"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Is South Dakota the best Midwest state to visit?
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While South Dakota may be the best for some, “best” really depends on what you want to see or do. Or as they say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” 👀✨ I’m planning to write posts about each state eventually, starting with a road trip through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. That’ll give me plenty of chances to dive deeper into South Dakota’s gems! 🚗🗺️ The Black Hills in western South Dakota offer incredible vacation attractions. Sure, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial come to mind first, but there’s so much more to explore. 🏞️🗿 The name “Black Hills” might make you think just hills, but some peaks soar over 7,000 feet—higher than any peak east of the Mississippi! 🏔️ The tallest is Black Elk Peak at 7,244 feet, with hiking routes ranging from moderate to challenging, including some rock scrambling at “Little Devils Tower.” 🧗♂️🪨 Nearby, Custer State Park rivals many National Parks with stunning scenery and diverse terrain. Don’t miss the Needles Highway—14 miles of breathtaking spires and narrow tunnels. 🚙🌲 Rapid City is the largest city and a great base, but smaller towns like Deadwood, Custer, Hill City, and Sturgis (home of the massive motorcycle rally!) offer unique stays. 🏙️🏍️ In 2023, the Sturgis Rally drew over 600,000 attendees! 🎉 There’s so much more to see and do in South Dakota—you’re sure to have an unforgettable trip. I’ve already shared a couple of posts about the state, including one on the quirky Corn Palace in Mitchell. 🌽🎨 Check it out here! [Link]The other one is about Badlands National Park. Here’s a link to the Badlands post. "I love to drive in the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota with Mount Rushmore as the central stop.” Classic Rock song: "South Dakota Morning” by the Bee Gees Please email me about your favorite Midwestern state! Here is the Premium Subscription page: You will get early access to new blog posts, one extra weekly newsletter, and access to all past newsletters. And occasionally, I'll ask for votes on content! Stan Featured Post: I already linked to the featured post, but here is the link to Badlands National Park again. |
Stan Wiebe
"Rock Star" road tripper checking in! Self-proclaimed anyway! Road trips and visits to all 50 states are my game. Find your next road trip destinations here. Fill your bucket list with fantastic US journeys. I love road trips and spare no effort in making my travels and experiences inviting for members of the road-tripping family! Pick a trip you want to take, or get inspired to plan your own. - - The Driveby Tourist (or call me Stan!)
Here's a link to places in Illinois with blog posts on The Driveby Tourist. Check it out! Most recently, the trip took me to U.S. Presidential sites. The attractions included Lincoln, Reagan, and Grant. , Other links include several about Chicago, three about Route 66 in Illinois and a couple about other places in the state. Thanks for reading! Stan
A couple of years ago, you may remember (if you stayed around that long!) a series ten about state fairs in the US in this newsletter. The top three were Minnesota, Texas, and Iowa. The list didn’t include Alaska, but recent reading found their state fair unique! So, here goes! If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, make sure to time it with the Alaska State Fair in Palmer—because this isn’t your average fair! 🎟️🐮 Located about an hour from Anchorage, the fair runs from late August through...
If you are a “Fifty Stater,” you’ll find yourself wondering about that! Today’s newsletter comes from direct personal experience. I visited Fargo this past weekend. I have a daughter and three adult grandchildren there. I make it there three or four times a year to see them. As those who plan to visit all 50 states know, North Dakota is often one of the last states to visit. The Fargo-Moorhead Visitor Center team developed the “Best for Last Club” for anyone visiting North Dakota. They give...