Uncover the secrets of the Black Hills

Make sure you’ve worked up an appetite before grabbing a seat on the pet-friendly patio at Grizzly Creek Restaurant & Bar. This classic American eatery serves up tons of tasty grub. If you’ve never had buffalo before, this is the place to try it! They serve buffalo in their chili, as a burger, and as a ribeye cut of steak. Finish your meal with a molten-chocolate-filled fried Bear Claw, or an order of S’mores by You, which lets you roast your own marshmallows and build your own version of the campfire classic.

The decor of the Ruby House Restaurant is turn-of-the-century classic, which adds a fun twist to the usual steakhouse experience. The restaurant serves up chicken, steak, seafood, and pasta, but if you’re feeling adventurous, go for the fall-off-the-bone tender buffalo ribs and homemade huckleberry ice cream. Next door, the Red Garter Saloon offers beverages in addition to more 1900s vibes. They also have a room that features the work of a local Native American artist, which is definitely worth checking out while you wait for a table.

Find out what wonders lay below the Black Hills on a tour of Rushmore Cave. The hour-long walk will take you through magnificent cave formations, and give you a unique look at the history of South Dakota and the fascinating geology that forms the Black Hills. Bonus: The cave is located in the Rush Mountain Adventure Park, which features zip-lines, gemstone mining, mountain coasters, and tons more!

Conveniently located right in the middle of all of the coolest attractions in Black Hills, the Rapid City KOA offers tons of amenities that make your stay super fun. All-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts, seasonal watermelon feeds, and s’mores parties are can’t-miss events. Their guided tours make discovering everything the region has to offer extremely easy, and your furry friends can even get in on the fun at their Kamp K9 Dog Park.

Feeling hot? Hit this KOA Resort’s pool area, complete with splash pads, saunas, and a waterslide. Or, if you’re looking for entertainment, you can sign up for a chuck-wagon dinner. You’ll ride to see an open-air show including authentic cowboy music, and experience cooking from a real chuck box. (Cowboy tip: “chuck” is slang for food, and a chuck box is like a mobile kitchen.) If you want something more hands-on, take a guided horseback ride or gold-panning lessons. And not to be forgotten, Fido will love running around Mount Barkmore–a pets only playground! Finally, don’t miss out on the nightly shuttle to the Mount Rushmore lighting ceremony and evening movie screenings before you cozy up in your tent, RV, or cabin!

If you thought Mount Rushmore was impressive, then wait until you see the Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial. The project was dreamed up by one of the men who helped carve Mount Rushmore, and depicts Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. It’s not complete and likely won’t be for a while. When it’s finally finished, it will be the largest statue in the world! Crazy Horse’s head will be roughly 1.5 times the size of the heads on Mount Rushmore. The completed carving will eventually be one feature of a cultural and educational center with a University of South Dakota satellite campus, but in the meantime, you can stop by the visitor center and ogle the progress on the massive sculpture.

The Hot Springs KOA is a cute and quiet place to set up camp. Check out a book from their onsite lending library, and bring it back to your pine-shaded site, or mosey on over to the pool for some relaxing swimming and sunning. If you’re in the mood to move, try your swing on the mini-golf course, play HORSE on the basketball courts, or just run around the playground. Plus, a fenced-in dog run means that your pooch can join the fun, too!

The Black Hills are home to the densest cave system in the entire world, Wind Cave National Park. It contains 140 miles of explored passageways (with more being discovered each year). Stop by the visitor center and pick up tickets for ranger-guided journeys into the caverns. All of the tours are awesome, but the best might be the candlelight tour. If you’re a bit claustrophobic, stay above ground with your dog. You two can roam around the largest remaining mixed-grass prairie in the United States.

Pull up to a picnic table on the patio of Wrangler Cafe so your pooch can join you for a solid breakfast or lunch. This local diner has perfected no-frills staples such as chicken-fried steak, buffalo burgers, chef’s salads, and biscuits and gravy. They’re all good options at a reasonable price.