CUSTER STATE PARK, CUSTER, SD

Housing a buffalo herd, Gutzon Borglum's piece of art at Mt. Rushmore, wineries, and many tourist attractions, the Black Hills of western South Dakota are a wonderful place to vacation. We spent the late morning and afternoon today visiting the park, observing the wildlife, marveling at the rock formations, viewing art, and tasting the wine.

This buck antelope acted as if he were saying to me, "This is my turf!"

This bull bison walked alongside us for a short ways as we traveled on the Needles highway.

The bison herd was to be rounded up in the upcoming Monday stampede. Animals would be sold for breeding stock and/or for meat. Each year, animals are culled from the growing herd so that the herd never grows too large for the area and for the food available.

How fun to watch the young donkey nudge its mother so that it could nurse.

Up close and very personal.

The needles are beautiful granite formations (same rock as used for the presidents at Mt. Rushmore).

The needles.

I was captivated by this particular area. I could have stayed and taken pictures for hours.

Vistas of beauty were everywhere. One of the sad things about he Black Hills is that a sawfly beetle has begun attacking the pine trees. Hundred of trees are already brown (and dead).

The third winery we visited was the Prairie Berry winery. One of it's signature wines is the rhubarb wine. We tasted it and decided that it tasted too much like biting off a piece of fresh rhubarb.