Week 19 - Black Hills Trip - Days 3

 After spending the night in Wall our first stop of the day was to the Minuteman Missile Historic Site. The visitor center was closed but they had an audio tour for the available online for all the above ground sites. Quinn was really bummed that we could not tour the control room, next time I guess. Being able to see into the silo and see a missile in there was cool though. The kids dutifully did their Jr. Ranger packets. It helps keep them busy. Quinn had printed them off before we left home knowing that visitor centers still might be closed. We were able to mail them in when we got home and the kids still got their badges.

Love her hat!

Next stop was to Badlands National Park. We did several overlooks, one hike, had lunch, went to the visitors center, and then did more overlooks and saw some big horn sheep. We also watched a storm roll by in the distance. The kids were super excited when we got to our hotel in Rapid City and they were able to swim. 

First stop was the Big Badlands Overlook. Looks a lot like Canyonlands to me.

Just a quick snack while we get our hiking shoes on and use the restroom.

Such a great view from the parking lot before we head out to hike around the back of these formation.

Hiking the door trail which starts on a board walk and then lets you take your own path following 12 marker polls to an overlook.

The backside.

The kids were so happy to be able to go where ever they wanted and climb on everything.

Usually we are getting after them to stay on the trail.

Another short boardwalk hike on the Window Trail.

Lunch outside the visitors center and finishing up their Jr. Ranger packets so they can turn them in and get their badge before we head out to explore the rest of the park.

LOVE the view from our picnic table.

Mia picked up a stuffed coyote from the gift shop with more of her money.

So neat to see Big Horn Sheep.

White River Valley Overlook

Watching the storm.

Happy kids with their stuffed animals. The mountain lions are from our Moab trip last year.

At the gift shop we read about how artists use all the colors of the rainbow when painting the Badlands and we were thinking that it looked pretty much brown and gray. That was until we got to this part of the park. The pictures don't do the colors justice and they really are beautiful and have all the colors.

And we ended the day swimming again.