Wow! We have had such an amazingly busy summer this year!!! It's been so much fun!

Our South Dakota trip was amazing and such a great time! I loved re-visiting the campground of my youth and seeing all the sites again. We hiked Harney Peak, our first mountain, which was so amazing and so much fun! It was so rewarding to reach the summit and know we'd made it. 3 miles up and 3 miles down, not too bad.

We also went mountain biking in Custer State Park. We followed a trail that followed a creek that we had to cross over so many times we lost count, it was a super great adventure.

The weekend after we got back Polly and I went to my work sponsored Valleyfair day (Nathan doesn't like rides) and we had a great time!!! We hung out with my fam for a bit and Sophia a lot. We took Phia to the water park, it was so hot out so that was super refreshing.

We also bought a 150cc scooter!!! Nathan is using it to save gas on his daily commute to work. We both have our motorcycle permits and need to go in to take our test. I'd really like to do that soon so we can ride the scooter together. It'd be nice to save gas on our little errands we do together. Plus the scooter is just fun!

~Amy

After biking we headed off to see the Crazy Horse monument as we figured it would be a simple see it, pictures and then leave. Upon entering the premises we learned it cost $20 to get it, kind of disheartening as we just wanted to park for five minutes and leave. What we learned was there was a whole visitor’s center and museum of artifacts along with a splendid little movie on the motivation for the monument. Saddly the visitor center/viewing area on catches a side profile of the monument. For $8 a person you can go on a bus tour that goes around the base of the mountain, which Amy and I opted not to do.

The real jaw dropper was to be the Laser light show at 9:30p.m., which Amy and I felt we had to see based off how much it was talked up by the staff. So we waited 90 minutes for the show to start. To put it lightly, it was lame. This “show” 15-20 years ago would have been a real head turner, but today it was nothing more than a PowerPoint presentation with lasers. Amy and I were laughing our heads off.

We arrived at our campground at about 3:30p.m. local time. Upon checking in we were disappointed to learn that what Amy though was a free pancake breakfast in the morning was not free at all. The individual camp sites are portioned fairly small and you have a lot of neighbors, not my forte. I prefer the more secluded campsites of Banning State Park in Minnesota. Though they do have each site fairly well marked with little log rails as to clearly define each camper’s space. The bathrooms are pretty clean but clearly dated. Amy and I were apparently spoiled at Banning State park with new looking bathrooms and top notch cleanliness. Overall I could see staying here again, but I would rather try some other camp grounds in the area.

Our first stop along the way (excluding gas stops) was the Corn Palace. My opinion, this is as stupid and boring as it sounds. This was a great way to blow a half hour and along with some money in the gift shop. We stopped because Amy wanted to reminisce on when her grandparents had taken her there in the past. For that and that alone the stop was worth it. Plus Amy was able to get a Christmas ornament to commemorate our stopping there.

Next we hit Wall Drug. Yes the infamous tourist stop. As a person who does not care one bit for these touristy stops I thought it was boring and just a way for the local’s to take traveler’s money. Though I will admit I can now say I have been there and have the backing to say the only value in stopping is to say you have been there. Amy, the touristy loving type, enjoyed the stop and bought a Christmas ornament to commemorate our having been there.