Oesch Wild West Adventure Part III

Next up was Rapid City, SD, Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills. We took Emma to Bear Country in order to guarantee some wildlife spottings (and Rett too!).

go Rams go!

We ate downtown Rapid City and then drove to Mt. Rushmore. We missed the lighting ceremony but we were able to see the faces lit on the side of the mountain.

The next day we began our day long adventure at Mt. Rushmore and then through the winding roads of the Black Hills.

and so begins our trip through the Black Hills...

Crazy Horse

Needles Highway

Emma was such a great road tripper that day that we decided to spend our night at the Water Park attached to our hotel so she could run around and play...and I loved the water slides too!

Next up- the drive to Bozeman, Montana!

Oesch Wild West Adventure Part II

After leaving Mitchell, SD we continued to the western part of the state. We drove through Oacoma to Al's Oasis and then had a picnic at 1880 Town.

we bought Emma Minnetonka moccasins and she didn't take them off all trip

although blurry, there were sunflowers as far as you could see from the highway

in true road trip style we had a picnic at this pit stop to the Badlands

After refueling with turkey sandwiches at our picnic, we continued westward to the Badlands National Park. My family had visited western South Dakota when I was a kid and it was one of my favorite family vacations...I was so excited to show Rett and Emma! How quickly we went from fields of corn and soybeans to sunflowers to prairie to the beautiful rocks of the Badlands.

Emma fed the prairie dogs peanuts

love that they are basically sitting the exact same

Wall, SD, home of the famous Wall Drug, is at the otherside of the Badlands. Another great stop to get out of the car and explore!

yummy!

Emma's chocolate doughnut

very interested in the T. Rex until...

...this. We left crying!

Up next Rapid City, Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.