for when the new blog post is published.
Links
Broken Boot Mine http://brokenbootgoldmine.com/
Silverado Franklin https://www.silveradofranklin.com/
Rush Mountain https://www.rushmtn.com/
Deadwood https://www.deadwood.com/
Bear Country USA https://bearcountryusa.com/
Reptile Gardens https://www.reptilegardens.com/
BJ Rylander
January 31, 2023 — 10:10 pm
I love all the travel tips, the fabulous pictures, your sense of humor, and your writing style that makes me feel as if we are having a conversation. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog posts!