The Badlands
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 by Alyice
On our return home, from my son’s college orientation, we stopped by The Badlands. I had no idea what to expect as I had never heard of the place before so imagine my surprise when upon paying the $20 entrance fee, I was introduced to 244,000 acres of desolate land dating back 75 million years—when a shallow sea covered the Great Plains.
The Family © Alyice Edrich, 2009
It looked like a giant artist had created the world’s largest collection of sand castles—one right after another. It’s truly an amazing sight to see. But after about a half hour, my son and daughter became bored with the view, insisting that every mound looked like the next and refused to get out of the van, leaving the rest of the exploration to me and my husband—luckily we have a working air conditioner and DVD player! I had absolutely no guilt in prolonging our visit while we took in the beauty and magnitude of the place.
Bird’s Eye View © Alyice Edrich, 2009
The land has “sharp ridges, steep walled canyons, gullies, pyramids and knobs” that, according to my son, look like “home to giant killer ants just waiting to take over the world.”
While we spent a good three hours exploring the area, there was still much that we did not see since we stayed on the roads designated for vehicles and avoided the hiking and designated foot areas.
Refreshments, Yay! © Alyice Edrich, 2009
But one thing we could not miss was the gift shop and restaurant, located inside the Badlands. We weren’t sure what type of food we were going to find, but we knew it was an experience we could not pass up. The restaurant looked like it hadn’t been updated since the early 60s and was packed with hungry diners. I ordered the “Indian Taco” which was topped with buffalo meat, beans, and salad. I have to say it was the best decision! It was so delicious that I was tempted to order a second serving, just to savor the flavor.
A Closer Look © Alyice Edrich, 2009
If you’re ever in the area, I encourage you to spend a few hours exploring The Badlands as the $20 entrance fee, per carload, is well worth it! And if you happen to have time, stay the night at the Cedar Pass campground, I hear the view at night is breathtaking!
Until next time…
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