An Explorers Guide: South Dakota

South Dakota offers travelers some wonderful destinations to explore, among them the Black Hills, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore, but theres so much more to the state than merely those famous sites. South Dakota is a diverse landscape of plains, rivers, buttes, and mountains. It is gold and brown and green, and the bright blue sky goes on forever. Theres abundant wildlife, including mule and whitetail deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions. South Dakota is a natural wonder. Its also an outdoor recreation paradise: Mountain bikers are in heaven in the Black Hills, as are bird-watchers, with over 400 species to enjoy, and spelunkers, with 75 mapped calcite crystal caves to explore. In the eastern part of the state there are hundreds of "pothole" lakes created by glaciers. The fishing is year-round here (including lots of ice fishing) and history is everywhere you look, with museums dedicated to mining and the gold rush, Native American culture and history, archaeology and paleontology, and much more. Detailed maps and a "Whats Where" subject guide will aid in travel planning. The best restaurants, places to stay, and activities for every budget and interest are laid out in this easy-to-navigate guide-its the perfect companion for every excursion, whether into the wilds or into the city.