South Dakota Archives - fiftytwothursdays

#Badasslands

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 00:39:46 +0000

Many people saw the #badasslands hashtag pop up in their social media newsfeed last week but even though the #badlands have legions of new admirers, quite a few of them still have no idea where they actually are. The hashtag may have started over the climate change controversy but hopefully it will encourage millions of people to make the trek out to soak in the extreme and magical natural wonder that is Badlands National Park. A long time favorite place for musicians, writers, and artists to explore mind altering experiences and connect with the natural world given its topography and location, miles away from light pollution. Visitor experience can be so out of this world that the Badlands often play other planets on TV, most famously portraying the bug planet in the 90’s cult classic “Starship Troopers”. Located only 30 miles from my husband’s family ranch Badlands National Park and the surrounding Buffalo Gap Grasslands have become a favorite place to visit on trips home to see the family and always a highlight for our visitors and guests. You probably have seen the photos of Badlands National Park but no matter how high the resolution no camera can fully capture the magic energy of […]

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Wide Open Spaces

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 13:00:28 +0000

Everyone needs their happy place, somewhere to unwind and recharge with minimal distractions. That place to my husband and I is his family ranch in South Dakota, Casey was lucky enough to grow up on a 4th generation working cattle ranch 45 miles from the closest stoplight. It’s rugged, beautiful and relaxing but also alive with livestock and wildlife at the same time. When he gets in the ranch truck and turns up the George Strait or climbs on his 4 wheeler and takes off across the open fields I swear he is a different person entirely. Being from a small town myself, I totally understand wanting to escape from the city every now and then. The traffic, the noise and the fast pace living can certainly get exhausting. So when our parents headed out on a joint vacation for a few weeks and the cattle needed taken care of we jumped at the chance to ranch-sit for 10 days. We may have been a little nuts to pack up our brand new electric car, our two insane mutts and drive 1600 miles across the country to get there but we are adventure seekers, so that is exactly what we […]

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Guns, Gambling and Jackalopes: 4 Days in South Dakota

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:50:00 +0000

I never pictured myself growing up to marry a cowboy from Western South Dakota but what young Sarah didn’t know was that South Dakota is wonderful and underrated place that is full of ruggedly handsome men (my husband made me add that last part in). This past Easter, Casey, my parents and I all packed our bags and headed west to visit my new In-Laws for the holiday. We did as much exploring as we could do in one day including visiting Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wall Drug, the Badlands and Deadwood. I had been to visit Casey’s home state many times before but this was my first time experiencing Wall Drug and the Badlands. They may call them the Badlands but they are breathtaking and the pictures barely do them justice. We had a wonderful time catching up with Casey’s entire family over the holiday, we really treasure the time we get to spend with them since they live so far away. My husbands family traditions are slightly different then mine but they are starting to grow on me, I think I could get used to driving 4 wheelers around, skeet shooting and taking in the wide open space […]

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