Deadwood
Deadwood has been entertaining visitors since 1876. Today’s sightseers can get a taste of the Wild West experience, as the city of Deadwood emphasizes historic preservation. Many of the famous sites in the town have been preserved and are open today.
We started our time in Deadwood with Boot Hill Tours. The tour features the stories behind many of Deadwood’s historic sites such as Saloon No. 10 and the town’s most infamous characters, including Wild Bill and Calamity Jane.
While in Deadwood, I made an effort to visit many of the sites related to my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a frequent visitor to Deadwood to see the town’s sheriff, Seth Bullock, who was a long-time friend. I stopped by the Bullock Hotel, once owned by Bullock, as well as the Silverado Franklin, where Roosevelt often stayed. The two remained friends until Roosevelt’s death in 1919. To commemorate their friendship, Bullock commissioned the building of the Friendship Tower, which overlooks the town.
From the Friendship Tower, one can experience a stunning view overlooking the gulch and the surrounding area. It is only a short hike, less than a mile, from the trailhead to the top of Mount Roosevelt to reach the tower and the overlook.
Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is a great stop for the nature lovers in your group; there are more than 80 different parks and more than 26 miles of bike trails. Included in these are Falls Park, which features the cascading waters that are the city’s namesake, and Paris Park, where you can visit the Japanese gardens. Also near Sioux Falls is Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, one of South Dakota’s newest state parks, established in 2013. The site is one of the oldest inhabited sites in the United States and includes the Blood Run National Historic Landmark.
A great way to explore the city of Sioux Falls is to take part in the First Friday events during which many stores stay open late or host sales. The event is held on the first friday of each month to coincide with the Downtown Block Party on the Eastbank. At each First Friday, visitors can enjoy craft beer, hear live music and sample different food vendors that set up downtown. This year, the September First Friday will feature the Chalk Walk. October’s First Friday events will include an Art and Wine Walk, where shoppers will be able to sip wine while they view artwork created by different local artists and featured in the stores downtown.
Sioux Falls is also home to the Outdoor Campus, where groups can schedule a class on topics like archery, geocaching or basic outdoor skills such as how to use a map and a compass. The Outdoor Campus also features a museum and hiking trails where wildlife can be spotted.
