On our fifty state tour, South Dakota really took us by surprise!

The Black Hills are absolutely beautiful and full of Pine trees and scenic rocks, grass planes and beautiful sunsets.

Of course a fifty state tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the iconic Mount Rushmore.

We even had an in person history lesson from “Teddy Roosevelt” himself.

I think the kids learned more about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln in that visit and seminar than I did in all of high school.

It was great!

There are so many very family friendly things to do in South Dakota.

We really enjoyed learning and visiting Reptile Gardens and exploring the Mammoth Site.

If you get a chance, there are shows to see and a friendly old tortoise at the Reptile Gardens.

They have more species ad subspecies of reptiles than any other zoo or wild animal park in the world!

It houses some of the world’s deadliest snakes and is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Reptile Zoo.

The Mammoth Site includes an educational video and a tour of the actual site with mammoth remains in tact!

It was really worth it to allow our kids to do the youth dig at the site.

If you have kids who want to have an experience as a paleontologist, they will love it!

Hands on, in the dirt, with simple household tools.

If you get a chance to pack a picnic lunch, head out to Custer State Park and pay tribute to the beautiful American Bison.

We hope you get caught in a buffalo jam, too!

And, take some crackers or apples for the friendly donkeys.

They are happy to let you pet them and watch your feet as they go for treats!

And, if you take a trip up to explore Deadwood or Lead, drive the Spearfish Canyon Hwy.

The waterfall hikes and seeing the clear flowing falls and Spearfish Creek were some of our favorite memories of the trip.

A local told us they are even more beautiful when covered in ice in the winter.

If you are huge patriots like us, the air museum in Rapid City, SD is a must.

The volunteers are very knowledgeable and if you’re lucky like Wyatt, they may even open up the simulator so you can experience your dream as a pilot.

You can drive over and wait in the turn out near the Love’s Gas Station and if it’s in the morning or early afternoon, you might even see the B1 Lancers flying in for their training missions.

If you are looking for one of the best RV Resorts we have found on our tour, stay at Elk Ridge RV Resort.

The pool is beautiful, the sites are spacious, the cafe has great treats, the playground and basketball courts are some of the best we’ve seen, and there’s even a hiking trail right from there.

We are wrapping up the Midwest during this part of our tour and enjoying cooler temps.

Each day, our routine includes creating content for our business consulting programs, teaching our kids (reading, writing, math, typing, languages, history and educational experiences), reading our scriptures, and sharing time outdoors, at museums, and national monuments.

There are so many beautiful places to see and experience!

Do you have any questions about traveling, homeschooling, or starting your own consulting business?

We would love to have a conversation with you.

Please continue the adventure with us by joining our Family FUNdamentals HeartBeat community and we will respond.(just scroll down and click the button to join for free)


Make it a great day!

Love,

Trina Gunzel and family