Summer Vacation Idea

Above, Devil's Tower in 1990. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Believe it or not, vacation season is fast approaching. It is only roughly 4 months away.

I have been thinking about going up to Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana to explore different places.

The last time I was at Mount Rushmore National Memorial was in 1990. Unbeknownst to me, that trip had us in South Dakota right in the middle of the Sturgis, South Dakota motorcycle gathering. I hope to avoid that this time (this year it will be held August 06-15). Also during that trip, we stopped briefly at Devil's Tower in Wyoming. This time, I would like to stay overnight to do a little more exploring.

Also, because of the Sturgis crowds, I didn't get to see much of Deadwood, South Dakota except for Mt. Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried. I hope to be able to see the town this time.

During that 1990 trip, the plan was to see the Little Bighorn Battlefield in southern Montana, but a mishap with the tent trailer near Sheridan, Wyoming at the time forced us to skip it and head directly to West Yellowstone, Montana. This time, I would like to see the battlefield and visit Cody, Wyoming along the way. 

The pace will be leisurely so that I can just wander around and do things on a whim.

Heading north from New Mexico to the Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore areas is pretty direct on Interstate 25 from Albuquerque. 

I requested some travel planning guides from Montana's and Wyoming's travel bureaus. 

Now that I have new tires on The Beast, a trip into those areas is workable.