Teddys Cabin

At the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you can walk inside of a cabin once lived in by Teddy Roosevelt!

I show it on the youtube video I posted, but I wanted to put up just a few photos too!

 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park ND 09 2020

Yeah, I mentioned previously that North Dakota is the last state many roadtrippers visit.  Well, there are some VERY cool spots to visit in North Dakota....  I think, in many ways, North Dakota is OK with keeping its secrets, and keeping the tourists away.  

We were able to visit the south unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We drove from Rapid City, South Dakota and back in one, very long day.

Its probably 9-10 hours of drive time the way we did it, but it was one amazing day on the road.

Once we were in North Dakota, going on many scenic rural roads, we saw almost no traffic.  

The scenery to the park was great too.  And, we drove the Enchanted High part of the way to the park (see my other post/video).

We passed through a couple of GREAT North Dakota Towns on the way (Dickinson and Medora) that I am already itching to visit again.

AND the Roosevelt National Park can easily justify several more visits.  There is a lot to see.

As we drove back into South Dakota, we stopped by a great little diner/gift shop by Crow Buttes, where a marker stands about a very strange Indian conflict.  This site was worth a visit on its own.

The entire trip was a bit haunting too, as we left when it was still very dark.  Black mountain shapes moved ghostly in the background, as grey deer stood looking at as by the road.

Check out my youtube video for highlights!

Rough Riders Hotel Medora ND

In Medora, JUST outside of the Teddy Roosevelt National Park is the Rough Riders Hotel!

We didn't stay there, but we stopped by briefly and asked a very kind young lady at the front desk about places to eat and things to do in the area!

She was great, and this hotel looks great!  I am itching to get back just so we can stay there!

 

Medora ND Post Office

I took a few photos of the friendly little post office in Medora North Dakota!

 

Enchanted Highway ND 09 2020

 North Dakota......  I have 

mentioned it before...  and so have other roadtrippers...  it is the state that most visit last.  That's not a nock against it.....  but, its location especially makes it kind of hard to get to as you are plotting a trip.  AND, the state under it, South Dakota, is poppin' with must see attractions.

BUT there are some things to see in North Dakota!  One thing that has been on my list for a long time is the Enchanted Highway!

Artist Gary Greff started the project with locals, to design massive sculptures to attract tourists.

This is very unique and a lot of fun!  Check out my youtube video!

Dunn Brother Coffee Dickinson ND

On a trip to Nashville a couple of years back, I found a Dunn Brothers Coffee and really liked it.  Sadly, it looks like they have pulled out of the area.

Dunn Brothers is still around though, but I don't think there are any near me at this point.  So, I was thrilled to be able to stop by one on our recent road trip through North Dakota!

We stopped by the Dunn Brothers Coffee in Dickinson North Dakota after finishing our drive through the Enchanted Highway, and before we made it to Medora.

The store was nice and cozy.  The staff was friendly, and we had some great drinks!

 

Devils Tower WY 09 09 2020

 Devils Tower in Wyoming 

is just unreal.  It just doesn't look like it belongs in nature.  How did that massive rock/mountain get there?

Well, I have read explanations and all, and I still don't totally get it.

It is considered a spiritual site by many Native Americans.  It is considered an alien hotspot by many people too.

It is America's First National Monument and that makes it interesting on a lot of levels.

We stopped by in 2012 and 2020.  Both times we hiked around the Tower and just had a really pleasant time.

Right now, they are doing some upgrades in and near the 

 

parking area, and to the visitor center.  The visitor center hasn't been upgraded since 1935!

There is a lively prairie dog town as you drive in.  We stopped to enjoy the playfulness of the little guys.

There is a great post office right before you pay your entry fee (get your postcards hand canceled with a Devils Tower post office postmark!).  There is also the VERY cool Devils Tower Trading Post gift shop before you go in to the park.

Check out the video I posted to youtube about our most recent trip to Devils Tower!

Badlands SD 09 06 2020

 The Badlands in South 

Dakota look like another planet.  I have said a few times, that shows like Star Trek could have filmed out here.

If you are driving in to western South Dakota from the east, like we did, the Badlands is one of the first major stops you make.  Its kinda the first major tourist location that you have to stop to see.

You can't take a bad photo at the Badlands either.  The entire place is so photogenic.

We stopped here for a few hours on our recent trip.

With it being pandemic season and all..... this was a great place to go to, because you can enjoy a lot of it from your car.  Also, the trails are spaced out here and there too...  if you get out of your vehicle, there will still be a lot of space between you and other visitors.

We did stop by the first visitor center and the park service was doing a good job of limiting how many people could go in at a time and all.

Check out this video I posted to youtube about our visit!

Rapid City SD 09 2020

 While we were

in Rapid City, we did a lot of walking and driving downtown.  This is a town that has really grown on us, and we look forward to getting back there again soon.

It IS a city of Presidents.  It is near Mount Rushmore, and the town has placed a statue of each president on their corners.

There is a restaurant there (Firehouse Brewery) that we love.  There are a lot of good coffee shops and book stores too.  I could go on and on.

Check out the video I posted to youtube recently!

Custer State Park SD 09 07 2020

 

Believe the hype when it comes to Custer State Park in South Dakota.  This is one of the main attractions in the state, and I can see why.  You will see a ton of animals when you drive through!  It is in a class all to itself.

We have gone through on each of our three visits to the state.  In fact, on this visit, we went on a couple of different days and we were glad we did.  

You know I love history too....  and a couple of Presidents have used the game lodge here for extended periods.  In fact, anyone can rent their rooms!

I don't want to brag, but I was able to get a lot of cool animals on video!  We also went in to the lodge and explored some.  I love that place.

Check out the video that I posted to youtube!

Mt Rushmore SD 09 10 2020

AND, for the second year in a row, and for the third time in less than a decade, we visited South Dakota AND Mt. Rushmore!

Check out the video above that I posted on youtube for more info on our visit to the legendary landmark.

This is a favorite spot of ours, and I am so glad that we made it back again!  We actually ended up joining the Mt Rushmore Society on this visit.  For $35 you get a discount at their gift shops (and, at certain other gift shop/book stores associated with the National Parks).  I like what they are doing and I am proud to now be a member.

Using that discount, I picked up the last 2 Borglum bookends I needed to complete my set.  I have talked about the book ends at length on my blog and in the videos...  and they are very special to me.  My mom actually asked to pay for them as an early Christmas present!  We also bought a very cool mini blocks Rushmore kit that you can put together yourself.  I thought this would be fun for my family.  My wife ended up putting the whole thing together and she is wanting some of the other kits now.

Anyway, check out my most recent video on Mt Rushmore.

The LAST ISSUE of the Kentucky Explorer!!!

I wanted to mention that the last issue of the Kentucky Explorer just went out.  I have subscribed for years, and I hope I am not being too dramatic when I say that getting the last issue made me very sad.

Not too long ago, they published an email I sent them about my visit, with my dad, to the Kentucky Bend.  My dad, who also loved the Kentucky Explorer, was very happy to see the pictures I took of him at the Bend published in the great magazine!  I was glad my dad got to see that before he passed away.

This has been such a great, scrappy magazine.  It is newsprint, but they have always packed a TON into each issue.  At $2.50 an issue cover price, it has always been a bargain.

I hope something else comes along to replace it.  I have no doubt that the publisher never got rich from it- they were making it out of love for Kentucky history and Kentuckians.

They mentioned in this last issue that Kentucky Monthly will be honoring remaining subscriptions for Kentucky Explorer subscribers.