Rapid City July 12th

We hopped over the hills to Rapid City SD and went to the S. Dakota School of Mines and Technology museum of geology.  What an interesting place.  It was jammed packed with every mineral you could think off.  The different colors and textures was amazing.  The museum also had a healthy collection of fossils.

 

The next stop was the Rapid City dinosaur park.  Years ago the city created a park with several sculpted dinosaurs that you can climb and play on.  It has a great view of the city and surrounding country.  We all had a good time. 

Back on the hwy heading back into Custer we stopped at an interesting spot for all of you stuffed animal people.  It is in Hill City SD and it is the worlds largest teddy bear collection.  This place is crammed with, on the day we were there, 7182 bears of all shapes, sizes, and ages.  You can hardly walk around the building it is so full.  Still not sure just how I feel about the place, I will just say it is interesting.  Just up the road was one more stop, the mistletoe station.  Christmas 375 is the best way to describe it.  From the carpet to the ceiling.  Ornaments and decorations for the holidays.  (This one was for the girls.)
Back in Custer we visited with Jess's parents, had some pizza and visited.  Sounds like her Dad is going to show us some fishing spots.  He mentioned something about 5 pound trout and I about jumped out of my skin.
The kids stayed and hung out with Jess's kids for a few hours and Tres and I went out to Custer state park and walked around Bismark lake.  Lots of turtles scooting around and fish jumping.  Another beautiful spot in a really beautiful place.