Golf in Rapid City Pretty soon the snow will melt, the flowers and trees will be in bloom, and spring will be here at last in Rapid City. One of the most popular ways to get out and enjoy the weather is with golf! Golf has become popular all over the US and Rapid City is lucky to have a selection of great golf courses in the area. While the snow still falls, bring out those golf clubs and get them ready to go! Here is a wish list to get you started dreaming of 18-holes, golf shoes, and blue skies: Fountain Springs Golf Course Located 10 minutes outside of downtown Rapid City at 1750 Fountain Plaza Dr, Fountain Springs is a 3,000 yard course with water features, trees and varying landscape. A great course to begin the season! Set tee times by phone at 605.342.4653. Golf Club at Red Rock ... 02/11/2012

Spring Fun at Storybook Island in Rapid City It is too bad that Puxatony Phil decided there would be six more weeks of winter. Usually around this time people start dreaming and planning some spring fun. Even though spring is a few months away, there are fun places around Rapid City that should be first on your list. How about Storybook Island? Storybook Island is located right off of Sheridan Lake Road in Rapid City. Storybook Island is not an island at all. It is a whimsically fun and free children’s park. Started by the Rapid City Rotary Club in 1959, Storybook Island is filled with characters from children’s stories, nursery rhymes, and fables. In the spring of that year Storybook Island saw over 10,000 visitors and has remained a popular, fun, attraction ever since. The attractions... 02/08/2012

Broadway Comes to Rapid City Did you hear the news? Broadway has come to Rapid City bringing the classic comedy Young Frankenstein to Rushmore Plaza Civic Center this weekend. Originally a Hollywood movie by Mel Brooks, the Broadway musical combines the classic one-liners, gags, songs, and dances into a beautifully fun play. If you are looking for something wonderful to do this weekend, or if you have yet to make it to Broadway yourself, come see Young Frankenstein in Rapid City. A spoof on the horror movie genre, the movie version of Young Frankenstein was a cult sensation featuring Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, and Gene Wilder. The story is based on the Frankenstein legends and included many jokes based on Mary Shelley’s 1930’s films Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. In the Broadway ... 02/07/2012

Walk for Warmth in Rapid City Rapid City’s inaugural Walk for Warmth is coming up on Saturday, February 18th from 3 to 5pm. This yearly walk helps those in financial need heat their homes and stay warm during the coldest months out of the year. Contrary to the name, the Walk for Warmth also helps these families cool their homes during the summer heat too! Bring your family to downtown Rapid City to help raise money for these families in need. The Walk for Warmth will start in Downtown Rapid City at the Main St. Square. Walkers will head down 6th St., over to 7th on Quincy, up 7th to Saint Joseph St, over to Mount Rushmore Rd, up to Main St, and back to Main St. Square. Each person can enter the walk for $10; youth under 18 can walk with a paying adult and all the entry fees are tax dedu... 02/07/2012

During the month of January 2012 there were 20 new residential listings in and around the Black Hawk area. The total number of homes for sale was 81 compared to 78 last month.  6 homes have sold compared to 14 in December. 02/02/2012

  During the month of January 2012 there were 69 new residential listings in Rapid City. The total number of homes for sale was 286 as compared to 295 last month.  40 homes have sold compared to 44 in December.   02/02/2012

Delmonico Grill in Rapid City Rapid City had been looking for a restaurant like the Delmonico Grill for a long time! Luckily, owners Pete Franklin and Kelly Remily had been looking for a place like Rapid City! The Delmonico Grill is a labor of love that turns out the most mouthwatering, uniquely classic food you have ever tasted. The only thing that possibly tops this is the staff’s dedication to service and hospitality; which in a town like Rapid City, counts for everything. At the Delmonico Grill music legends inhabit the walls and beautiful music plays over the speakers. You will start your evening in downtown Rapid City perusing the extensive wine menu or perhaps debating between the Kona Crusted Ribeye with Carmelized Shallot Butter and the Linguini alla Carbonara. Don’t worry! Eve... 02/01/2012

Mickelson Trail near Rapid City As many Rapid City residents know, those Black Hills can be quite the trek. Finding an easy, yet entertaining, trail shouldn’t have to be a quest though! The answer to your search is the Mickelson Trail! Named after the 28th Governor of South Dakota, George S. Mickelson, this trail takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Black Hills. Great for walkers, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, everyone will find something they love in the Mickelson Trail! Branching both north and south of Rapid City, trailblazers can start in either Deadwood or Edgemont and travel over 100 miles of trail. The highlights of this trail near Rapid City include more than 100 bridges and 4 train tunnels in addition to the wildlife and scenic views! If the start t... 02/01/2012

Mammoth Site near Rapid City The Mammoth Site is located an hour south of Rapid City in Hot Springs, SD. The discovery of the Mammoth Site happened in 1974, when an excavation for a housing development unearthed the first of these amazing treasures. Today, scientists and paleontologists have unearthed over 55 mammoth, bear, camel, llama, prairie dog, wolf, fish and invertebrates.Thousands of years ago, men in Rapid City had more to worry about than dropping a call or missing the last play of the Super Bowl. Food was the driving need of prehistoric man and one of the stranger food sources was the Wooly Mammoth!  Now extinct, you can see the amazing fossils of these enchanting beasts right outside of Rapid City, at the Mammoth Site. See for yourself these titans of the tundra (and be than... 01/31/2012

1880 Train near Rapid City Before roads spanned across the country, people traveled by train. The train tracks brought adventurers, homesteaders, miners, and more to South Dakota; making Rapid City a boom town. Train travel is so relaxing and the views can not be beat. See a new view of the Black Hills surrounding Rapid City through the eyes of one of those adventurers by riding the 1880 Train! Located about 30 miles south of Rapid City, the 1880 Train celebrates the rich places, people, and history of steam powered train culture. Visitors can board the train from two locations: the main station at Hill City, or Keystone. Each ride will take you through the forests, meadows and canyons that make living in and near Rapid City so appealing. The train follows Battle Creek, which was a popu... 01/31/2012

Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City The Stock Show and Rodeo has come to Rapid City, bringing with it all the excitement, fun, and flare a person could want. From January 27th through February 5th, the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center will host a menagerie of people, animals, events, sales, food, and more. With so much to see, you can discover something new every day you go! Stock shows were originally started so ranchers, farmers, and food companies could get together to buy or sell livestock. This tradition is still very popular today and is the business side of the Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City. If you can not make it to the Rapid City area for the Stock Show, you can now view livestock and bid online! If you do not have a ranch or a farm then you are in luck because the Stock Show al... 01/28/2012

  Bear Country in Rapid City When hiking or biking through the Black Hills near Rapid City, most people would prefer not to see a bear close up. Although the Rapid City area is not a usual habitat for black bear, and certainly not grizzly bear, there are bears to be seen at Bear Country USA in Rapid City. This 250 acre enclosure is a great stop to see some of America’s most amazing wildlife close up. Bear Country USA was started in 1972 with 11 black bear, one cougar, one wolf, three buffalo, and a large bull elk. Now expanded to include grizzly bear, badger, beaver, sheep, bobcat, lynx, coyote, porcupine, raccoon, fox, reindeer, otter, goat and skunk, visitors to Bear Country in Rapid City can see all of the amazing views from the comfort of their own car. The three mile drive will tak... 01/27/2012

  Hockey in Rapid City Hockey season is in full swing! Rapid City’s hockey team, the Rapid City Rush, is the team to see in the area. As a newer team to the Central Hockey League, the Rush has been doing well in the last three years as they finished third in the Northwest Division in 2008, Northern Conference Champions in 2009, first at the Turner Conference and the President’s Cup Champions in 2010. With the amazing support of Rapid City hockey fans the 2011-2012 season has been exciting as well! Rush at-home games are played at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena in downtown Rapid City. Located off of North 8th St and Omaha St, the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena has ample parking, and is very easy to navigate. Get their early to find your seat, grab some food, a beverage,... 01/27/2012

Caves near Rapid City The Black Hills around Rapid City hold more than just beautiful views, great hikes, and amazing wildlife! Deep beneath the soil are a series of caves! Within those caves are amazing histories of the people who lived in and near Rapid City, wondrous creatures that live without light, and treasures too beautiful to be made by man! Visiting one of the caves near Rapid City is a great way to experience the outdoors (or underground?) while escaping the colder weather. Black Hills Caverns Located just four miles west of Rapid City, Black Hills Caverns are a series of caves discovered by prospectors in search of gold. What they found instead are a gorgeous collection of calcite crystals. You can take one of two tours in the caves: the adventure tour which goes for one hou... 01/24/2012

Hiking in Rapid City Don’t put your hiking and fitness plans on hold just because you can’t get out of Rapid City at moment. There are hiking spots in and around Rapid City that would be perfect for anything from a quick morning trip to a weekend adventure. Next time you need to get out of the office for an hour or two, or an out of town friend comes in for the day, check these trails out! Hansen-Larsen Memorial Park Trail Network Located near Downtown Rapid City, this 300 plus acres of hiking, biking, and running trail area is formally known as Cowboy Hill or M Hill. Whether you are hiking for the first time or a seasoned hiker, the hiking trails vary from gentle slopes to challenging climbs. The Hansen-Larsen Memorial Park has wonderful views of Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Harney Peak... 01/24/2012

Bicycles in Rapid City Before you know it the snow will melt away and warmer weather will move right in. Don’t let the commitment to your New Years fitness goals falter! Now is the perfect time for you to start getting your bicycles back in shape or to start the hunt for a new bicycle. To help you in this quest is Cranky Jeff’s Bicycle Shop located in downtown Rapid City. If you are an avid cyclist in the Rapid City area, then you may already know the folks at Cranky Jeff’s Bicycle Shop. If you are just starting to get into bicycles or have yet to make it downtown, here is a little secret: they are the best bicycle shop in Rapid City. New to the Rapid City area, Cranky Jeff’s Bicycle Shop meets all of your riding needs. They carry amazing brands such as Haro, Phil Wood, Brooks, and Moot... 01/17/2012

Gallery Art in Rapid City Walls at home or the office looking pretty bare? Time to head to Rapid City to find that perfect piece of art to liven up your world! Each Gallery in this list has something unique and beautiful to offer. Find something that fits you and support many local, Rapid City artists in the process. Art is alive and well and waiting for you! Here is a list to get you started: Apex Gallery 713 7th St, Rapid City 605.394.4101 The Apex Gallery is part of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Established in 1989, the Apex Gallery highlights art that is beautiful, scientific, and educational. The artists and scientists that create these works for the gallery come from right around corner in Rapid City, to all around the world. Gallery exhibits change often, makin... 01/16/2012

Local Beer in Rapid City Located in the original city firehouse, Rapid City’s Firehouse Brewing Company has become a regular destination for those seeking local beer, a great atmosphere, and wonderful food. Designed with the original, Rapid City fire hall in mind, visitors are surrounded by polished brass, antique fire fighting equipment, and local photographs and signs from years gone by. The bar features over nine local beers on tap, which are made in the brewery just beyond the glass enclosure. Children and adults alike love to watch the brewmasters work! The beers themselves are made from the highest, quality ingredients; making this local, restaurant a must see in Rapid City! To go with your hand crafted beers are local Midwestern dishes. The menu also goes out of the realm of loca... 01/16/2012

Water Park in Rapid City Now that the middle of winter is upon us, many will start daydreaming of warmer weather and fun! Rapid City is lucky to be able to make your dream a reality with WaTiki Indoor Water Park Resort. Throw on your bathing suit, bundle up, and make your way over for a wild, water park weekend. Just outside of Rapid City proper, off of I-90, WaTiki Water Park is the perfect place to get rid of those winter blues. WaTiki Water Park features 30,000 square feet of slides, shoots, sprays, and splashes. These water park classics include: six enormous slides, an area for smaller children called Koko’s Kingdom, a lazy river, and 300 gallon dump bucket.  There is also an arcade, concession stand, picnic area, hot tub/spa, changing rooms and more. WaTiki Water Park in Rapid Cit... 01/15/2012

Museums in Rapid City The history of Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills is quite amazing. The Sioux people originally called the Black Hills “the center of the Universe”. This describes the majesty of the area around Rapid City quite well. To learn more about how the Black Hills came to be and the history of all the people that made Rapid City the center of their Universe, look no further than the Journey Museum! Located near the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, the Journey Museum is actually a combination of five different museum institutions:  the Museum of Geology, the South Dakota Historical Society’s Archeology Research Center, the US Department of Interior, Indian Arts and Craft Boards Sioux Indian Museum, Minnilusa Historical Association, and the City of Rapid City Duhamel Pl... 01/15/2012