I believe we were talking about breakfast? We needed delicious fuel to start the day before visiting Wall Drug and Badlands National Park:
Waffles with yogurt and fruit at Tally's Silver Spoon
After a fantastic breakfast across the street from the hotel at Tally's Silver Spoon (more on them later - we went back for dinner), we drove east about an hour to Wall, SD. What's in Wall? Well, Wall Drug Store of course - a huge complex of, well let's be honest, junk that no one needs. A large tourist trap, really. And it's something you have to see, at least once, especially since an entrance to the Badlands is just 15 minutes south of there.
Wall Drug started in the way-back-when as a drugstore/general store. Once upon a time it's claim to fame was free ice water (in a time when ice water on the road was a draw). Since then it's grown into a Walmart/Cracker Barrel-esque behemoth of souvenirs, t-shirts, animatronic critters (and a dinosaur), jackalopes, fudge, and down-home cookin'. To borrower a Patton Oswalt quote "It's like catnip for old people."
Just walked outside and there it was - that sky
We've arrived
Our gang of four. Not the Gang of Four
Taking a break
Well, howdy ma'am
You know, there's nothing like the taste of cowboy...
After poking around Wall Drug for an hour we drove south to Badlands National Park, which combines striking, striated buttes and canyons with prairie grassland. From the National Park Service website: "These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today."
We drove around the park, stopping at various observation points/platforms. After lunch at the Cedar Pass Lodge inside the park, we drove around to the Castle Trail trailhead for a hike.
Welcome to the Badlands
Bighorn sheep
Clouds, cliffs and shadows
Panoramic view from one of the overlooks
When it rains, the red striations pop out more. Below for comparison are two photos I took in 2013:
We visited on two separate days in 2013. The first was rainy...
...and the second was not.
Todd takes in the incredible view
One of the information signs that can be found throughout the park
Signing out for the hike. Just a short out-and-back today - about an hour.
Mom joined us for the first leg, then Todd and I continued on
Walking through the prairie, always on the lookout for snakes
The desolate landscape meets the prairie in this panorama
It's like being on Mars
The return trip through the grassland
After the hike we drove around the park then headed back to Rapid City. When we got back we had just enough time to freshen up and walk over to Tally's Silver Spoon for our 7pm dinner reservation. Let me just say this is one of the main reasons we wanted to spend a night in town before staying in Custer State Park, and Tally's did not disappoint.
Ice cream sampler. From left to right: Lavender honey, chocolate banana, strawberry waffle, avocado
Hanging out at the Vertex Sky Bar
After the great meal at Tally's we wondered back over to the Alex Johnson and ascended to the top and the Vertex Sky Bar. We sat outside for bit and digested before calling it a night and returning to our rooms. The next day we would head into Custer State Park.
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