When one thinks of visiting South Dakota it is easy to simply think of Mount Rushmore and forget about everything else. By doing this you would miss out on one of the most interesting wilderness areas in the united states, the badlands of South Dakota.
The primary draw of the Badlands is Badlands National Park. With over 64,000 archers it is a huge wilderness filled with plenty of hiking, biking and camping to fill any vacation. While there a person can also visit the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site which explores the history of the cold war and the arms race.
Another worthwhile thing to see near South Dakota is Devils Tower. This location is best known from being made out of mashed potatoes in close encounters of the third kind but it is actually very interesting place to visit if you are at all interested in geology and history as this location has Legendary to the local Indians.
In the heart of the west the Badlands of South Dakota are as close as anyone can get to the old west in the modern day. So whether it is riding horses through the wilderness, exploring a historical gold mine, seeing a herd of buffalo or watching a mock shootout the badlands are a great place to visit.
If the history of the old west is to modern for you then you may be interested in fossils which can be found throughout this area. These fossils include those of dinosaurs, mammoths and a large number of sea creatures including turtles. In fact, of the 84 unique species which have been discovered through fossils in north America 77 of them were found in the White River Badlands.
If you are looking for the fast paced excitement of a big city then the Badlands with its biggest city being Rapid City then you are going to be greatly disappointed but if what you want is open wilderness, plenty of history and a chance to relax then the Badlands are a great choice. allpro
