We were really pumped to get to the Badlands.  Dennis and I had spent a day there about 15 years ago when we came up to Cheyenne for cousin John’s wedding.  It was one of those vacations that beat expectations in all the right ways, and so we both really looked forward to showing the kids the area.  Dennis said that coming to the area was one of the draws for him for this whole adventure…knowing we’d be able to show the kids so many parts of the country that are varied and different than home.  

This time we planned to stay four nights and take our time exploring in the first National Park we would hit on the trip.  We pulled in at around dinner time and the kids quickly decided that the place to hang out was on TOP of the picnic table shade…rather than under it.  Hey, no one ever came to tell us they weren’t supposed to be up there. 

We went on a great hike the first morning called the Notch Trail.  It was marked STRENUOUS and had warnings for people who were scared of heights, so we were a bit worried about taking the kids on it.  But…it wasn’t that bad.  There was a long ladder to get from the valley up into the rock, but that was really the worst of it.  And then, at the end we were rewarded with a sprawling view of the entire valley below us. 

While we were in the Badlands, and all of South Dakota actually, the yellow sweet clover has been in bloom, and it’s amazing.  Acres and acres of land covered in yellow blooms.  So pretty.  And it smells like honey.  The first night we were there I smelled it all night and then figured out the next day that it was that yellow plant I was smelling.  The whole area smells like honey.  In truth, by the end of day three I was kind of over it, it was so strong. But, I think I’ll probably always associate that smell with this place now, though.

Overall the Badlands are just sort of unreal.  It’s so very different than anywhere else we have been.  The rock formations are severe and the prairies are so pretty with the waves of grasses and all the expansive fields of that yellow clover.  And you drive miles and miles and then see more of the rock formations.

Wyatt’s impressions were varied  At first, he thought it wasn’t as impressive as he expected.  Probably because we’d built it up so much.  But by the end he appreciated the landscape.  Maya liked the cool rock formations, but most of all she loved the animals…the adorable prairie dogs and spotting big horn sheep way off in the distance.  Both kids thought the grasses waving in the wind was mesmerizing…I agree.

It was HOT.  So hot that we decided on day three to relocate to Custer.  Actually, it turned out to be such a good move…most of what we planned to do for the third and fourth days was over near Custer, so we were going to be driving over an hour one way each day.  So not only did we escape 100+ degree weather, but we also spent way less time in the car.