SynopsisSouth Dakota offers travelers some wonderful destinations to explore, among them the Black Hills, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore, but there's 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. There's abundant wildlife, including mule and whitetail deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions. South Dakota is a natural wonder. It's 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 "What's 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-it's the perfect companion for every excursion, whether into the wilds or into the city., The first and most comprehensive guide to South Dakota highlights the state's natural beauty and includes coverage of its major historical sites and tourist attractions, from Mount Rushmore and Deadwood to the Black Hills. The guide is especially family-friendly, outlining free or inexpensive activities as well as little known treasures that were discovered through personal experience and research on the ground. As in all Explorer's Guides, this book includes up-to-date maps and handy icons that point out places of extra value, family- and pet-friendly establishments, those that provide wheelchair access, and even selective shopping and special events listings. A definitive visitor's guide to the beauty and tranquility of South Dakota, covering not only historical sites and tourist attractions, but also hiking, hunting, fishing and camping as well as other forms of outdoor exploration., A definitive visitor's guide to the beauty and tranquility of South Dakota, covering not only historical sites and tourist attractions, but also hiking, hunting, fishing and camping as well as other forms of outdoor exploration.