RAPID CITY, SD
AREA ATTRACTIONS

Visitors' Center - The Convention and Visitors' Bureau is just a couple blocks from the end of I-190. From I-90 take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end at SD-44 (Omaha Street). Turn left, go 1 block to US-16 (8th Street) and turn right. You'll cross a whole bunch of tracks and the visitors' center is to your left on the other side at 444 Mount Rushmore Road (US-16). For information, phone (toll free) 1-800-487-3223 or visit their web site: RapidCityCVB.
  There is also a visitors' center at the I-90 rest area on the east side of town at exit 61.

Circle B Ranch - Here is a very different venue - especially attractive to folks not residents of the American West. The Horn family puts on a old-fashioned western chuck wagon supper (tin plates and all). You might as well come hungry because it is an 'all you can eat' fest. After everybody has filled their bottomless pits to the max, you get to see a hilarious show. There is so much more - especially for the younger kids. Prices start at $16 (believe it was half price for kids even though they probably eat twice as much). Their main season is June through August.
  When we were there, a gentle remarked to one of the servers that he though chuck wagon coffee was supposed to be horrible. The server said, "I can fix that." He then took the gentleman's cup and handed him another. The gentleman took one taste and asked if he could have the first one back. He agreed that it was good we didn't have to get too realistic - at least with the coffee.
  From I-90, take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end. Turn right on SD-44 and follow it all the way to US-385 (about 18 miles). Turn right on 385 and follow it to the Circle B Ranch (it will be on your right) about 1 mile from SD-44.
  For more information, phone 1-800-403-7358 or visit their web site: CircleB.

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Black Hills Caverns - What can you say - it is a set of caverns - and they're all different. The folks here have put in a lot of thought to organization. They even have a special, 30 minute tour for those of us for whom walking isn't quite so easy anymore. (The 60 minute tour takes you through three levels of caverns and something like 150 steps to climb up and down.)
  Tours are conducted daily from 1 June through 30 September, 9a to 5p - BUT the last tour departs at 4p. Admission is $8 ($5 kids 6-12) for the 60 minute tour; $7 ($4 kids 6-12) for the 30 minute tour.
  From I-90, take exit 57 and follow I-190 to its end. Turn right on SD-44 and follow it about 4 miles to the Caverns (big sign - they don't want you to miss it) on the right.
  For more information phone 1-800-837-9358 or visit their web site: Caverns.

Ellsworth Air Force Base - The South Dakota Air and Space Museum (which is just outside the main entrance of the base) has something over two dozen aircraft on display, some inside their building and some outside.  The museum also provides bus tours of some of the facilities of the base (e.g., an old Minuteman Missile silo and a bit of the support for the B-1 bombers based here.
  The museum is open daily (year-round) and the admission is FREE. The bus yours are conducted from mid-May through mid-September and there is a $4.50 charge for the tour.
  From I-90, take exit 66 and drive toward the base entrance (north of the Interstate). Just after Main Gate Dr (on your left) is Villa Drive (on your right). Turn right onto Villa Drive and you will see the museum a couple hundred yards ahead to your left. For more information, phone 1-605-385-6295.

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