Art News

48 Hours in South Dakota: Rushmore, Badlands and More

RAPID CITY, SD (AP).- A whirlwind getaway jam-packed with world-famous attractions, scenery like nowhere else on earth, wildlife, good food, and even, if you want, gambling. That’s what you get in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. In a single weekend, using Rapid City as our base, our family hit Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Wall Drug, Badlands National Park and Deadwood. Along the way, we saw buffalo, antelope, bighorn sheep, burros and prairie dogs. We met a man who was one of the original workers on the construction of Rushmore, and we had several terrific meals. Of course there is an argument to be made for a slower style of travel, soaking in the sights. But as New Yorkers on our first visit to the area, traveling with two boys whose travel mantra is, “Show us the wow, never mind the details,” a tour of the highlights was perfect for us. Stops along our route were located a half-hour to about two hours’ drive apart, so we never had too m