After months of planning, our first family National Parks Monopoly Board trip had arrived. It was over the 4th of July holiday week so we could take in the patriotic celebration at Mt. Rushmore. We just purchased a new vehicle and were excited to take it on this road trip which would cover over 2,000 miles by the time we were finished. The day before was spent packing the car preparing for a 4am departure. I was both extremely excited and nervous. This was the first road trip I’d planned with multiple stops. Will everything go according to plan? Will it be a positive experience for my family? There are many more trips to come and if this didn’t go well it could prevent us from continuing on our Monopoly travels. At the same time I was going to see places I’d only heard about and never really expected to see. Rocky Mountain National Park was the one I was most excited for on this adventure but we would also see the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore for the Independence Day Celebration, Wind Cave, as well as add Colorado and Wyoming to the states I’ve visited. The alarm couldn’t start blaring fast enough the next morning for me.

Surprisingly I was sleeping as the alarm began screaming for us to get up. In just a short time the family was situated in the car heading out of the Twin Cities. Daylight was beginning to breach the horizon as the days are very long at this time of year. The goal was to reach Sioux Falls, South Dakota where we would take some time to get out of the car and find a place for breakfast. On the way I kept running through our adventures in my mind while trying to watch the countryside pass outside the car windows as we entered prairie country with fields of corn and tall grass waving in the summer breeze. My dad was joining us on this first trip but had knee surgery just weeks before. Would he be able to navigate hiking trails or stay in a seated position for long periods of time while we drove? Would the kids become frustrated with my desire to explore each of the places we were going? I was about to find out. While going over these things in my mind I would look into the rear view mirror to find them sleeping in the back seat bringing a smile to my face and a sense of comfort about the trip.

We reached Sioux Falls right on schedule and stopped to get out and stretch from the long ride before going into Perkins for some nourishment.  After breakfast we headed to the water falls this city is named for to begin exploring and climbing around the pink rock that make up this area. While walking around the different features of Falls Park we were stopped by a local news crew wanting to do an interview with us. Gas prices had risen to the highest prices up to that time and they were doing a story on its effect on summer travel plans. These fuel prices really didn’t alter our travel plans as we budgeted for them and they really were a relatively small part of the costs overall. I don’t know if our interview actually aired but it was fun to be considered for their story. We made one additional stop while in Sioux Falls to the Butterfly House before departing for our hotel in Wall, SD. There were many colorful and exotic butterflies. We had a great time watching and holding these delicate little creatures. It was getting later in the day and there were several more hours of driving to do. Everyone safely secured in the car, we once again entered the freeway heading west. This time I took a break from driving to catch a few winks.

Soon I dozed off while watching billboards pass along the roadside only to be woken by the sound of the car slowing down. How long was I asleep? And then I saw a sign which read Mitchell. Immediately I looked up and asked what we were doing mentioning that this was an unauthorized stop? Apparently a bathroom break was needed. As luck would have it, it just happened to coincide with the place where the Corn Palace resides. This is a building which is decorated around the outside with drawings made out of corn. They really do an amazing job and create new drawings every year. Secretly I enjoyed this stop and was glad we made it sharing this place with my family. While it delayed our arrival in Wall, SD, it was a worthwhile stop on this new adventure.

Once again entering the freeway, I retook the wheel for our final leg of this long day of travel. A few hours later we arrived at our hotel in the little town known for Wall Drug. We got settled in and decided it was time to eat as it was now getting quite late in the day. Once dinner was finished I wanted to walk around town a bit. After all so many people have Wall bumper stickers on their cars and we passed numerous billboards throughout the day advertising this place. To be honest, I thought it was a hokey tourist trap that didn’t really excite me but many other people seem to really enjoy it. Of course I had to get a picture of the famous Jack-o-Lope before retiring to the hotel for some much needed rest. Our first National Park would be visited the next morning and I couldn’t wait to see it.

This adventure was off to a great beginning as we had a fantastic day seeing some of the sights of South Dakota. Excitement had definitely overcome my nervousness by this time. Now off to sleep!