Bear USA

Reindeer

Arctic Wolves

Rocky Mt. Goat

Big Horn Sheep

Black Bear taking a bath

This bear was right outside my car window but the kids wouldn't let me open it to get a better shot. Go figure!

I found out it does actually pay off to read the AAA tourbook to the boys every night as we find out about things we never would have known were there (it also puts them to sleep like nobody's business). We found out about the largest privately owned collection of wildlife called Bear USA. You get to drive around in the car while the animals roam free. While it is not the same as seeing the animals in the wild, it was still very cool. A bear was literally right outside my car door and another one went right beside Adam's door. The pictures are a little fuzzy as I had to shoot through my window (I tried to roll it down but the backseat passengers got a little upset). We also decided to stay an extra night in town at Rapid City, South Dakota as there was another water park at the hotel. Rapid City ended up being a jewel of a town. In honor of nearby Mt. Rushmore, they have bronze stautes of all 44 US Presidents sitting or standing on their street corners. We had a great time trying to figure out who they were and the boys got a great lesson in US history. The boys also played chess in a very chic coffee shop and there was even an organic health food store. I can see why tourism is the number two industry in South Dakota (I have no idea what number one is).