Happy Holiday Campground
Billed as one of the highest rated parks in the Black Hills, the Happy Holiday Resort has tons of amenities discriminating RVers look for. Len and Faith Todd stayed there for three days on their way to Alaska. Happy Holiday welcomes all RVs, even the big rigs, and offers full hookup sites with satellite TV, water, electricity and, if you’ve been reading “RVing with Faith Todd” you know this is important, Wi-Fi! They also offer tables, covered patios, and BBQ grills. If you plan on staying a few days like the Todds, take advantage of the heated pool and spa, basketball courts, game room and convenience store.

Happy Holiday Resort is the perfect home base for your exploration of the wonders of the Black Hills. Nearby attractions include Mount Rushmore, Bear Country, Sitting Bull Caverns and the Flying T Chuckwagon. For more information or to make reservations, call 1.888.342.7365 or 605.342.7365

Sheridan Lake Campground
Situated at an elevation of 4,600 feet, the campground is adjacent to the nearly 400-acre Sheridan Lake and surrounded by towering Ponderosa pines. Len and Faith settled there for four days during their adventure stop in South Dakota. The campground offers rustic pleasures such as biking and hiking trails, boat launches (you can rent watercrafts on site), a public marina, swimming and communal fire rings that allow you to make some s’mores and meet your neighbors.

Located 18 miles west of Rapid City on Sheridan Lake Road and with rustic charm sure to please, Sheridan Lake can accommodate RVs of all sizes. Call 877.444.6777 for reservations and additional information.

Custer State Park
Home of the largest bison herd in the United States, Custer State Park is a wonderland for nature lovers. The web site warns you that these and other animals can be viewed on the “scenic drive,” but there’s nothing quite like rounding a corner to find one of these imposing beasts standing in the road looking you in the eye. Just ask Len and Faith! Of course, Custer State Park offers much more than the occasional Bison Crossing. This is 71,000-plus acres of natural spectacle, abundant wildlife—antelope, bighorn sheep, elk, deer and others are prevalent—and adventure. Cruise the Needles Highway (SD 87) like Len and Faith did to discover towering rock spires and intriguing tunnels. Hike up 7,200-foot Harney Peak, go mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, or fishing. Walk in the footsteps of Custer and explore French Creek, where his expedition first discovered gold in 1874. Artistic folks can catch a theater performance at the Black Hills Playhouse or visit the log cabin that was home to South Dakota’s first poet laureate. Now, that’s a full day of adventure!

Contact 888.875.0001 for park information and reservations.

Legion Lake Lodge
(Custer State Park)
Looking for a down to earth place to sate your appetite before or after an adventurous day of hiking in Custer State Park? Look no further than Legion Lake Lodge. Hearty breakfasts set the plate for home-cooking all day long. Whether you’re in the mood for a fresh deli sandwich or a burger fresh off the grill, this is the place. If you are eating healthy, you can grab a salad, but if you want to indulge your sweet tooth—don’t worry, you’ll hike it off—dive into a delicious slice of fresh baked pie. You can choose from apple, cherry, blueberry, peach, or pumpkin.  Looking for a more exotic option? Try the buffalo burger. Faith Todd gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up for both taste and irony.

Legion Lake Lodge is located in Custer State Park Resort, 13389 U.S. Highway 16A, Custer, South Dakota, 57730.  Call 605.255.4772 for more information.

Prairie Berry Winery
Their web site invites you to taste the difference five generations can make. Do tell!  Faith Todd was surprised but delighted to find this treasure and sample their famous “Red Ass Rhubarb” selection. Celebrated for the “prairie berry” wines the family has been making since the 1800s, the winemakers at Prairie Berry Winery still craft wine the “old country” way, the same way their Great-Great Grandma Anna did. Sandi Vojta is the current family wine expert, a 5th generation crafter who consistently wins awards for her “new world” wines made from “old world” recipes. Prairie Berry still uses local fruits, grapes and honey to craft 30 different varieties of vino. As Faith and Len discovered, Prairie Berry is a great way to wet your whistle after a day of adventure in the Black Hills.

Discover Prairie Berry Winery at prairieberry.com or give them a call at 605.574.3898 for directions or other information.

Longhorn Saloon
The Longhorn Saloon in Scenic, South Dakota, is an honest-to-goodness, sawdust on the floor, cowboy bar. There is nothing better—or more South Dakota—than stopping by and hopping up on a stool after an exciting day of hiking, trail riding or ATVing. Or, as Len and Faith did, dodging bison and bighorn sheep. The Longhorn doesn’t stand on pretense, offering sandwiches, beer and snacks.

The Longhorn Saloon is located at 101 Main Street in Scenic, South Dakota. Call 605.993.6135 for more information.

Badlands National Park
Skyscraping granite spires and rich fossil beds offer adventure for today and endless historical glimpses of species that have passed this way long before. Len and Faith hiked the Badlands, exploring the incredible buttes, striated pinnacles and crumbling history firsthand. But the marks of yesterday’s animals carved into the stone are not the only wildlife you can experience. Bison, bighorn sheep, endangered ferrets and fox are among the animals that share the peaks and valleys in the Badlands. If you plan to hike the Badlands, take it from Faith, bring plenty of water and your favorite pair of sturdy, but comfortable shoes. The climb is challenging but the reward at the top is worth every step.

There are two ways to reach the Badlands by RV. Come up I-90, which is located directly north of the park, and take exit 131 south to Badlands Loop Road. If you’re headed east on I-90, get off at exit 110 and just follow the signs. For more scenic access, take state highway 44 to the town of Interior and pick up highway 377 north from there.

Crazy Horse Monument
Len and Faith were absolutely awed by the monument to Crazy Horse, and you will be too. Still a work in progress, it was begun in the mid 1900s by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Once finished, the monument will stand an amazing 150 meters high and 200 meters long, larger than life, but in keeping with the legend of this Native American hero. The visitor center on the site showcases over 20,000 examples of Native American arts and crafts.

The Crazy Horse monument and memorial is about eight miles from Mount Rushmore and well worth the trip. Where else can you visit what will be, upon completion, the world’s largest sculpture?

There is much more to do in the Black Hills than you could ever do in a week. Here are two places the Todds did not get to; places that are giving Len and Faith reasons to return to the Black Hills and destinations that may just be the centerpiece of your exploration of the scenic American West.

Jewel Cave National Monument
In 2008, Jewel Cave celebrated a century of offering awe-inducing natural wonder. Over 147 miles of caverns have been explored and spelunkers are still discovering uncharted wonders of this protected national monument. Celebrated for its sparkling calcite formations, Jewel Cave has something for cavers of all ages, from guided tours for everyone to Junior Ranger activities for kids. Call 605.673.8300 for more information.

Deadwood
Want to try your luck in the Wild West? Visit the historic frontier town of Deadwood to let your inner outlaw come out and play. Settled in the late 1800s, Deadwood was a rough and tumble gold camp. Today, even though it’s now a National Historic Landmark, this is still a gambling town. In 2009, residents and visitors celebrated two decades of gaming and good old-fashioned Old West ruckus. Slot machines, black jack, poker and Texas hold-em beckon, and when you visit, Deadwood delivers with the finest food and a sizzling nightlife. No town in the Black Hills is more alive than Deadwood. Call 1.800.999.1876 for more information.