Client Story Series Part 1: South Dakota Adventure

As the new year gets underway, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the experiences that bring joy, fulfillment, and meaning to our lives. One of the most rewarding parts of our work is learning about the moments that matter most to you.

We’d love for you to share a short story about a favorite trip or adventure — along with photos, if you’d like.  Select submissions may be shared anonymously on our website and social media to spark travel inspiration for others.

Please note that by sharing photos and stories with us, you permit us to share them on our social media, website, etc.

We’re excited to launch our travel and adventure story series by spotlighting one of our own team members! Advisor Chris Bishop is starting things off by sharing highlights from his recent vacation to South Dakota.

Follow along as we share more travel inspiration from our team and clients.

South Dakota Adventure

In early June of this past summer, our family traveled to South Dakota. This time of the year was great. While it did get hot in the Badlands during the afternoon, it wasn’t too bad, and we were early enough to avoid the summer crowds. We had such a great time visiting Yellowstone a couple of years before that we wanted something similar. This includes hiking, wildlife not native to the Roanoke area, and unique landscapes. We flew into Rapid City but didn’t spend much time there. If you are looking for a meal, you may want to check out a strip of restaurants starting at W Main and 9^th St. 

Devil’s Tower

First, we visited Devil’s Tower in Wyoming; it was a 1.5-hour drive. We had debated whether we wanted to drive this far, but I’m glad we did. This is a unique geological formation featured at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I enjoyed the path around the tower and learning about its history, including Native American stories and accounts of people who climbed the mountain. We were able to watch some climbers scaling the formation. 

Sundance

On the way back, we happened to eat in the town of Sundance, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were. Also along the drive to Devil’s Tower is Sturgis. We didn’t stop here, but if you are interested in the big bike rally, you may want to drive through.  Also along the drive to Devil’s Tower is the town of Deadwood. This is certainly a tourist trap destination with shows, casinos, restaurants, and bars. There is some history there as well, l related to the Old West and figures such as Wild Bill Hickok. We didn’t have time to visit. Finally, another stop on the way to Devil’s Tower is Spearfish Canyon. We loved the tree-filled canyon, and the landscape was in stark contrast to the Badlands. We hiked several trails near the Spearfish Canyon Lodge. We didn’t stay there, but it looked beautiful. 

Mount Rushmore & Crazy Horse Memorial

Closer to Rapid City, we visited Mount Rushmore. I enjoyed the monument and learning about its history and the engineering involved in its construction. Several people told me that Mount Rushmore is smaller in person, but I didn’t think so and was impressed overall. They do have a light show each evening. The light show wasn’t that good, but if you find yourself at the monument in the evening, I would stay to watch it; I wouldn’t plan my entire day around it. 

We also visited the Crazy Horse Memorial. This is a gigantic stone memorial that dwarfs Mount Rushmore, has been in progress for decades, and is far from complete. If you are interested in Native American culture and history, or in the history of the monument itself, it is worth the stop.

Custer State Park & Sylvan Lake 

We stayed several days at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. It was a nice place,  but if I wanted to cut some costs, I would have simply stayed in one of the outlying towns 

such as Custer or Keystone. Staying in the park was not a big advantage. We also took a guided tour, but I wouldn’t recommend one at Custer State Park either. You can easily explore the park on your own. However, this is not the case if you are in Yellowstone.  I would definitely recommend a guided tour to supplement your own exploration when you visit. We saw some wildlife in Custer State Park, such as buffalo and various bird species, but nowhere near the variety we saw in Yellowstone. 

If wildlife is what you are looking for, you would be better served by going to Yellowstone. Two of our favorites in Custer were the Cathedral Spires hike and Sylvan Lake. Cathedral Spires was a short hike that ended in a small hilltop valley surrounded by stone pillars. My initial thought was that we had been beamed down from the Enterprise into a cool new landscape. Sylvan Lake was a beautiful small lake with various hiking trails and activities.  There are also caves to explore. We went to both Jewel Cave and Wind Cave. They were very different: Jewel Cave was open and expansive, while Wind Cave had narrower passages. If I had to choose, it would easily be Jewel Cave. The big chambers and, of course, the Bacon Formation are impressive. After visiting these caves, I decided I don’t need to visit any more in my lifetime.

Badlands

Our final stop was the Badlands of South Dakota. On our drive there, we stopped by Wall  Drug. Yes, it is a tourist trap, but we enjoyed it. We explored all the shops, had a good lunch, and got a complimentary cup of cold water. They also have an extensive collection of art from South Dakota artists that was impressive to peruse. We liked it so much that we went back a second time on the way out. 

The Badlands were an impressive landscape with a variety of animals, such as Buffalo, pronghorns, and bighorn sheep. Exploring the Badlands is very easy. There is basically one road you follow, and you stop along the way at various pullouts. You could make all the stops in  

one day, although you should allow for two days if you want to do some hiking. Keep in mind that hiking in the Badlands is typically on rocks and sandy soil and is very different from hiking in a forest. You are more susceptible to dehydration as a result. If you plan to stay more than one day in the Badlands, I recommend staying at the small cabins at  Cedar Pass Lodge. This is one of the few, if not the only, places to stay in the park, and it does provide an advantage because accommodations outside the park are a longer drive. It is also right next to the Badlands Visitor Center. We stayed here and loved waking up to the surrounding scenery. Food options are very limited inside the park. There is a diner at the Cedar Pass Lodge, but otherwise, you may need to pack a lunch. 

In summary, we had a great time. We all agreed that Yellowstone was more impressive, but didn’t regret the visit.