I spent my Saturday discovering the allure of cross-country skiing in the Black Hills with the desire to offer a snapshot of the area through the activity. My company on this trip was Pam, a downhill skier. I’m always delighted when I talk someone into a new outdoor excursion with me, mainly because many of [...]

We’ve finally made it past the shortest day of the year, but if you’re like me it’s dark before you go to work and dark when you get off of work. A quick Google search tells me it would take an act of Congress to abolish Daylight Saving Time. I’m not holding my breath. So in the [...]

The older I get, the more I like to buy gifts that will surprise family members and friends. In other words, don’t tell me you need socks, or new cookware. I’m won’t pitch in for new skis or add to your Denver Bronco football collection. And I’m certainly not giving you a gift card or [...]

My mother recently made her second trip to South Dakota for the year. As usual, she thumbed through the South Dakota Vacation Guide and noted the Mammoth Site, in Hot Springs, has stood out over the years as a definite place to visit. So off we went…this would be a first visit for both my [...]

It’s early morning on July 14, and anticipation is building up and down the line at the Antiques Roadshow call-out in Rapid City.  Heirlooms, a yard sale mystery, grandma’s favorite cookie jar, or that old tool that nobody can identify – we are all here with stories that are missing a few paragraphs. And, of [...]

The jagged pinnacles and equally rough-edged crevasses of Badlands National Park don’t lend themselves to the exactitudes of mathematical graphing. So an array of little flags patterned over a small hump of wind-carved sandstone located a few steps away from Ben Reifel Visitor Center in the heart of the park seems somewhat incongruous to my [...]

I’m eyeing three large piles of sandy dirt inside the new Education Program Building at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. No, they are not some horrendous error on the part of the construction crew. Soon, groups of kids will be playing in these giant sandboxes – the kind of play that creates learning experiences [...]

From wooded trails to rugged peaks, the Black Hills hiking trails have it all. The diverse terrain of the Black Hills can make deciding on the perfect trail a challenge. In my search for the best hiking trails in the area, I came across a tool that might just make your decision making a little [...]

Good news for Texas-based fans of the Black Hills. United Airlines announced today that it will add new seasonal nonstop service between Rapid City Regional Airport and Houston. The daily service begins June 7 and will continue to Aug. 27. And if past experience is an indication, United could expand that route to year-around service. [...]

Judging by their photos, snowy owls are beautiful creatures. A pure white, downy face, black-spotted wings and an impressive size — wingspans of as much as 5 feet. I’ve never had the good fortune to see one in the wild, but  a number of Black Hills people have done just that this winter. In fact, [...]