July 4th at Keystone SD!…read more On our way to Mount Rushmore we passed by this charming town with many family-friendly activities and attractions, shops, street vendors and dining options. It looked like this was a popular destination for visitors to the Black Hills. We decided to stop here first and see what kinds of souvenirs we could bring home. Finding parking was a challenge but we were able to snag an open spot. It is Independence Day and also election year so many of the merchandise were patriotic things that are Red, White, and Blue all from apparel to non-clothing souvenirs. We poked our heads in some of the shops... bought some stuff and we wore them at Mount Rushmore. There were a lot of locals and tourists... Keystone was busy. Fun stop! Review #3490

Keystone, a town with a distinct western ambiance is about a 10 minute drive from Mount Rushmore…read more The major road that takes you to Rushmore runs right through Keystone, population about 350. Established in 1883 as a mining town, Keystone still celebrates the Black Hills gold rush with establishments like "Gold Diggers", a shop specializing in Black Hills gold jewelry. The Black Hills Central Railroad (1900) has a depot in Keystone, tickets available.There are places to eat in Keystone as well. Keystone House Restaurants, Peggy's Place or a deli sandwich at Teddy's deli.. The National Presidential Wax Museum displays every President, several notable Sioux chiefs, inventors and international figures. The wax figures are the creation on internationally recognized artist, Katherine Stubergh. Among her accomplishments are wax figures created for the movie "Gone with the Wind". Another notable museum in Keystone is the Rushmore Borglum Story, a museum dedicated to the artist that created Mount Rushmore.

I love that there is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore, but you do have to pay for parking. It was…read moreregularly $10 or if you're over 62 it's five dollars you take a ticket when you go into the parking lot and you will pay at a pay station before you leave. It will ask you if you're over 62 There is a lot of room to view the monument as well as a restaurant, gift shop, clean restrooms, and plenty of areas to sit on benches and such to enjoy the environment Definitely something you need to check off your bucket list

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of those places that feels instantly recognizable in a way…read morephotos never fully prepare you for. The scale and setting change the experience the moment you arrive. The approach itself is scenic, with winding roads and forested surroundings that built anticipation before the monument even came into view. I kept glancing through the trees, waiting for the first glimpse. Once I reached the main viewing area, the carved faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln appeared set into the granite cliff. The effect felt both precise and surprisingly integrated into the natural rock face, as if the mountain had always intended to hold them. The visitor area is designed around walking paths and viewing platforms. I took my time moving along them, gradually changing my perspective. From a distant panoramic view to closer vantage points, the details in the stone became more apparent with each step. The space felt open and well maintained, with a structured layout that encouraged moving around rather than staying in one spot. I found myself pausing at different angles, noticing how the light shifted across the faces as the afternoon wore on.

For decades this was a gravel pull off of Skyline Drive. Now paved it is a great location for…read moreviewing West Rapid and The Blackhills.

A little bit of everything here including a glimpse at an original, untouched general store from…read morethe 1800s. Snacks, drinks, and souvenirs aplenty. A nice stop along our way.

Stopping by here is similar to stopping by Wall Drug, but dustier, older, and with more dead flies…read morelying around. There's a bar attached, so there were several people in the building, but overall, it was pretty empty. We were nervous about buying stuff as some stuff seemed really old. If you're bored, worth stopping by to see what an old store looks like for historic reasons (and the post office next door).

The downtown is filled with Native American craft shops, restaurants, independent book shops & a…read morevisitors center. Walking around here and admiring the statues of every president is the best way to take in this unique western city. The old buildings really lead to the charm here. The main square in the middle is perfect for sitting and people watching.

Drove around downtown. Seems like a pretty active place for a city this size. Lots of urban renewal…read moreunderway or completed. Restaurants, shops, and some civic minded things like statues on most street corners

If you get a chance, drive 30 miles or so south of Hot Springs on your next visit to the Black…read moreHills to see this not quite ghost town. There appears to be one home with 2 or 3 residents and the rest is deserted. A true example of a ghost town without a lot of touristy-ness Picturesque ruined buildings to photograph.

Awesome rooftop bar with amazing views of Rapid City! This was such a lovely place to be every…read morenight while staying in Alex Johnson hotel. The staff was friendly, the drinks were great. I would highly recommend the Blue Hue Spritz cocktail - it was delicious and refreshing. There's seating inside and then an awesome patio with seating along a fire pit, some tables/chairs, and some bar seating along the perimeter with views of the city.

We dined at Juniper nearly two months ago, and everything was *phenomenal.*. Because it was a…read moreMonday evening, staffing was light, so Connor, the bartender, was doing it all: answering the phone, taking orders (no note pad, nailed every course), mixing the drinks, and checking in on us all while taking care of other customers. He and his helper were polished, professional, kind, and so much fun! To enter the restaurant, you have to go through the lobby of the Alex Johnson hotel and take the elevator up to the top floor. You emerge from the elevator in a cozy foyer with enormous windows, and the restaurant is through a heavy wooden door to the right. Inside the restaurant, the decor is Art Deco, light and airy with tin ceilings and tall windows. Everything was immaculately maintained. The menu was limited that evening, but we still found everything we wanted (I am vegan, my companions were not) from starters to dessert. The only bad part was that it was our last night in Rapid City and we couldn't take our leftovers, so we just ate as much as we could. The serving sizes were generous without being over the top. We would 100% return to Vertex if we visit Rapid City again.