Family travel destinations attractions and things to do with kids in south dakota

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

When youre ready to plan your next family vacation, consider the beautiful state of South Dakota. With its many diverse attractions and activities, therell be plenty of fun and excitement for the entire family. Dedicated to family tourism, The Mount Rushmore State will be the backdrop for, perhaps, the most exciting vacation that your family has ever experienced. Here are some great vacation spots to assist you in planning your itinerary.

Storybook Island C located in Rapid City C is a free family attraction focusing on storybook characters. The childrens favorite fairytales and nursery rhymes will come to life when they meet and interact with Cinderella and all of her many friends from story land! Storybook Island is also host to the McDonalds Storybook Island Theater, which offers a variety of shows, such as those from the recent past: The Dragon That Lived in the Sea, Peggy the Pint Sized Pirate, Totally Red and Nitwits from Neptune. Your youngsters will be thrilled by a visit to this wonderful, magical place that taps into a childs imagination! While this attraction offers free admission, there will be a nominal charge during the Christmas season to cover the cost of holiday decorations and related expenses.

Also in Rapid City is The Black Hills Maze C an intricate two-level walking maze thats sure to provide lots of fun for adults and kids alike! The maze itself is just over a mile long, which includes bridges, towers and walkways. Since the design changes every two weeks, you can experience more than one exciting run in the labyrinth, if youre on an extended vacation. This is really a multi-faced attraction, since it also includes Maze Mountain Climbing Wall, Bankshot Basketball, The Maze Express, Water Wars, Roller Racers and Racing Ziplines. Theres no doubt about it C this is definitely an all-day event, so wear some comfortable shoes and put on the sunscreen.

Before leaving Rapid City, be sure to pay a visit to Old MacDonalds Petting Farm. The kids will love interacting with over 100 farm animals on this marvelous farm. In addition to petting them, theyll also be given the opportunity to bottle-feed the babies! Your youngsters can look forward to watching the pig races, taking a pony ride and riding the farm train. Other highlights include miniature horses, llamas, a goat bridge and a fish pond, to name a few. Theres even a picnic and play area for those who need a bit of R&R, or for those times when the little ones just want some traditional playtime. Theres quite a bit to see at Old MacDonalds Petting Farm, so plan to spend the day!

Custer, South Dakota, is home to The Flintstones Bedrock City Theme Park. The whole family will delight in this exciting step back in time, to visit Fred and the others while they enjoy the many attractions that this park has to offer. Among the many rides are the Flintmobile and the Iron Horse Train. In the play area, youngsters will revel in the stone-age play equipment, such as the Slideasaurus. Theres even a drive-in, where the family can munch on Brontoburgers and Dino Dogs! Dont forget to stop at the gift shop, where you can purchase an assortment of Flintstone related souvenirs. A campground is also available on the premises, offering numerous campsites and cabins, for those families who decide to make this an extended adventure.

Rushmore Helicopters, Inc. C in Keystone, South Dakota C offers exciting helicopter rides to Mt. Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills. Get up close and personal with this famous mountainside monument! Families can choose from among four different packages, depending upon the amount of time they wish to spend in the air. Whether you choose the Shorty Hop (3.5 miles), the Mount Rushmore Special (8 miles), the Top of the World (27 miles) or the Crazy Horse (35 miles), your family will be delighted by this unique vacation activity, as well as the great sites that theyll see along the way. Of course, you havent really seen South Dakota until youve visited Mount Rushmore, and this will give you a real birds-eye-view of it!

If you find yourself in Hot Springs, be sure to visit Evans Plunge C a wonderful indoor/outdoor waterpark, offering total family enjoyment. In addition to both indoor and outdoor pools and kiddie pools, this facility offers waterslides, fun tubes, a steam room, spa, sauna and fitness center. Theres something here for every member of the family! One highlight of the pool areas is that theyre heated by natural warm water from the hot springs. The pools are not just for swimming, either C plenty of pool games are provided for the youngsters! A gift shop and snack bar are also available on the premises, for a bit of refreshment and a souvenir to bring back home when vacation time is over.

Pan for gold and explore a historic gold mine at The Broken Boot Gold Mine in Deadwood, South Dakota. Trek deep into the underground when you tour this 100-year-old mine, for which youll receive a souvenir stock certificate. The schedule is very flexible, as guided tours are given every 30 minutes, and the trip is suitable for all family members. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for this adventure, as theres quite a bit of walking to be done! Parents, use your judgment when it comes to extremely young children. The mines may be a scary place for the little ones, due to the darkness and confined spaces.

Wall Drug, located in Wall, South Dakota, is a multi-faceted attraction which has something to offer the entire family. This unique tourist site is not only a drug store, but also a museum and play area, as well! Within its walls, youll meet a number of animated characters, such as Dr. Feelgood, a T-Rex and a Native American family. Other attractions include wood carvings, a western town and a picnic/playground area which is home to an 80-foot dinosaur. If you get a bit hungry, youll be amazed by the dining area of Wall Drug. For starters, they offer a 5-cent cup of coffee! Among the many menu items, youll find Buffalo Burgers, homemade pies, rolls and their own ice cream. This is a must see for vacationing families!

For more information on the many tourist attractions of South Dakota, contact the Department of Tourism or your local travel agent. Youll be glad that you made the decision to spend your family vacation in The Mount Rushmore State!