Nebraska and the Black Hills

I took a three day weekend from work early in May to go back home to Nebraska and take Sam and Aubrey into the Black Hills of South Dakota. While I was growing up, my family almost took every family vacation in the Black Hills and I have many found memories from the area. We started off the day at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. It was some place we went not only as a family but also for school trips. Sam and Aubrey really enjoyed the tour and Aubrey even voluntarily asked the tour guide a question..."When did the mastodons die?". The tour guide explained to her they were not around at the same time period as the mammoth skeletons we were viewing. She cracks us up!!






We also took the time to go for a swing at Evan Plunge in Hot Springs. Of course that is how the town got its name due to the warms spring water used by the center for the indoor swim park. I can tell you for sure that it has not change one bit from when I was a kid and went there for many birthday parties. Not even a paint job! But Aubrey love it and we all have fun going on the slide!



We drove up though Wind Cave and Custer State Parks and were able to see lots of wildlife and Custer National monument. I don't think it will ever be done in my lifetime. We ate dinner in Hill City and started the drive back home through Keystone so we could catch a look at Mount Rushmore. It ended up being a pretty long day, but we all enjoyed it. Sam even asked me why I had never taken him up to see some of those places before!




We also hiked to the "hole in the wall" at Chadron State Park just south of Chadron in the Pine Ridge. We managed to wake up a heard of big horn sheep who were basking in the sun just at the base of the butte we were hiking too. Another place Sam says I should have taken him to sooner!