Many of the buildings in Rapid City, South Dakota, which is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills, has buildings which date back to the late 1800s, when the promise of gold gave rise to the town. On the main drag, there are cute boutiques to wander in and out of as well as barbershops and cafes.
The 67,000 or so residents rely on tourism for the most part although there are nearby gambling towns like Deadwood which attract both visitors and business clientele.
Of course, most people travel through South Dakota to see the iconic well renowned American landmark: Mount Rushmore which stands 60-foot tall and is carved into the granite face of the mountain.
The most famous American presidents are set in stone in all their glory: Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Hotel Alex Johnson is a fairly central place to stay on 523 Sixth Street. A funky place to stop in is Storyteller Comics & Games on 520 Sixth Street.
Places to eat include: Delmonico Grill and Firehouse Brewing Company, both on Main Street and Paddy O’Neill’s on Sixth Street. 
Southwest and only a half an hour so drive, lies the snow-covered Black Hills National Forest. Be sure to bring your camera.
Take in Deadwood as well which will bring you through some gorgeous hills, forests and lakes.
Once in Deadwood, check out the Saloon No. 10, a movie-set representation of a Western saloon, complete with a long bar that separates the watering hole into two gambling and drinking areas.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
