2 Best Sights in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Called the "City of Presidents" because of the life-size bronze statues of U.S. presidents that adorn virtually every downtown street corner, Rapid City is the largest urban center in a 350-mile radius. The city is the area's cultural, educational, medical, and economic hub, and a good base from which to explore the treasures of the state's southwestern corner, including Mount Rushmore (25 miles south) and Wind Cave National Park (50 miles south).

The park's sole visitor center is the primary place to get park information and embark on cave tours. Located on top of the cave, it has three exhibit rooms, with displays on cave exploration, Native American culture, and prairie management. The center also hosts ranger programs and has an auditorium that presents the film, Wind Cave, Two Worlds. Other than vending machines, there's no coffee or snacks here or elsewhere in the park.