USA Travel Magazine - Topics

What not-for-profit organization was established to support education and research efforts at Badlands National Park?  The  Badlands Natural History Association  (BNHA) was founded in 1959  to support education and research efforts at Badlands National Park . Since then, the park has become a favorite place to take a hike and witness how preserving nature does help support wildlife. Since the park was establishment as a National Monument they have reintroduced once exterminated species of bison, bighorn sheep, swift fox, and black-footed ferret. The region is now well known for the thriving grass prairie - ideal for photographing wildlife and birds in their native habitat. Support The Badlands Natural History Association Did you know when you shop at the bookstore in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center it supports the work of the Badlands Natural History Association . In the bookstore's collection are books about the park's natural and cultural history. Plus,  Ben Re...

Seeking something special to do this holiday season? Strawbale Winery is once again hosting a series of romantic Twilight Flights this December. This is a delightful way to share sometime with friends and family and sample fine wine and appetizers before taking a spectacular helicopter ride over Sioux Falls to see the holiday lights at Falls Park. The eco-friendly Strawbale Winery is a unique winery constructed of strawbales. The use of strawbales helps the Strawbale Winery reduce the energy use and provides a controlled environment within the cellars and caves for storing their wine. During your visit you're invited to sample the Strawbale Winery delightful wines, which are a blend of red and white cold-hardy grape varietals that include La Cresent, Prarie Star, Frontenac, Kay Gray, Frontenac Gris, and Valiant. The combination creates a wine that is unique among South Dakota wines. And, the Strawbale Winery is also known for the wonderful fruit and honey wines t...

  Just miles east of Mt. Rushmore to discover and explore the Beautiful Rushmore Cave or trek into South Dakota's Badlands. Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires. Over 11,000 years of human history can be found within the sod layers while 30-65 million-year-old fossils erode out of the rocks. Known locally to the Lakota Sioux as "mako sica" the area was first called "badlands" by early French trappers due to the difficulty of travel and the lack of water. Badlands National Park contains rich Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating from 23 to 35 million years ago. The rock layers hold the fossilized remains of early mammals such as three-toed horses, housecat sized deer, rhinoceros, saber-toothed cats, camels, and giant pigs. When visiting South Dakota's Badlands there are several sites to see, including: See paleontology in action at the "Pig Dig" as park staff and South Dakota School of Mine...