Well here we are, finally taking our first road trip with the Mini. My husband said pack your bags we are leaving on Wed. the 20th, headed thru NY,Ohio onto MN and then into SD . If anyone has any suggestions on places to stay or attractions not to miss, let us know. My husband is hooked on the series Deadwood, so that's where we are headed. We are planning on seeing the Mall of America in Bloomington,MN. and Mt. Rushmore. I am now in panic mode, he tells me I have half of the trunk for my clothes, which its all got to fit in seeing as how it's a convertible This will be a real test for me.

 

Hm, if you're music fans there's the rock 'n roll hall of fame in Cleveland. Chicago is cool to visit if you've never been. Finger Lakes(NY) vineyards if you're into wine.

 

It depends on how much time you have of course. Personally, instead of taking I-94 into the Twin Cities if you are going to the MOA, I would detour in Wisconsin onto I-90, and then at LaCrosse WI or Winona MN choose one side or the other of the Mississippi River and drive up the river to Minneapolis. It's pretty.

Around Deadwood I also enjoyed the mammoth excavation in Hot Springs SD and strangely enough the rock/mineral/fossil museum at South Dakota School of Mines, maybe because it was free. I felt I was being fleeced at a lot of places out there. An example would be Mt Rushmore: it's free, but it costs $8 to park. Most everyone drives through Custer State Park to see the wildlife. I prefer to keep the wildlife farther away from my MCS, because they will come right up to your car. Wind River Cave National Park was pretty good, but I thought Crazy Horse was kind of a dud because they keep you really far away from it. Lots of fun roads out there for a MINI though.

 

We have been to Deadwood many times. Its not much of anything ... don't be surprised if he's disappointed. I think you can gamble a max of $5 ... its not for gambling, just a tourist trap.

Most everyone does the Mt. Rushmore thing and its very nice.

If your going across I90 from Boston (I90 the whole way (Mass Pike)) I would haul butt until I got to about Kadoka, SD then get a room for the night. Check out the Badlands NP first. Its worth checking out. And, of course, Wall Drug.

Then from Deadwood, it much more awe inspiring, to continue down to I90 and catch Devil Towers NM, giant prairie dog town and a nice short walk around the tower. From there head north into Montana ... If he likes Deadwood, he'll probably like Custer NM for the sense of History. From there you can swing back through ND and pass Theordore Roosevelt NP and head home.

It might look like a bit of a distance on the map but driving out there is NOTHING like Boston. Once you hit the prairie in Eastern SD, you will be hauling pretty fast. Miles will fly by

Best of luck!

BTW, dont get hooked into the tourist stores selling stuff in Deadwood, its just a giant tourist trap. If hubby is looking for history, Tombstone, AZ has the real bullet holes still in the walls!

 

This is so my domain!!!!!! Im a South Dakotan you should PM me, so I can show you skyline drive in Rapid City(30 miles from deadwood) that would be cool to meet some MINI owners. Stop by Reptile Gardens(larges assortment of pertiles in the western hemisphere) I work there. Mabey go to bear country, and sitting bull caverns. All sweet places.

 

Definitely agree on the RR Hall of Fame in Cleveland (my favorite part: a video of Dee Dee Ramone discussing their new equipment: "These amps, they, um, they work!").

I'd be interested in knowing if the folks in Deadwood now still have the potty mouths of 100" years ago!

 

Your going to be going around Chicago anyway so why not stop for a day. Sears tower, Navy Pier, lots of stuff to do on the lakefront. Wisconsin and Minnnesota have some beautiful countryside. I could show you roads in S. Wisconsin that would make you believe your were in the Blue Ridge Mtns.

As TooTall mentioned, the Great River Road that runs along the Mississippi in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota is a beautiful drive. The Badlands and Black Hills are a nice change of scenery. Good luck and check out some of the sites along the way, it keeps the trip exciting!

 

Yeah, been to Bear Country ... drive around the bears. Pretty cool

 

No, but they do have the most amazing crab buffet, for like $13. Oh, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

 

There's actually a ton to do on the western side of South Dakota...badlands, mt. rushmore, deadwood, etc. Real pretty over there!

 

Hey everyone, this site rocks, you have all come up with a list of places for us to see and things to avoid, how long does it take to drive across SD?
I'mn going to take my lap top and email as we go along sort of journaling as we go. Well back to trying to make my pile of clothes a smaller pile, thanks again for all your help.

 

From experiance I can say definately do this get off at the first exit over the Mississsippi after Lacrosse and head on up, wonderful drive. (have cash not all gas stations would take plastic)

I'd also strongly reccomend mapping out your trip and going through all of the regional clubs listed on NAM, and see if you can get some meets shecduled on the way west or the return east. Most of the time it could be simple get togethers or meet and eats, where the locals can show you a neat resturant and/or attractions so you don't miss the culture and MINI fun along the way.

Bring a camera take lots of photos and keep a journal. Check around the Travel Stories forum for the experiances of those who had trips that covered some the legs on your schedule.

I'd also reccomend on the return leg going north through Det., pass through Canada (might need a passport nowadays, my DL was good enough a few years ago) there is lighter traffic and you get to see Niagra Falls from both sides on the return leg; then seeing as we'll be a little more into fall I'd suggest going across NY the head North out of Albany, pass through Vermont and NH and enjoy the foliage on the way back to Boston.

 

Crazy Horse is WAY cooler than Mt. Rushmore! The Badlands are great -- and it's worth a stop at Wall Drug, just for the heck of it.

A little before Chamberlain, SD, the prairie gets a bit hilly and then all of a sudden -- there's the Missouri River. It's awsome at sunset!

 

If you're looking for some fun motoring in the Black Hills, make sure you go on hwy. 87 (the needles highway) and hwy. 16A (Iron Mountain road). They're both just souh of the Mt. Rushmore area and have some of the best twisties you'll find. If you're lucky enough to get some open road in front of you, (without motorhomes, minivans, or Harleys) you'll have a blast.

My wife and I took the MINI up there around the 4th of July...the main reason (for me) was to spend some time on those roads! Have fun!

 

I will put in another vote for making sure to connect with the Great River Road north of LaCrosse all the way up the Mississippi. Either side of the river is great, but I recommend the Wisconsin side. Great towns that time forgot. Be sure to stop for an ice cream in Alma, WI. Tons of great "large" thing to get photos with the MINI such as the giant fish near Trempealeau, and the 6-pack of beer in LaCrosse. Visit www.mississippiriverinfo.com for more information and be sure to get a cpmplete map mailed to you as well with the background on these historic towns.

 

Well I guess we have our work cut out for us, with all this great info from everyone we should see a lot of good and fun places to visit. A quick note to FlannelHippie, if we get into the area we will try and touch base with you, maybe we will even show up at thr Reptile Place.

 

Saweeet

 

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Well is almost time, the mini is going for oil change tomorrow, Thanks for all the suggestion is gonna be FUN FUN , I haven't decided [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]where is my first stop yet, but we should be arriving in Minnesota by Friday.[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

Everything is packed and we are ready to take off, hope the weather is fine and that we arrive safely at our destination. Looking forward to seeing other minis on the road.

 

good luck, have fun, and motor safely!

 

Hi everyone, well here we are in Bloomington MN, our first stop was in Omstead Ohio, the land is amazingly flat you can see for miles, nice change from NE, it has been a fun trip so far,we've been through a hail storm in ILL., traffic was slowing down pretty well. My husband who was having the time of his life driving at 80-85 on the expressways, and believe me most of the people were up to 90 or better, they just keep pushing and he would like to join right in, boy what a rush My husband and I had a bet the first one to see a mini would get a foot massage that night, well guess I have to pay up, I lost the bet. We also saw 3 minis in front of us, one waved the other didn't, whats up with that? we are off to THE MALL OF AMERICA, my kind of place, I want to shop and he's going on all the roller coasters.

 

Mall of America was fun, we were very impressed. So now we are of to South Dakota

 

Hi everyone, well we made it to SD. The mini was awsome, smooth riding and cheap on gas . We visited, Walll Drug, I'm not sure what we think of it, but it's one of those things your glad you did. We also went to The Corn Palace, Reptile Garden, Bear Country, Mt. Rushmore, Mt Rushmore caves, Crazy Horse Memorial, rode the Iron Horse Highway, did alot in Deadwood, the history of it is fascinating, Devils Tower in Wyoming, can't believe its time to leave. . Thanks to all for the info.

 

Smart move stopping near Cleveland first! It assures you that the rest of the trip will be an improvement.

 

Hey, now- no Cleveland bashing please.