We spent 2 days on different points on Cape Cod National Seashore. The first day was super windy at Race Point Beach, so we didn't spend as much time there as we would have liked as the sand was just cutting. The other beach we went to was Coast Guard Beach and it was the most perfect beach day. You couldn't keep my MN kids out of the ocean. I guess we also walked down Nauset Beach too, but I didn't take any videos of that.

Cape Cod National Seashore is part of the National Parks system and you can use your national parks pass there, otherwise it is $20 parking admission for each beach. We had already had our pass from our trip in August, so we were good to go! We definitely got our money's worth out of the pass this year. It cost us $80 for the Annual Pass and it would have cost us $110 in parking admission on our summer trip, plus we got $12 off at the Arch, and now saved $40. So, it would have cost us $162 individually, but we paid just less than half for the annual pass. Next year I will have a 4th grader, so we will get our pass for free.

Since I seem to be sharing this with several friends, I might as well post it on my travel blog as well.

I left in some of the other ideas I had that we didn't. I generally have certain ideas of what we will do, but I like to have other options to reference so that I look quickly for something else to do if we need to. Also, I went for economical hotels that provided a free breakfast and has a pool so the kids had something to do at night.

____________________________________________________

THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

Mount Rushmore
Crazy Horse
Badlands NP
Historic Deadwood
Jewel Cave
Wind Cave
Custer State Park
Missouri River

Day 1 (Night): Sioux Falls, SD (3.25 Hr of driving)

GuestHouse Inn & Suites Sioux Falls

3101 W Russell St, Sioux Falls, SD

1-855-201-7819

Has Indoor Pool & Free Breakfast…...2Q Room

https://www.redlion.com/sioux-falls

Jolly Green Giant Statue - Blue Earth, MN (1.25 hr in to our drive) http://blueearthchamber.com/featured/giant-attractions-in-blue-earth-mn/
Falls Park (in SF) https://visitsiouxfalls.com/things-to-do/falls-park/
As we leave or on the way home: (hour west of SF) Mitchell Corn Palace http://cornpalace.org/

Day 2: Rapid City, SD (5 Hrs driving from Sioux Falls)

Econo Lodge Rapid City (2 nights!)

625 E Disk Dr, Rapid City SD 57701

1-855-201-7819

Has Indoor Pool & Free Breakfast…..2Q Room

https://www.choicehotels.com/soth-dakota/rapid-city/econo-lodge-hotels/sd010

Wall Drug http://www.walldrug.com/ (hr east of RC)
Dinner - Firehouse Brewing Company https://www.firehousebrewing.com/
Dinosaur Park (FREE) http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/business/dinosaur-park

Mount Rushmore: (43 min from Custer State Park, on one of their “drives”)

https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm
$10 parking (national parks pass does not cover parking)
Check hours at specific time of year: https://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Illuminated Hours over MEA: October 1, 2017 - March 10, 2018 Sunset to 9:00 p.m.
A parking permit entitles a non-commercial vehicle unlimited entry to the memorial for one year from the date of purchase.

Bear Country

https://www.bearcountryusa.com/

15 min S of RC
$17/$11 -- $56 for us! Max: $65/car
October 1st through October 31st: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Day 3:

Hotel -- see above

Devil’s Tower (Wyoming):

https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
$15 (National Parks Pass accepted)

Bear Butte SP (Didn't Go here)

http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/bear-butte/
Sturgis, SD - 45 min N of RC

Spearfish Canyon

http://www.spearfish.com/canyon/ http://blackhillsbadlands.com/drives/spearfish-canyon-scenic-byway
(50 mi NW of RC, on way to Devil’s Tower which us 1 hr W)

Deadwood - Just Drove Through at NIght

https://www.deadwood.com/
45 min from Rapid City, between Sturgis & Spearfish

Day Trip Idea - Crazy Horse (Didn't Do): https://crazyhorsememorial.org/images/docs/Spirit%20of%20the%20Hills.pdf

Day 4: Hot Springs, SD (1 hr from Rapid City)

Baymont Inn & Suites Hot Springs

737 S 6th Street, Hot Springs, SD

1-855-201-7819

https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/baymont/hot-springs-south-dakota/baymount-inn-and-suites-hot-springs/overview

Custer State Park (30 min S of RC): http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/default.aspx

Needles Highway Drive
Wildlife Loop Road
Poets Table, Little Devils Tower, Harney Peak, Sylvan Lake
Geocaching - 8 locations in the park, get from visitor center
$16/day or $37/3day fishing license
$20 week long SD State Parks Pass
Drive through rock cut out tunnels

Mammoth Site (Hot Springs, SD)

http://mammothsite.com/

$11/$7 Admission
9a-5p

Evan’s Plunge (Hot Springs, SD)

http://www.evansplunge.com/

$14/$10 - 50% off if you go the last 2 hours before closing
Most days closes at 8pm, Hrs on the contact page

Buffalo Safari Tour (Didn't Do) https://custerresorts.com/activities/activities-in-the-park/buffalo-safari-jeep-tour/

Wild Mustangs (Didn't Do) (Hot Springs, SD): http://www.wildmustangs.com/

Tours - During the month of October tours will leave at 10 AM and 1 PM. 2 hrs $50/$7.50
Lodging
Will I still see Mustangs if I don't take the tour?
Mustangs live in pastures beside the gravel road traveling in to the Visitors Center. So driving in to the sanctuary you will be able to view Mustangs. Mustangs also live next to the Visitors Center. Guests are welcome to view Mustangs there at no charge.