“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous,
leading to the most amazing view.”
-Edward Abbey
Indiana to Mount Rushmore
We counted Chattanooga as the beginning of our road trip, but in reality, leaving my sister’s house in Indiana felt more like the launching point for me. Now we were traveling unfamiliar roads, exploring new cities and seeking out adventures, and boldly going where we had never been before…
And on this leg of the trip, we saw giants…
Wednesday – Noblesville to Madison
We loaded up the Jeep, hit the local Starbucks, and ventured north. First stop – Chicago! Timing was right for an early lunch, which begged the question: a traditional Chicago dog, or deep-dish pizza?? Hot dogs won the coin toss this time around, and thanks to a tip from my brother-in-law, we found a great little spot near the freeway. (See my restaurant reviews below.) After lunch we continued on to Madison WI, where we stopped for the day.
Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin. It has cool, small-city vibes, and is surrounded by several lakes. We arrived early enough to check in to our hotel and visit a local favorite – the Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Olbrich Botanical Gardens. With 16 acres of gardens, water features, and sculptures, (AND free admission!) it was the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the road. Russian dumplings (called pel’meni) were on the menu for dinner, found at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the university district downtown.
Thursday – Madison to Sioux Falls
Today was a longer driving day, so we spent a little extra time in La Crosse, WI, our midday lunch stop. First, we ventured about 10 minutes outside of town to Grandad Bluff Park. There are a few trails here that will take you to the top of the bluff for sweeping views of the town and the valley below. After hiking for an hour or so, we drove back to town for lunch at Buzzard Billy’s. (Because honestly, how could you pass up a restaurant with a name like that?😂)
Back on the road, we drove until we reached the tiny town of Blue Earth MN, where we saw our first giant.
The Jolly Green Giant stands at 55.5 feet tall and lures travelers off the highway for a fun photo op! The beloved mascot even has his own museum filled with memorabilia and advertising from the Green Giant vegetable company.
Minnesota quickly became South Dakota, and we drove on until we reached our “sleeping city” of Sioux Falls. Falls Park is home to the namesake waterfalls of the Big Sioux River and is a significant feature of the city. Sadly, we did not have much time to familiarize ourselves with the area, and since it was a weekday, many of the local restaurants closed on the early side. Dinner was in the hotel tonight, and we took some time to just chill.
Friday – Sioux Falls to Rapid City
A Starbucks overlooking the river gave us a needed jolt of caffeine and we continued west. This part of the country is beautiful in its own way, and we enjoyed noticing the changes in landscape. We drove from corn fields and forests to prairies and the Black Hills, past food farms and wind farms and cattle farms. There were several turnouts along the freeway just for vagabonds like us to pause and enjoy the views.
My sister and her family have traveled the I-90 corridor several times, and she told us suggested 2 stops for this leg: a corn palace and somewhere called Wall Drug.
Ladies and Gentlemen – may I present the World’s Only Corn Palace, located in Mitchell, SD! The building is over 100 years old and is the cultural centerpiece of the town. It hosts basketball tournaments, stage shows, and graduation ceremonies. The outside murals are completely made of corn and grasses, and they change every autumn. A museum and photo gallery inside displays the history of the building and the importance it has to the town. Admission is free, and of course they have a gift shop, so you can pick up some “corny” souvenirs! 😂
Across all of South Dakota, and maybe even before, there are hand-painted billboards advertising 5 cent coffee and free ice water at Wall Drug. If you’ve never been there it’s a little hard to describe – imagine an old west shopping mall and you’re on the right track. It has a restaurant and a few food shops, local art and jewelry stores, clothing and cowboy boots, toys and souvenirs, and yes, even a drug store! There’s a place out back to entertain the kids and some giant dinosaur statues. If you’re looking for a quick pitstop this is NOT it! A little overwhelming, but still a great place to get some food or keepsakes. And they do offer 5 cent coffee and free ice water.
Found in the town of Wall, SD, on the street behind Wall Drug.
Yes, it is a giant “jackalope” carving, towering over nearby buildings.
No, I can’t really explain this. 😂
Our base camp for the next few days was a small airbnb apartment in Rapid City. It is known as “The City of Presidents”, partially for its proximity to Mount Rushmore, and also because its downtown street corners feature 43 bronze statues of former Presidents. The life-sized statues all depict the personality of or a historical moment for each President, honoring our country’s past and providing a tangible look at our history. An interactive map is available, and it was fun as we walked to shops or restaurants to try and find our favorites!
Saturday – Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
I got some interesting reactions when I told people we would be visiting Rushmore. One person warned me it’s smaller than I thought it was. Another said I would cry when I saw it. Neither of those was entirely accurate for me. I didn’t cry, but I did find the artistry and engineering to be incredible. The number of people it took, the techniques and methods used, and the dedication to spend years bringing this vision to life is impressive. Plus, just seeing something like this in person, something that I’d only read about or seen in movies… I’m really glad we went! There is a path that goes through the woods and gives different vantage points of the mountain. It gets you a lot closer than the visitor’s center, and also takes you through the sculptor’s studio, where you can see some of the tools used and the original plans for the mountain. The path is only .6 miles long, but it has 425 stairs, so you will get your workout in!
About 20 minutes from Rushmore is the Crazy Horse Memorial, a monument honoring North American Indians. The site is also home to the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Education and Cultural Center.
The dream and vision of Chief Henry Standing Bear and Korczak Ziolkowski, a Polish sculptor from Connecticut, this project began in 1948. The work is currently being carried out by Ziolkowski’s children and grandchildren and when it is complete – decades in the future – it will be the largest sculpture in the world. You can’t get too close (without paying extra for a bus ride) but even from a distance it is awe-inspiring. We also got to see a Native American hoop dance demonstration.
We thought about going back to Rushmore for the evening lighting ceremony, but instead opted to grab dinner in Rapid City and catch up on some laundry at our airbnb!
Restaurant Reviews
Portillo’s – Chicago, IL
Chicago Street Food | Portillo’s
Portillo’s offers all kinds of hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, salads and pastas, with a 50’s-jazzy-gangster kind of vibe. Of course we had to try the traditional Chicago-style dog – loaded with mustard, relish, celery salt, onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear and sport peppers on a steamed poppyseed bun. Barry loved it; I thought it good but will probably stick with chili dogs! But I do recommend the chocolate cake milkshake!
Paul’s Pel’meni – Madison, WI Paul’s Pel’meni
This unassuming little restaurant is the place to go if you are craving budget-friendly Russian comfort food! Dumplings are the only thing on the menu, and they come stuffed with beef or potato (you can order a mixed plate as well) and they are topped with butter, curry powder, mild chili sauce, cilantro and sour cream. You can get a full order (30 dumplings) and a side of rye bread for only $9.50. It’s super casual and also has a full bar – which makes a lot of sense considering its right next to the university!
Buzzard Billy’s – La Crosse, WI
Buzzard Billy’s
With 3 locations: Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin
This is in an 1860’s brick hotel in downtown La Crosse, a block from the Mississippi River. The street also has other eateries and some souvenir shops. We picked this restaurant mostly because of the name, and we were pleasantly surprised to find some of the best Cajun food we’ve had outside of New Orleans!
Where to now?
South Dakota was never really on my radar as a vacation spot, but now I know I’d be happy to come back! We didn’t even make it to Custer State Park, or the Laura Ingalls Wilder historic homes in De Smet, or the Badlands… For now, though, it is time to move on. With suitcases full of clean clothes and hearts full of good memories, we venture forth!
The next leg of our trip takes us from Rushmore to Yellowstone, so check back soon for more Gibson adventures!
Til next time, shine bright friends!
~Dawn🌻
Thanks! While we’re in Oregon for a bit I’m trying to catch up on my writing!
Cheers to more adventures along the way.