I have been counting down the days until my vacation out west!
I picked up the rental car (Alamo Car Rental) from Dayton International airport in the evening so I could leave Ohio early in the morning. Through the website carrentals.com, I found a midsize car, unlimited mileage for only $141.40 for 9 days. When I arrived at the rental counter, I was provided a Volkswagen Jetta for my trip, roomy and extremely comfortable.
With plans to depart at 5AM, I will be settling in early for the night. The first stop on my agenda will be Sioux Falls, South Dakota and I am hoping to reach this point before sundown. I am prepared for the long day because the excitement and adrenaline overcome any thought of the dread of a long drive. Besides, I will be exploring some of the most beautiful parks in the United States.
In preparation for my trip I used the following resources
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, A Lonely Planet Guide
- Fodor’s Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
- Yellowstone in Photographs, by George Wuerther
- Moon Handbooks Yellowstone & Grand Teton
My itinerary for the first couple of days consists of the following places to visit, but I am prepared to make any necessary changes should I decide to add or subtract items on my list.
- Sioux Falls
- Corn Palace
- Badlands National Park
- Wall Drug
- Mount Rushmore
- Custer – Wildlife Loop Road
- Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway
- Wind Cave
- Jewel Cave
- Deadwood
- Spearfish, WY
- Bighorn Scenic Byway
- Devil’s Tower
I have the next few days packed with activities and attractions, but I am totally ready and can’t wait to see what an amazing adventure lies ahead.
If you have any suggestions for places to visit while I take on this expedition, please let me know. I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.