Zero Hour: To Sioux Falls!

(This is part 2 of the Black Hills vacation series. If you'd like to start at the beginning, click here.)

And we’re off! The car is loaded up with 5 bikes piled on the back, the cargo carrier clinging to the top, and the kids are stocked with a mountain of activities and snacks. Being realistic, there is no way in hell our circus is driving 600 miles to the Black Hills in one day, so we’re stopping in Sioux Falls. And the hotel has fab reviews, an awesome bike path right next door, and a lavish complimentary breakfast. I admit I get downright ecstatic about a good breakfast I don’t have to cook and clean up myself.

If you’re going on a trip with young kids, I highly recommend printing out a map of your start to end journey. When you are 10 miles into the trip and your 5 year old asks, “How much further?”, rather than being shocked and dismayed at his naivety, you can just mark it on his map. In another 10 miles, when that dot of your car barely moves, he’ll actually get it, and he won’t ask again for about 75 miles.

I also fell in love with using Trip Advisor to find a good hotel, because many of the reviewers were family oriented and shared pertinent information. Priceline is fabulous for rankings and booking a hotel last minute. (We got a $150 suite for $99 using Priceline on the way home.) Just make sure you specify 2 ½ or 3 stars. If you go any lower than that, let’s just say it’s not worth the risk.

We loved the hotel we stayed in (ClubHouse Suites). Breakfast was fantastic, the room was great, easy access from the parking lot, and very clean and upscale. Great pool for the kids. But. How do I put this? In the middle of the night my husband thought he got a bug bite. He traveled for work for some time and he is well-read on the topic of bed bugs. Being well-read can sometimes be a handicap to getting a good night’s sleep. I’m not convinced that there were bedbugs in the hotel, because mosquitoes love my ankles, so would I notice a new bite? However, it’s worth your time to read up on the epidemic of bedbugs if you will be staying in a hotel. The nasty critters have been found even in 4 star hotels, and you DO NOT want to bring them home!

Back to the fun stuff…we followed the Sioux Falls Bike Trail a couple miles through the parks and stopped at an immense playground. The trail was nicely flat and suitable for our 5 year old, but he was exhausted when we were done. We ordered takeout from the Italian restaurant next door to the hotel, and it was delicious. 

We’re all tuckered out, and after a good night's sleep, we'll be ready for more travel tomorrow!

Click here to continue to part 3.