Journey to the Old Way of Life in South Dakota

If you want luxury or little extras to make you feel special, then this hotel is probably not for you. If you want a clean and friendly hotel close to the highway then give Best Western Town and Country a try.

We had four people in our room but needed three beds. I searched high and low for a hotel with three beds and in our price range which was under $50 per person per night. This is how my mom wanted it and I tried to give her just that. Not an easy task I must say. When I found this hotel it seemed just what we wanted. There were three beds in two separate rooms and two bathrooms and all for around $40 per person per night.

Town and Country is located on the out skirts of Rapid City in a mostly residential area. It was a quiet area with parks within walking distance and bull deer that walk close at dusk. There are plenty of restaurants within three miles and the Colonial House Restaurant in the parking lot of the hotel. The food is decent with a large selection to choose from.

Our room was very large. The layout worked for our needs. My uncle took the back bedroom and bathroom while I stayed in the larger room in one of the double beds with my parents. The décor was very simple with a scenery picture on one of the walls. There was a TV and small table with two chairs in the main bedroom. My only complaint was the lights would sometimes just go off and not come back on for hours. The best aspect was the large whirlpool tub in the back bathroom. Great for my tired legs and feet.

The hotel offered an outdoor pool and hot tub. This idea must be great in the summer months, but in the fall it was a little crisp walking to the hot tub in your skivvies and back to your room all wet. The area is well kept but showing age. There are no other facilities to speak of.

Breakfast is served daily from 6-10am. It includes coffee, juice, milk, muffins, pastries, hard boiled eggs, and make-yourself waffles. Not bad for a free breakfast. They also provide a mid-afternoon snack of cookies and soup which I thought was a nice touch.

While this hotel is older and not quite as nice and comfortable as some, it feed our needs and proved to be a good choice for our week long stay.

Located in our hotel’s parking lot, the Colonial House Restaurant received our business more than once during this trip. The premises were always clean and the staff was friendly. Each time we sat down we were treated like family and made to feel quite welcome.

One evening I ordered the taco salad and was shocked to see the mounds of lettuce, meat, beans, cheese and chips on the plate. This plate was 12 inches and full of a mouthwatering and towering salad. As if it needed more, it was topped with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. I couldn’t eat even half of this monstrosity but I have to say it was one of the best taco salads I have had. My dinner came to around $11 for the salad and a soda.

They also have the best sweet potato fries around. They were crisp but soft inside and served with a sweet ranch style dip. These beautiful fries were served with the sweetest BBQ ribs. The meal was a delight and could satisfy any southern girls craving for under $15. During that same meal, my dad had a Ruben sandwich which probably had ½ pound of meat and doused with a creamy dressing. He liked it a lot and ate most of the large serving.

For those staying in the adjacent hotel or close by, I would say the Colonial House Restaurant is a good deal. I’m not sure I would drive across town for dinner if there were others to choose from.

Wanting to get the feel of the old west, we headed for the Chuckwagon Supper at the Circle B Ranch. Whenever I plan a really awesome outdoor experience something happens. I’m not sure whether I need to check with God or the weather man but we always get rained out. This night was no different. We arrived to the ranch ready to play horseshoes, pan for gold or ride the many horses but what we got was a damp, cold, raining night. Luckily the ranch has a gift shop and soda fountain for us to gather. This gathering was the start of a great family night.

Imagine a cold and damp night sitting in a rocking chair in front of a warm wood stove listening to soft country & western music. After about 3 minutes of this and all my disappointments flew away and was replaced by peaceful happiness. There I was with my wonderful family in a beautiful place. What could be better?

When dinner was served, we were ushered to a large barn like building filled with picnic tables and a stage area. Dinner proved to be the best meal of the entire trip. We were served roast buffalo, BBQ chicken, roast beef, baked potato, cowboy beans, applesauce and spice cake. I had never had buffalo and was pleasantly surprised. It was flavorful and tender. I plan to make my own whenever I get the nerve. Everyone sat and ate while that same soft music filled the building. Families talked and laughed, making their own memories.

After dinner, the family of four sang, told jokes and kept us happy for a time. Their music was reminiscent of the old west where cowboys sat at the campfire after a long, tiring day of herding cattle. Those cowboys sang songs of the trail and of home, sometimes sorrowful and sometimes joyous, but always together. This family of singers kept up with those times and was good at it.

No matter the weather, this outing was worth the time. I do think however if you have children to keep busy, a sunny day will provide a better time. The dinner and show ranges from $20-25 per person. We all felt was well worth the money and remained one of our favorites of the vacation.

www.circle-b-ranch.com

While in Keystone, SD we stopped at this shop where the glass work is hand made. I wanted to see this man in action and perhaps purchase a vase or bowl. When we arrived we were greeted by another artist, but not the glass blower. Just my luck he was on vacation. His artwork was magnificent with its bold and bright colors and oddly shaped as it were. Honing in on a red and yellow bowl I got excited about the thought of a purchase and making this piece mine. The price tag drowned any excitement when $350 was found to be way out of my league. Maybe after that next raise.

The lady artist there was a friend from the Kansas City area and used glass to create figurines such as a horse or a carousel. She demonstrated her art and was quite good at it.
Her items were nothing like the owners, but beautiful in their own way.

I would love to go back sometime in the future to meet the artist and hopefully purchase a beautiful bowl for our table.