Read more about the article Jewel Cave National Monument – Hot Springs, SD

Jewel Cave National Monument – Hot Springs, SD

It was the last day of our South Dakota trip and we had one more thing on our itinerary – Jewel Cave National Monument. Fortunately, we booked tickets ahead of time and we’re glad we did. There were no tickets available for walk-up visitors.

Jewel Cave is home to the third largest cave system in the world and the second largest in the US behind Mammoth Cave National Park. Discovered in 1900 by mining prospectors, Jewel Cave became the first national monument to protect a cave in 1908. Until the 1950s, cavers only discovered two miles of passageways. Today, explorers have mapped 215 miles of trails and still haven’t found the end.

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Read more about the article Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota: South Unit

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota: South Unit

While on our vacation to the Black Hills, we made an overnight detour to North Dakota. After all, we were nearby — relatively speaking. Plus I didn’t want North Dakota to be our 50th state as it is for many travelers. Surely, there’s something to see in our country’s least visited state?

Fortunately, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) sits on land that President Teddy Roosevelt owned when he ran two cattle ranches in North Dakota after losing his wife and mother in 1884. The park, which gained national park status in 1978, consists of 70,000 acres in the North Unit, South Unit, and Elkhorn Ranch Unit. Part One covered our half-day visit to the North Unit while this post covers the afternoon visit to the South Unit.

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Read more about the article Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota: Part 1

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota: Part 1

Yay! We made it to North Dakota and there’s no better place to visit than Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora.

Our country’s 26th (and at the time – youngest) president discovered the beauty of North Dakota on a hunting trip. After his wife and mother died in 1884, Roosevelt returned to the state, ultimately owning both the Maltese Cross Ranch and the Elkhorn Ranch. It’s only fitting that the national park named in his memory consists of this land.

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Read more about the article Devils Tower National Monument – Wyoming
Devil's Tower National Monument, WY

Devils Tower National Monument – Wyoming

Look at any guidebook to the Black Hills in Southwestern South Dakota and you’ll see a section about Devils Tower National Monument in neighboring Wyoming. If you’ve ever watched the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” you’ll immediately recognize the huge rock monolith that stretches up to the sky. But to get there, you will go to the Northern Black Hills first.

Just 40 miles from the South Dakota state line, the large rock structure appeared in the far distance. One of our first clear views of the tower featured cattle grazing nonchalantly on the hilly grassland nearby. Several cars pulled over to take pictures. 

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