Right on the outskirts of town, you will find wildlife parks, music shows, amusement parks, a petrified forest, an aircraft museum, trail rides, and gold panning. Through out the Hills you will find more golf courses, ski slopes, snowmobile and cross-country skiing trails, and an abundance of attractions for every taste. Below are a few of the city attractions you won’t want to miss:

• Rushmore Plaza Civic Center: Broadway Plays, Symphony and fine arts presentations, Native American exhibits, flee markets, antique auctions, trade shows, and more. Link to them @ www.gotmine.com
    
• Storybook Island is an enchanting world where fairy tales and nursery rhymes come to life. It is sure to bring delight to the kids and the kid in you. There are farm yard animals to pet (almost always a real live Bambi from the Hills) and creative playgrounds and plays in the summer. During December the entire park is decorated with lights for a "Storybook Christmas!".  See their web site @ www.storybookisland.org/
  
  
• Cleghorn Springs State Fish Hatchery is a breeding site for thousands of trout for stocking Black Hills lakes and streams. There is a nice interpretive center, kids can feed the lively trout in the raceways, and Dad will drool when he sees the giant brood trout.".  See their web site @ www.sdgfp.info/wildlife/Fishing/Hatcheries/Cleghorn/CleghornIndex.htm

Stavkirke is an exact replica of the famous 840 year old Borgund Church in Norway. Wood carvings and dragon heads adorn the church set against a background of pines. Vesper bells ring at 8:00 pm in the summer.".  See their web site @ www.chapel-in-the-hills.org

• Canyon Lake Park has a wonderful lakeshore walking path. You will find a special place to feed the wild ducks, wonderful picnic sites, paddleboats to rent, and a footbridge to the island with a gazebo for a romantic walk.   Visit the Municipal Parks web site @ www.rcgov.org/parks_recreation/parks/municipal_parks.htm
   
• Formal Gardens with sundial for an inspiring walk. A cooperative effort of the Parks Department and the Garden Club. Located near Baken Park shopping center in Sioux Park.    See their web site @ www.visitrapidcity.com

Dinosaur Park overlooks the city from Skyline Drive with spectacular views both east and west. Seven life-like, life-size concrete dinosaur replicas that the kids will enjoy climbing on!   Read more at this web site @ www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/SDRAPdino.html

• Dahl Fine Arts Center offers rotating exhibits of local and regional paintings and sculptures for viewing and for sale. The centerpiece of the museum is a 200 foot long mural called "Cyclorama of American History." The Dahl also hosts informal concerts, photography exhibits, plays given by the Black Hills Community Theatre, high school exhibits, craft demonstrations, and more!   See their web site @ www.thedahl.org
   
• The Museum of Geology, located on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, houses some of the finest quality fossils of dinosaurs, giant fish, and pre historic mammals. Also, there are extensive rock collections including agates, cyads, minerals, and ores.   See their web site @ www.museum.sdsmt.edu
   
• The Journey Museum, located at 222 New York Street near downtown, takes you on a high-tech excursion through the geologic and cultural history of the Black Hills. Also there is an ever-changing array of traveling exhibits from other museums and collections. Truly a unique museum experience.    See their web site @ www.journeymuseum.org
   

See my link to Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau for a current list of special Black Hills Events @ http://www.rapidcitycvb.com