traveling to Estes Park Colorado

[LCY]

My son and I are traveling from Winnipeg to Estes Park Colorado in June. I am looking for fun things to see and do along the way. We are going down through Spearfish South Dakota and then Through Laramie Wyoming. Any Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am a single women traveling. We are staying in hotels along the way also. Thanks

[Mark Sedenquist]

Be sure to stop and see the Crazy Horse Memorial -- it is inspiring. Rushmore is not nearly as interesting -- but driving thru Badlands National Park is always fun.

Our first-hand knowledge of North Dakota is quite poor -- I know that there is spot that represents the geographic center of the North American continent somewhere in the state... There is drive we have wanted to take -- maybe it would be of interest to you too -- http://www.byways.org/travel/byway.html?CX_BYWAY=16406

One of our readers suggested a visit to the Platte River Archway monument -- although we haven't been there in person quite yet... (http://www.archway.org/archway.php)

Douglas, Wyoming is pretty interesting as the birthplace of the famous Jackalope.

Are you going to visit the University? If so, great school -- many of my cousins attended there.

If you head out toward the badlands east of Rapid City, SD, stop in at Wall Drug in Wall SD for some fun shopping. Go acroos the street and have a buffalo burger.
Also in the black hills area is Deadwood with its famous boot hill cemetary and tons of little casinos. A nice, touristy town. Wind cave and crystal cave have tours. There's an 1880's train ride in the mount rushmore area (Keystone). And I highly recommend the mamouth dig at Mammoth Hot Springs near the southern end of the black hills area.
Estes Park: The drive between Loveland and Estes is breathtakingly beautiful. Don't miss it. Also the drive from Estes west to Grand Lake on trail ridge road. South of Estes for some hiking areas, a park I think its at or near Meeker park.