Deadwood was recently voted as the "Cutest City" in all of South Dakota and I will say after…read moretraveling at all, I believe this is true. It is very much what you think, old western storefronts. The entire vibe is pretty much old west, complete with a cowboy shootout in the streets. In the square outside the Franklin Hotel, they often have music, which was a welcome addition on a cool night. Also in the Franklin Hotel is an AMAZING steakhouse called Legends Steakhouse. Get a reservation because you'll need one, and treat yourself to a fantastic steak. I was in deadwood for two days and found that to be just about the right amount of time to experience this historic, interesting, welcoming South Dakota city.

I was here 18 years ago I was excited to come back. It wasn't as good as I remembered, now it's a…read morelot more commercialized with big chain hotels and slot machine machines everywhere Main Street in Deadwood is filled with casinos, resort hotels, full-service spas, big name concerts, a hospital, old photo shops, restaurants, gift shops and some of the best parties. We walked in the footsteps of legends that made history here since 1876. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills, they found gold & Deadwood was born. Overnight, the tiny gold camp boomed & attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers & gold seekers. Wild Bill Hickok was one of those men who came looking for fortune. But just a few short weeks after arriving, he was gunned down while holding a poker hand of aces and eights - forever after known as the Dead Man's Hand. Calamity Jane also made a name for herself in these parts and is buried next to Hickok in Mount Moriah Cemetery. Other legends, like Potato Creek Johnny, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, created their legends and legacies in this tiny Black Hills town. Deadwood Alive is a theater troupe that reenacts the major historic events such as the Trial of Jack McCall and Wild Bill's assassination that inspired legends. Unfortunately, there aren't any shootouts or activities on Main Street on Sundays. I was told I could watch it on a cam live from deadwood.com

It was a super cool experience! The tour guides were very friendly and informative. This cave is…read moreprivately owned, and not going to be the same as wind cave or jewel cave, and that's where I think people review this place wrong. This is a way smaller cave compared to caves in the area, the tour was about 45 minutes to an hour. It was a LOT of fun to though. The history was cool and just learning about some of the geological factors of the cave was really neat. A pro to the cave as well is that this place doesn't do reservations like wind cave or jewel cave where dates are book out pretty far. Wonderland cave does tours by the hour, so just show up before the hour and you can get in! We came in with a group of 20, and they got us all in there and were super accommodating. This place is really fun, don't let the negative reviews push you away!

Caveman Glenn was hilarious and almost guessed my age. Really great thing for the whole family.read more

I'm a sucker for a historical marker and this is a good one. There's enough space to park and step…read moreoutside. There's a good view of the trees and mountains. And there's a good story on the marker: "'Deadwood's Sky Pilot,' Henry Weston Smith, was born in Ellington, Connecticut, January 10, 1828. At 23 he became a Methodist exhorter. This led to ordination in the Methodist Episcopal church and he served various communities in New England. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army. Caring for the wounded may have turned his mind to healing, for he studied the practice of medicine and was licensed in 1867. In 1876 he joined the great rush to these Black Hills - - not to mine gold but to claim lives for God. Reading and writing poetry eased his loneliness. During the week he performed manual labor to send savings to his family in Kentucky and to sustain himself as he preached on Deadwood's main street. On Sunday, August 20, 1876, after service in Deadwood, he tacked a note on his cabin door saying he had gone to Crook City to preach. On the way he was shot. In his pocket were the notes, now blood-stained, for the undelivered sermon. His Bible lay unopened. The Society of Black Hills Pioneers erected this monument in 1914 where he was killed.

The history is amazing around the hills. Stop at all the points of interest to learn something newread more

In the Black Hills a western city that isn't commercial. Drove 3 miles, 8 minutes out of Deadwood…read moreto check it out. It's a small mining town of 3,000 with a historic downtown . A bar, library, Opera House, bridal shop, antiques, small library, and a restaurant all near the town hall and mining museum. Most of the buildings are over 100 years old. Drove past an old shuttered mine, I've never seen that before.

I needed to plant some trees/shrubs/bushes in an effort to cut down on all the dust that comes up…read morefrom the dirt road next to my house. My wonderful neighbor Julie put me in touch with Ms. Zindie Meyers at the Lawrence County Extension Office. I was so fortunate to have Zindie help me, she went above and beyond in assisting me, and she even advised me of their upcoming surplus sale. Zindie thank you so much for your professionalism, kindness and expertise. The Lawrence County Extension Office is lucky to have you and so are we!