Visiting Bear Butte

Image via WikipediaMato Paha (Bear Butte) is perhaps the most well known sacred site in South Dakota. It is a prayer site for over 30 American Indian tribes, many of whom perform yearly ceremonies here.

By walking just a few feet along the trail to Mato Paha, you'll begin seeing colorful swatches of fabric tied here, there and everywhere on tree branches, bushes and even stumps. These are tobacco ties, and they represent the prayers of the faithful pilgrims to this beautiful mountain.

Mato Paha is designated as a National Historic Landmark (#73001746)

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Our Favorite Things to See and Do at Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota has many interesting and exotic residents. It was hard to narrow the list down to our favorite things to see and do at this unique park, but here are my family's choices.

Cheyenne the bald eagle is a rescue bird. She was found with a mangled and broken wing. The bird specialists at Reptile Gardens rehabilitated her, but it was determined that she was too disabled to return to the world.

Cheyenne now makes her home at Reptile Gardens with her own enclosure. During the summer months, she's the star of the Bird Show.

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