Rapid City

1. Mount Rushmore Tours

Mount Rushmore Tours are offered through Fort Hays – the Wild West themed estate, former set of Dances with Wolves, and current cowboy and cowgirl retreat.

Off-property they provide four distinct tour packages to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Guests can take three of these sightseeing tours by Motorcoach. The Mount Rushmore Sightseeing Tour Only starts at Fort Hays with a tour of the Dances with Wolves set before exploring offsite.

An extended version of this tour includes breakfast, supper, and a cowboy music show. Wildlife lovers will enjoy the Buffalo Roundup Tour, while history buffs will delight in the 1880 Train Sightseeing Tour.

Address: Mount Rushmore Tours, 2255 Fort Hayes Drive, Rapid City, SD, Phone: 888-343-3113

2. Dahl Arts Center

Western South Dakota’s largest arts center, the Dahl Arts Center consists of five different visual art galleries, a gift shop that features both regional and local artists, a nearly 200-foot Cyclorama Mural of American history, and an interactive gallery for children. The Dahl also hosts a variety of performances and community events in its events center, which seats up to 250 people. Usually open every day of the week except for Sunday, the Dahl Arts Center has no admission fee and typically has free music on Friday evenings. The arts center aims to preserve works of art created by local artists.

Address: Dahl Arts Center, 713 7th St, Rapid City, SD 57701, 605-394-4101

3. South Dakota Air and Space Museum

The South Dakota Air and Space Museum allows guests to take a walk through aviation history with their exhibits and galleries. They feature over 30 classic military aircraft from World War II to the present as well as various military missiles. Indoor and outdoor exhibits highlight innovation, engineering, and science and showcase aircrafts like the B-1B Lancer and the H-13 Sioux helicopter. Guests learn about everything from aerospace technology to who the pioneers of aviation were and their impact on American history. Free docent-led tours are available at the museum. Bus tours of Ellsworth Air Force Base are offered seasonally for a nominal fee.

Address: South Dakota Air and Space Museum, 2890 Davis Drive, (Building #5208), Ellsworth AFB, SD, Phone: 605-385-5189

4. Museum of Geology

The Museum of Geology is a fun and free place to learn about geology through exhibits in both paleontology and mineralogy. These eye-popping exhibits showcase mounted skeletons of mammals, fish, marine reptiles, and dinosaurs as well as rare fossils from the White River Badlands. Mineral displays include the Hall of South Dakota Minerals, meteorites, and even a fluorescent mineral room with a serious wow factor. There is a kids’ zone with hands-on fun for the little ones, and a museum gift shop with toys, books, and unique items to round out the experience. The museum offers guided tours for those who call ahead.

Address: Museum of Geology, 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD, Phone: 605-394-2467

5. Crazy Horse Memorial

Crazy Horse Memorial is situated on one of the tallest pegmatite granite mountains in the Black Hills. The famous sculpture is the largest in the world and was initiated by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear’s persistent appeals to sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Campus highlights include the Nature Gates, the Welcome Center, the Indian Museum of North America, the sculptor’s home-studio, and the Native American Educational & Culture Center. Visitors learn about the memorial, explore exhibits, and enjoy performances by Native American dancers. There is a restaurant and gift store, too. Optional bus rides to the base of the mountain allow guests to see the carving up close.

Address: Crazy Horse Memorial, 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD, Phone: 605-673-4681

6. Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens has been family owned and operated since 1937 and remains the largest reptile zoo in the world. It’s home to more species of reptiles than any other wild animal park or zoo. The beautiful garden oasis has lush vegetation, pristine lawns, colorful flowers, tropical plants, and ornamental trees interspersed with 15 exhibits and displays. Some exhibits include a venomous snake collection, a bald eagle exhibit, a prairie dog exhibit, and giant tortoises. Live shows include snakes, gators, and birds. Kids will also love Bewitched, an Old West ghost town experience, while parents will appreciate Jungle Outpost Gallery with tribal crafts from around the world.

Address: Reptile Gardens, 8955 US-16, Rapid City, SD, Phone: 605-342-5873

7. The Golf Club at Red Rock

Opened in 2003 on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest, minutes from Rapid City, The Golf Club at Red Rock is rated the top public golf course in South Dakota. The 7,000-yard, par-72 championship golf course is characterized by rolling fairways surrounded by tall ponderosa pine trees, links-style bunkers, dramatic changes in elevation, and USGA specification greens. The club has a practice facility, golf shop, and full-service bar and grill. At the Golf Club at Red Rock, players of all levels can enjoy a challenging and exciting world-class golf experience, and kids under 12 play free when accompanied by an adult.

Address: The Golf Club at Red Rock, 6520 Birkdale Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702, Phone: 605-718-4710

8. Black Hills Symphony Orchestra

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra was assembled in the 1930s with a small group of string players. More than 80 years later it has grown to include over 90 musicians. Their mission is simple, “to provide the finest orchestral performance and symphonic music education for the people of the Black Hills region.” They offer multiple seasonal productions each year at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City. Past productions have included performances like The Nutcracker and the Mount Rushmore Celebration. They also work closely with the youth in the area and welcome local artists into their lineup.

Address: Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, 713 7th Street, Rapid City, SD, Phone: 605-394-2674

9. Storybook Island

Storybook Island is a free children’s theme park that’s been open each summer from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend since 1959. The park is a cultural icon in Rapid City, delighting children and the young at heart adults with each new season. Storybook Island is decorated with whimsical characters from a number of fables, nursery rhymes, and children’s stories, encouraging imaginations to run free. The Storybook Island Children’s Theatre provides visitors with several fun summer theater productions throughout the season. Duane Laflin and The Great Magic Show is also presented three times each day for a nominal admission fee.

Address: Storybook Island, 1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, SD, Phone: 605-342-6357