About this item
South Dakota resident Laural A. Bidwell offers her firsthand experience and advice on Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills–including the Southern Hills, the Badlands, and Keystone. Bidwell provides unique travel strategies such as Best Hiking Trails, Viewing Wildlife, and Fossil Collecting in the Parks, Grasslands, & National Forest. With expert tips on the best dining, shopping, accommodations, and camping, Moon Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
About the Author
Hi Everyone!I grew up in New England but left the rolling hills of the east to live in the wide open spaces of the American west. Living first in Colorado Springs, Colorado, moving on to Denver and then migrating north, I found my western home in the rolling Black Hills of western South Dakota.The discovery of South Dakota was more accident than plan. On one of many rambling road-trips, I pulled into Crawford, Nebraska late in the afternoon. Glancing at the map, it occurred to me that South Dakota was not far, and since I'd never been there, it was an easy decision to make. I aimed my Saturn toward Aardmore, South Dakota to get gas and to find a place to spend the night.Ardmore, South Dakota, had (and still has) a population of 4. There was no gas station. The post office was an empty brick shell, the roof on the floor, the windows long gone. There was no place to stay. The dot on the map was larger than the town. Low on gas, I had to make a choice: return to Nebraska or forge on north to the next town on the map. I hate backtracking so Hot Springs, South Dakota was the only choice. Fingers crossed! The road went from asphalt... to gravel. There was not another car in sight and I was running on fumes. Was I nervous? uh huh. I did make it to Hot Springs though (phew) and the first business I came to was a gas station. I never imagined I'd ever be so happy to see a Texaco sign.I eventually moved and lived and worked (as owner of the Wild Burro Bookstore) in Hot Springs. When the going got too tough for a small town bookstore I moved on. I currently live in Rapid City, South Dakota with my spouse and our two Golden Retrievers named Willow and Maverick. It's been 20 years (yikes!) since that fated trip and I still love the Black HillsIn 2009, I was lucky enough to be chosen to write the first edition of the Moon travel guide to the Black Hills. And now I'm thrilled that the fourth edition of Moon Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills has just been published. (May 2019) I am also proud of the reviews received by all three previous editions. I hope, should you get yourself a copy of the book, that you enjoy reading it and find it useful in your travels. You can find me on facebook and at lbidwell.com or just leave a message on the Moon Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills page. Come to South Dakota, bring a copy of the book with you and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear from you.
