As our 10-year wedding anniversary approached, my spouse and I knew we wanted to celebrate this milestone in a memorable way. Inspired by our shared love for adventure, we decided to embark on an incredible road trip from Indiana to South Dakota.
We lined up the kids for babysitting with the grandparents while we took a week to reconnect and remember why we fell in love. It can be hard to balance work, kids, and life, so this was a welcome reminder to take time for ourselves as a couple. Further, with limited vacation time and an internet package on our vehicle, I was able to balance working in the car while my husband drove, putting those hours of drive time to good use!
Our itinerary included exploring the famous Wall Drug Store, marveling at the magnificent Mount Rushmore, driving through the enchanting Black Hills, and finding the perfect balance between fun and work while on the road. Join us as we recount the unforgettable experiences and lessons learned during this once-in-a-lifetime journey.
The Road Less Traveled
We stocked the vehicle with snacks and a small cooler of drinks, prepped the gas tank, and left around lunch on a Thursday. The open road beckoned as we set out from Indiana, ready to embrace the spirit of adventure!
I settled in with my laptop while my husband drove. It was surprisingly simple to keep up on work while enjoying the drive and conversation with my husband. The signal was great for the internet package, and I never had any blips, even during large video conferences. Most everyone got a kick out of my working on the move!
The scenic beauty of the Midwest was welcome, and we relished the simple joys of being together. As we crossed state lines, we couldn’t help but appreciate the freedom we were blessed with, and the stress fell away with no specific plans or deadlines, only us and the road and a sense for exploration.
We had a ton of fun taking in the scenery on the drive. The further west we went, the more the drive turned to rolling hills and open plains. It was a far cry from Indiana’s trees and corn fields-well, the corn fields were familiar, just at a MUCH larger scale. It was a beautiful drive through Iowa, and I would highly recommend Iowa 80 to any traveler! The World’s Largest Truckstop is a key selling point on its own!
Of course, there’s no escaping the cows. The size of the fields were only comparable to the size of the pasture for large herds of cows to lazily graze and enjoy. Just check out the cows in the image, all enjoying a cool dip on a hot day!
Wall Drug Store – A Wonderful Surprise for an Anniversary
Have you ever heard of Wall, South Dakota? Following our trusty Google Maps, we had no clue what was in store for us (pun intended!).
The signs advertising Wall were unexpected, numerous, and honestly, funny. They were an entertainment for us as we grew closer and closer to the small town. Honestly, we were unsure what to expect after the quirky introduction, but we couldn’t pass it up after all of the sign hype!
We made our first stop at the iconic Wall Drug Store, a fun break from our long drive. We strolled through the shops, bought some souvenirs for the kids, and shot some snaps of the wonderfully unique interior. The unexpected charm of Wall Drug Store reminded us to find joy in the simplest of places.
We made our rounds through the shops, and even bought a few souvenirs to take home. We would highly recommend a stop if you ever have the chance to experience the shops, ice cream, food, and more!
Embracing Nature – The Black Hills
Driving through the Black Hills, we found ourselves immersed in the natural beauty. The towering pines, winding roads, and stunning vistas were a feast for the eyes. A short while into our drive along the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, it began to mist lightly. At the low elevations we were at, we didn’t think much of it, but as we climbed the winding road and switchbacks, it turned into an eerie world of hanging fog.
Although we missed the highest views, we certainly couldn’t complain about the sense of eerie isolation as we crept along slowly, as if we were the only ones on the road. And, we were still lucky enough to observe much of the wildlife. We couldn’t believe how many deer were around, and most of them didn’t seem phased at all by the vehicles!
We loved the chance to take the byway and enjoy the scenic route. If you ever have the time to simply drive and enjoy the freedom to explore, byways are the way to go.
Gazing at Greatness – Mount Rushmore
No visit to South Dakota would be complete without experiencing the grandeur of Mount Rushmore. Arguable our ultimate goal for the trip, Mount Rushmore was a reminder of our history, and a reminder of our chance to live in a country dedicated to freedom and growth. As we stood before the sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, we were reminded of the strength, vision, and unity that define our nation.
We joined the flow of tourists along the Presidential Trail to take in the mountain from a closer view and different angles. The trail holds signboards for more history about the presidents and nation, and later on in the trail, there is even a preserved version of the drills that were used to sculpt the mountain. It was awe-inspiring to imagine the vision, planning, and effort that went into such an iconic piece of our nation’s history!
An Anniversary Made to Enjoy the Little Things
There were of course many other odd and end stops we enjoyed on the trip. A few stand out more than others!
Dahl’s Chainsaw Art
This is the Sasquatch crafted and carved by Dahl’s Chainsaw Art in Keystone, South Dakota. It is a small city a hop and a skip from Mount Rushmore, and close to our hotel for the day. The art was amazing, different carved sculpture on display to walk through, like a mini garden. The team was even working on sculptures live as we walked through!
Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Another Keystone joy was the Rush Mountain Adventure Park, a sort of mini amusement park built up the side of a steep hill. We rode the Rushmore Mountain Coaster which was exhilarating! You’re cranked up a large hill (or small mountain) to be released at the top to slingshot down and around from the sheer force of the gravity! The cart you were in was controlled only by a set of hand brakes to slow down if you needed the breather, but we were highly encouraged to keep the cart rolling – it was a roller coaster after all!
Also located here was Rushmore Cave. A beautiful cave that offered a roughly one hour tour of its depths.
Dining at Dakotah Steakhouse
We, of course, cannot forget the Dakotah Steakhouse. This beautiful bison sculpture caught our eye, and the menu soon followed! We hadn’t yet been on an official “romantic” dinner, so we decided to stop for the evening and splurge. What followed was one of the best steaks either of us ever had in a restaurant in a gorgeous rustic interior and wonderful waitstaff!
Balancing Fun and Work on our Anniversary
While this road trip was a celebration of our love, and a reminder of our joy in each other, we also had to juggle work responsibilities. Equipped with my laptop (and something for motion sickness just in case!), it was fun to balance productivity and enjoyment of the trip. Luckily, it was only a couple of days to wrap up my week before formal vacation started.
Most everyone on any meetings I joined were amused by my dedication to working on the go, and impressed by the chance to have such freedom. The ability to work efficiently remotely is a definite perk of my role, and my dedication to the work even outside the office is something I take pride in.
I loved the chance to make efficient use of our drive time to take care of final projects and tasks before formally starting the weekend.
Reflection and Gratitude
We truly enjoyed the time together without any planned itinerary or schedule, just us and the road. We talked, we laughed, we remembered why we fell in love over 10 years ago. This was a symbol of a decade of our work together as a couple, and a reminder to take time for ourselves, too. We felt a deep sense of gratitude for the memories we had created, the challenges we had overcome, and the love that had only grown stronger with time.
Our 10-year wedding anniversary road trip to South Dakota was a remarkable experience that blended adventure, romance, and the thrill of exploration. This was a journey well spent, and something we can only hope you’ll get the joy to see for yourselves! Here’s to many more decades of love, laughter, and new horizons to explore together.
