A Grand Time with the Grandkids on a Staycation by Merissa Alink
Another year and vacation prices keep rising. The
dawn to dusk so you have plenty of time to explore
cost of hotels, flights, and various activities can
what they have to offer. The Outdoor Campus
set you back and keep you home. The idea of the
provides 32 acres of trails, habitats, and other areas
staycation keeps becoming increasingly appealing to
to explore and learn, both indoor and outdoor. Make
those with families or grandchildren that want to go
sure you check out the community program flyer
on vacation but don’t want to spend a lot.
on their website to learn about the free programs
We are lucky to live in a tourist destination with plenty of activities we can do in the summer to keep busy. Here are some simple ideas about how you can plan a frugal, budget-friendly, and fun staycation with your children or grandchildren this year.
Places to Visit on Your Black Hills Staycation
around them. The best part is the Outdoor Campus is its free and located right in Rapid City so it’s easily accessible.
Keystone Walking Tour Just outside Rapid City to the south down Highway 16 you can find the tourist town of Keystone. Instead
Reptile Gardens
of heading straight into town, turn left at the first
Reptile Gardens is a neat little gem at the entrance
stoplight and head into Old Keystone. Simply follow
to the Black Hills right off Highway 16 on your way to
the numbered signs around town and learn all about
Mt Rushmore. It’s only a few miles outside of Rapid
the historic buildings there and who lived in them.
City so it’s easy to drive to. Reptile Gardens offers
If you visit between June and August make sure to
many fun exhibits like Prairie Dog Town, the Giant
also stop in the Keystone Schoolhouse as part of your
Tortoise, the Sky Dome and much more. If you are
tour. It’s free to visit and features many historical
a local Black Hills resident, make sure you ask for a
photographs and memorabilia from the area along
Resident Pass when you pay for your first ticket of
with a large collection of Carrie Ingalls items. The
the season. The Resident Pass will allow you to visit
walking tour is free.
Reptile Gardens for the rest of the season for free after you pay for that first ticket!
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and activities they offer so you can plan your visit
Dinosaur Park Located in Rapid City up on beautiful Skyline Drive
The Outdoor Campus
overlooking the city, Dinosaur Park is another great
The Outdoor Campus is a wonder on the west side
free attraction. There are 7 large concrete dinosaur
of Rapid City. They are open 7 days a week from
exhibits and the exhibits are open until 10pm. Kids
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