South Dakota Trip - Day 11

Got up at 0800 this morning but we didn't leave the Holiday Inn Express until after 1000 (kids got baths...). After breakfast, we drove over to the Mitchell Corn Palace, one of the main attractions in this part of South Dakota.  When I was young, my family visited the landmark (in the late 1970s and mid 1980s) so I wanted to share that memory with my kids. We watched an interesting movie about the history of the place, ate some yummy corn products and watched people creating the new designs for the 2010 season. Next, we drove north on SD-37 and east on SD-34. Scenery was back to cows and large fields (miss the Black Hills already...). Finally turned north on SD-25 and stopped near De Smet at the Ingalls' Homestead (southeast of town). Didn't remember this place from previous visit (turns out it is about 13 years old) but it ended up being a great experience. The entire property was dedicated to making the Laura Ingalls Wilder (AKA "Little House") books come alive. There were examples of the homes the family lived in, interaction with livestock, a chance for the kids to do chores from the period, a covered wagon ride (kids got to take turns driving the team!) and - most interesting - a chance to experience school in a one room schoolhouse (teacher and front-of-the-class recitation included). Kids didn't want to leave - and forgot they hadn't eaten since a late breakfast... We stopped by to see a memorial to the Ingalls family on the corner of their original claim before getting lunch at Subway in town. Used a map we picked up to navigate around town to see significant buildings of people from the stories and wrapped up the visit with a stop at the De Smet cemetery (saw stones for most of the family, including Ma and Pa). On the road again... Took US-14 to Brookings and then I-29 south to our hotel in Sioux Falls (Homewood Suites, located near I-229). Arrived early enough for the kids to swim until 2100. Had problems with my laptop (broken "spine"?) - went to bed.