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Visitors' Center -
The Convention and Visitors' Bureau is just a couple blocks from the end
of I-190. From
I-90 take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end at SD-44 (Omaha Street).
Turn left, go 1 block to US-16 (8th Street) and turn right. You'll cross
a whole bunch of tracks and the visitors' center is to your left on the
other side at 444 Mount Rushmore Road (US-16). For information, phone
(toll free) 1-800-487-3223 or visit their web site: RapidCityCVB.
There is also a visitors' center at the I-90 rest area on the
east side of town at exit 61.
Circle B Ranch
- Here is a very different venue - especially attractive to folks not
residents of the American West. The Horn family puts on a old-fashioned
western chuck wagon supper (tin plates and all). You might as well come
hungry because it is an 'all you can eat' fest. After everybody has
filled their bottomless pits to the max, you get to see a hilarious
show. There is so much more - especially for the younger kids. Prices
start at $16 (believe it was half price for kids even though they
probably eat twice as much). Their main season is June through August.
When we were there, a gentle remarked to one of the servers that
he though chuck wagon coffee was supposed to be horrible. The server
said, "I can fix that." He then took the gentleman's cup and
handed him another. The gentleman took one taste and asked if he could
have the first one back. He agreed that it was good we didn't have to
get too realistic - at least with the coffee.
From I-90, take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end. Turn right
on SD-44 and follow it all the way to US-385 (about 18 miles). Turn
right on 385 and follow it to the Circle B Ranch (it will be on your
right) about 1 mile from SD-44.
For more information, phone 1-800-403-7358 or visit their web
site: CircleB.
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in column 2)
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from column 1)
Black Hills
Caverns - What can you say - it is a set of caverns - and they're
all different. The folks here have put in a lot of thought to
organization. They even have a special, 30 minute tour for those of us
for whom walking isn't quite so easy anymore. (The 60 minute tour takes
you through three levels of caverns and something like 150 steps to
climb up and down.)
Tours are conducted daily from 1 June through 30 September, 9a to
5p - BUT the last tour departs at 4p. Admission is $8 ($5 kids 6-12) for
the 60 minute tour; $7 ($4 kids 6-12) for the 30 minute tour.
From I-90, take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end. Turn right
on SD-44 and follow it about 4 miles to the Caverns (big sign - they
don't want you to miss it) on the right.
For more information phone 1-800-837-9358 or visit their web
site: Caverns.
Ellsworth Air
Force Base - The South Dakota Air and Space Museum (which is just
outside the main entrance of the base) has something over two dozen
aircraft on display, some inside their building and some outside.
The museum also provides bus tours of some of the facilities of the base
(e.g., an old Minuteman Missile silo and a bit of the support for the
B-1 bombers based here.
The museum is open daily (year-round) and the admission is FREE.
The bus yours are conducted from mid-May through mid-September and there
is a $4.50 charge for the tour.
From I-90, take exit 66 and drive toward the base entrance (north
of the Interstate). Just after Main Gate Dr (on your left) is Villa
Drive (on your right). Turn right onto Villa Drive and you will see the
museum a couple hundred yards ahead to your left. For more information,
phone 1-605-385-6295.
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