Sturgis is most famous for its annual motorcycle rally, but today kicks off a rally of a different sort. One where all of the participants ride on four wheels instead of two. This weekend is the fourth annual Sturgis Mustang Rally. Organizers of the event say that it is the largest Ford Mustang rally in the world.

Ford Mustangs from all over the U.S. are already rolling into legendary Sturgis and are revving up for a weekend full of events ranging from poker runs to drag races and live music to swap meets.

While many of the events at the Sturgis Mustang Rally are for registered attendees only, there is a public show & shine event scheduled for this Saturday, September 4. From 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. the cool muscle cars will line Sturgis Main Street – free for the ogling.

And I’m not talking about just a few Mustangs, either. According to the Facebook page for the Sturgis Mustang Rally, there were already more than 250 cars registered by about 3:00 this afternoon. Registration continues on into this evening and goes all day tomorrow too!

There will be literally hundreds of them in the hills this weekend – countless years, colors and special editions will be present, so it should be a really diverse lineup for the public event on Saturday.

Forecasters are saying it will be sunny with temps in the 80’s on Saturday, so grab some sunscreen and a camera and I’ll see you in downtown Sturgis.

Historic Miles City to Deadwood Trail Ride Parade
Friday, September 3rd between 2:30 p.m and 3:30 p.m.
A procession of horse- and mule-drawn wagons will travel down Spearfish Main Street and on out to the High Plains Western Heritage Center for the night. Spearfish will be the final overnight stop for the riders before finishing in Deadwood the following day. This 200-mile, old fashioned trail ride began in Miles City, Montana on August 20 and has been retracing the historic route through Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota.

First Friday Market
Friday, September 3 from 5:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.
The final First Friday market of the summer will be a great night of entertainment for the whole family. Downtown businesses will be open extended shopping hours. There will also be sidewalk sales, food vendors, kids’ activities, craft booths. Live music on stage by Third Lift. Relaxed open container regulations will be in effect for adults.

10th Annual Dakota Five-O
Monday, September 5; all-day event
This strenuous mountain bike race starts and ends in Spearfish City Park, with 50 miles of Black Hills climbs, dips and drops in between. The race starts at 7:20 a.m and ends around noon. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for registered riders. The public is invited to Spearfish City Park, mid-afternoon on Monday, to join in the Dakota Five-O festivities and enjoy live music and a kids bike race at 4:00 p.m. To compete in the Dakota Five-O, you must pre-register online or at Common Grounds coffee shop in Spearfish. For more details, CLICK HERE.

When most people think of the Black Hills, they think of Mount Rushmore, entertaining visitor attractions, incredible natural beauty and a great place to make some unique memories.

And for those very reasons, hundreds of people every year choose the Black Hills as the site for their destination weddings.

I know – I was one of them. My wife and I got married a few years ago on this date, so it got me thinking about our experience – why we chose to get married in the Black Hills – and why so many others do too.

We started planning our own Black Hills wedding long before we had decided to actually move out here – so from that viewpoint, you can consider me an impartial recommendation. We knew that we wanted an outdoor wedding, we wanted someplace that was naturally beautiful and we wanted a location that our guests could plan a real vacation around – with our wedding being only a portion of their experience.

After whittling down a long list of possible locations, we settled on the Black Hills. That was the easy part. Then we had to come up with a list of possible locations for our ceremony and reception within the Black Hills region. And let me tell you – there’s a boatload of fantastic options as far as places to get married out here.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional church atmosphere, a rustic cabin in the woods or Main Street Sturgis ceremony – there really is a venue for all interests.

Anyway, we eventually figured out that a lakefront wedding at Sylvan Lake was the right fit for us. The staff in Custer State Park and at Sylvan Lake Lodge was fantastic. We worked with some top-notch wedding service professionals from around the area – and there are many of them! At the end of the day, the whole thing was a huge success.

Our guests – who literally traveled from all over the country – enjoyed their time and most of them stuck around for several days after the wedding to tour the Black Hills and enjoy some R&R. We were married in a beautiful place, our guests had been entertained and we all made some good memories. Mission accomplished.

Reasons why the Black Hills are perfect for destination weddings:

• Location, location, location
• Natural beauty & countless venues
• Affordable lodging options throughout the hills
• Variety of guest entertainment options for extended vacations
• Qualified wedding service professionals in the region
• Marriage licensing requirements that are easily attainable

Happy planning!

Click the arrow above to view TODAY Show story. May take a few seconds to load.

Yesterday morning – while I was still half asleep and trying to get myself in gear for the day – I saw this story about technology and the great outdoors on the TODAY show. The gist of the story was that the more time folks spend using mobile technology, the less aware of their personal safety they often become.

Take, for example, the recent incident in Yellowstone National Park where a couple of curious tourists got too close to a bison bull with the video camera. The bull felt they were in his territory and did what bison do – charged to defend himself and ended up injuring the female tourist. The intruding video camera continued to roll, recording the whole ordeal. That was the footage that made the rounds on the national news stations a few weeks back.

Thankfully, the woman recovered just fine, but it could have ended much worse. It was a prime example of getting caught up in a situation and letting common sense go right out the window.

I’ll be the first to admit – I’m just as guilty as anybody – I’m a fan and frequent user of all sorts of geeky techno-related things while out and about here in the Black Hills. You know – sending picture messages from the cell phone, concentrating on the camera in order to get that perfect shot, firing off a quick Twitter update about the trail-du-jour that I’m headed for – that kind of thing.

That’s why this news story on the TODAY show struck such a chord with me. I find myself doing these things all too often and probably not paying nearly as much attention to my surroundings as I should. I could easily loose my footing on a steep trail or worse. So, there’s definitely the safety issue.

But, the more I thought about it – the more I realized that I’m probably missing out on some of the simple beauties of the region as well. Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to share with my friends the cool things that I’m up to in the hills, that I don’t even really take the time to stop and take it all in for myself. To just sit and enjoy and appreciate this amazing place that I call home.

So, I guess I’m saying that I think technology is all well and good, but we need to keep our heads about us. We need to use some common sense and be aware of our surroundings when out enjoying the Black Hills, Badlands or anywhere else.

Take lots of pictures, make some great memories, share them with your friends and enjoy this area to the fullest. Just be sure to do it all safely, smartly and enjoyably.

Kool Deadwood Nites, the region’s largest gathering of classic cars, free music and nostalgic fun, takes place in Historic Deadwood this weekend. This year Kool Deadwood Nites will feature free Main Street concerts by The Platters and Sha Na Na, two of the biggest musical acts of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Kool Deadwood Nites starts Thursday, Aug. 26, with classic car registration from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Deadwood Gulch Convention Center. People’s Choice voting for early car registrants will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Deadwood’s History and Information Center Parking Lot, with results of the voting at 9 p.m. The 2nd annual Sock Hop will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., also in the History and Information Center Parking Lot.

The Deadwood Rod Run, an escorted tour of Spearfish Canyon, kicks off the Friday, Aug. 27 activities. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meanwhile, car registration for Kool Deadwood Nites continues from noon to 7 p.m. An owners-only barbecue will be held in conjunction with the registration, at the Deadwood Gulch Convention Center.

Friday’s free concerts on Main Street begin at 5 p.m. featuring the Kid & Nic Show and DD & The Fayrohs, followed by Friday’s headliner Sha Na Na. The highly popular ’60s rock ‘n’ roll band released more than 40 albums, including the 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition in 2009. Their songs were featured in “Grease,” and they starred in it. They played at Woodstock and had a hit television show for four years.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, registration continues from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. A classic car competition will take place, with judging from 8 a.m. to noon at the Days of 76 Rodeo Grounds, across from the First Gold Hotel. Poker runs begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. throughout Deadwood and the Black Hills.

Concerts kick off again at 5 p.m. on Saturday when the Kid & Nic Show and DD & The Fayroh’s perform again. Also on Saturday, The Rat Pack Show will take the stage, followed by The Platters. The Platters had a number of Top 10 hits, including “Only You,” “The Great Pretender,” “Twilight Time,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” and many more.

On Sunday, Aug. 29, the classic car parade, a crowd favorite, will be held. Cars begin lining up at 7 a.m. at the Days of 76 Rodeo Grounds. The parade starts when all cars are lined up. After the parade, all cars will be on display on Main Street for a show-and-shine. The weekend’s award ceremony will be held at the History and Information Center Parking lot beginning at 11 a.m.

Beginning at noon Friday and running throughout the weekend, a Classic Car Corral will be held at Ferguson Field with many classic cars for sale. The cost is $10 and all vehicles must be 1973 or younger.

At last year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally here in the Black Hills, Tyler fell off the stage during a concert out at The Legendary Buffalo Chip. It made news headlines across the country and resulted in the band canceling several concert dates. Publicly, there was even some dissension among the band members – specifically Tyler and Perry – after the Sturgis fall.

The Sturgis tumble left Tyler with a banged-up shoulder and a few other injuries. Thankfully, this most recent plunge didn’t appear to hurt him as he crawled right back up on stage and continued the show.

Coincidentally, he was singing the same song – “Love in an Elevator” – when both falls happened. Hopefully, Tyler can continue to keep performing and stop from falling from — well, everything.

Check out these videos of both falls that I found on YouTube. The first one is of Steven Tyler’s most recent fall in Toronto, Canada. The second video is of his fall last year during the 2009 Sturgis rally.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” ~Albert Einstein

I’m no certified genius, but I do agree with old Al. When I’m outdoors here in the Black Hills, I feel at ease. Everything just seems clearer, simpler, less hurried.

People go on vacations to get away. To relax and unwind. To leave everything familiar behind and explore something new. And the Black Hills are the perfect place to do that.

My favorite times here in the hills are those when I get off the main roads and hike on in to the forest until all that I can hear are the sounds of nature.

No vehicle traffic, no cell phones ringing, no people talking. Just the wind whispering through the pines, the birds singing their songs, the occasional rustle of a chipmunk or a wild turkey and the crisp, clean sound of a Black Hills stream splashing alongside.

If you’re able, take some time to explore the Black Hills. And I mean really explore. Hike a little-traveled trail, camp in the backwoods on Forest Service land or climb to the top of one of the region’s 7,000-foot peaks.

Truly allow yourself to stop and absorb the Black Hills – there is something special about this place. I didn’t realize it myself until my wife and I moved out here a few years ago. And, even once we were here – it took a while for me to notice it. That special something about the area.

It’s difficult to put into words, but if you come visit and take the time to just soak in the natural beauty of the region, you’ll begin to understand.

It has come and gone – another Sturgis motorcycle rally is in the books. And to me, casual observer-extraordinaire, this year’s rally sure seemed like a good’un.

The crowds were large, the concerts impressive and the weather surprisingly cooperative. One of the most reliable attendance estimates usually comes from the official rally organizers with the City of Sturgis, who are guessing that around 600,000 people attended this year’s 70th annual rally. They use a combination of things to come up with their estimate including: Department of Transportation vehicle counters, number of accidents reported, amount of garbage collected and vendor licenses among others.

Regardless of the actual number of visitors, to me, it was a great event. I must admit – this is only my fourth Sturgis rally – and only my third as an adult. My first memory of the rally is from when I was six years old.

My parents had loaded all four of us kids into the wood-paneled station wagon (yes, really) and taken us on a family road trip ‘Out West’ through Montana, Yellowstone and The Tetons. On our way back, we were going to spend a couple of peaceful days in the Black Hills – and we were all really looking forward to it: Spearfish Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park , the whole traditional family trip.

That was until we hit Sundance, Wyoming or so and realized that the annual Sturgis rally was roaring along full-force in the approaching hills.

You see, my parents – bless their hearts – have always been the “drive until we’re tired, see where we end up and hope to find a motel room” sort. And their method usually worked pretty well – except this time around they had overlooked the whole Sturgis rally thing.

On that hot August day, we rolled in to the Black Hills on Tuesday – traditionally the busiest traffic day of the rally. I remember Mom and Dad in the front seat quietly discussing what to do, as us kids peered out the windows – wide eyed and a little scared by the bikes flying by on either side of the station wagon.

I’m not sure which one of the parents made the decision, but next thing we knew we were exiting the interstate and turning INTO the legendary motorcycle destination! Here we were – six Iowans in a brown, two-toned station wagon cruising down Lazelle Street in Sturgis. We stuck out like a sore thumb.

As we slowly made our way through town, mixed in with several hundred thousand bikers, I remember being told to keep the doors locked and the windows up. It was more motorcycles, leather and beards (among other things) than I had ever seen! As a six-year old farm kid, it was a pretty wild sight.

We drove through town and made the loop back out on Junction Avenue to the Interstate. I have no idea what the conversation between our parents was, but I do remember merging onto Interstate-90 and heading directly east toward Iowa. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.

So much for Mount Rushmore or any of the other attractions we had been so excited to see.

Because of the motorcycle rally, every roadside motel room for the first couple hundred miles east of Sturgis was full. Mom and Dad decided that since we were already that close to home, we might as well go all the way. We ended up driving straight through the night and arrived back home in the wee hours of the morning.

That was my first exposure to the Sturgis rally – and it would be my last for a couple of decades.

Today, as a Black Hills resident and contributor for the travel blog, I have a whole different viewpoint of the rally. Through spending some time at the Sturgis rally hot spots the past few years, I’ve really come to appreciate the event.

Interesting people, positive economic impacts, opportunities for out-of-the-ordinary entertainment and another chance to show off this beautiful area that some of us are lucky enough to call Home.

While not everyone enjoys the motorcycle rally in Sturgis as much as I do, it’s tough to deny what a spectacle of an event it is and what a boon it presents for Black Hills businesses.

Sure, I prefer the solitude of a backwoods Black Hills hike any day – but, as far as the few-day-a-year motorcycle rally is concerned, it’s part of what makes this region so unique. And it’s part of what will continue to draw visitors to the Black Hills for years to come.

A production crew from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno followed him around the hills, and last night, aired a film montage of his time in Deadwood and Sturgis. It’s actually pretty funny to see him interact with bikers of all types. Give it a look below.

TV celebrities Lorenzo Lamas, Rupert from Survivor and Pee-Wee Herman all took part in the Legends Ride, along with several nationally-known custom motorcycle builders and designers. I was able to follow the Legends Ride throughout the day and even got to chat with Rupert for a few minutes. These shots should give you a better feel for what the ride kick-off in Deadwood was like. Enjoy!

A steady stream of motorcycles rolls into Historic Deadwood.

Motorcycles of all shapes and sizes arrived to take part in the Legends Ride.

America’s most beloved reality-TV star, Rupert from Survivor, met with fans and rode in the Legends Ride. (I'm the one without the beard and tie-dye)

Actor and custom motorcycle builder, Lorenzo Lamas, also participated in the Legends Ride.

Legends Ride participants gathered in Deadwood before leaving on a 50-mile charity ride through the Black Hills.

Pee-Wee Herman also participated in the Legends Ride and led more than 300 bikers out of Deadwood on his new, custom-built Schwinn bicycle.

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