Guidebook for Rapid City

Martine
Martine

Guidebook for Rapid City

Essentials
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Safeway
2120 Mount Rushmore Road
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Dry-cleaning on site, always done right (a miracle -- in Minneapolis we struggled to find a single dry cleaner who could get our dry cleaning right!)
Southside Drycleaners
338 Saint Patrick Street
Dry-cleaning on site, always done right (a miracle -- in Minneapolis we struggled to find a single dry cleaner who could get our dry cleaning right!)
Great care -- comfortable waiting room, efficient walk-ins and appointments, nurses and doctors who take you seriously and express genuine compassion, and it's a department of Regional Hospital, so if your condition sends you to the hospital, you don't have to fill out paperwork all over again. (PS, for rattlesnake bites, proceed directly to the hospital, not urgent care.)
Regional Health Urgent Care
2116 Jackson Blvd
Great care -- comfortable waiting room, efficient walk-ins and appointments, nurses and doctors who take you seriously and express genuine compassion, and it's a department of Regional Hospital, so if your condition sends you to the hospital, you don't have to fill out paperwork all over again. (PS, for rattlesnake bites, proceed directly to the hospital, not urgent care.)
Day memberships available for tourists
YMCA of Rapid City
815 Kansas City St
Day memberships available for tourists
Lovely salon and spa! The spa side has a soothing lounge.
Mystique Edge Day Spa & Salon
318 Mt Rushmore Rd
Lovely salon and spa! The spa side has a soothing lounge.
Entertainment & Activities
Not always the box-office hits, but it's a classic "small town theater" experience, and we love their popcorn
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Elks Theatre
512 6th St
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Not always the box-office hits, but it's a classic "small town theater" experience, and we love their popcorn
Parks & Nature
Hiking and biking -- access these trails literally out our back door. Just walk up the hilly slope toward the "don't cut the trail" sign! A lot of rain will make the trails too muddy to enjoy, but otherwise it's an awesome trail system.
Skyline Wilderness Area Park
515 West Blvd
Hiking and biking -- access these trails literally out our back door. Just walk up the hilly slope toward the "don't cut the trail" sign! A lot of rain will make the trails too muddy to enjoy, but otherwise it's an awesome trail system.
One of our favorite trails. The trailhead is easy to spot (just past Old Macdonald's Farm) and there's plenty of parking. This is an easy in-and-out trail, with a spectacular view at the top. It's about 2 miles -- we've hiked it as quickly as 35 minutes round trip or (at a kids' pace) just over an hour.
Stratobowl Rim Trailhead
One of our favorite trails. The trailhead is easy to spot (just past Old Macdonald's Farm) and there's plenty of parking. This is an easy in-and-out trail, with a spectacular view at the top. It's about 2 miles -- we've hiked it as quickly as 35 minutes round trip or (at a kids' pace) just over an hour.
Food Scene
This is our local spin on Perkin's/IHOP (we also have Perkins and IHOP, but Colonial House is the best!) Great for small groups (if you need a table for 2, ask for the Worst Table In The House for a discounted breakfast), large groups (even big groups get seated pretty quickly!), adults (lots of healthy, hearty, and unique items on the menu), and kids (the kids menu is just right.) They also have surprisingly good coffee!
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Colonial House Restaurant and Bar
2315 Mount Rushmore Road
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This is our local spin on Perkin's/IHOP (we also have Perkins and IHOP, but Colonial House is the best!) Great for small groups (if you need a table for 2, ask for the Worst Table In The House for a discounted breakfast), large groups (even big groups get seated pretty quickly!), adults (lots of healthy, hearty, and unique items on the menu), and kids (the kids menu is just right.) They also have surprisingly good coffee!
My friends from Philly confirm Philly Ted's cheesesteaks are authentic and delicious (most likely the homemade bread is what seals the deal!) Lots of combos, all delicious! The new Main St location has more seating, but service is faster at the original Lacrosse St location.
Philly Ted's
502 Main St
My friends from Philly confirm Philly Ted's cheesesteaks are authentic and delicious (most likely the homemade bread is what seals the deal!) Lots of combos, all delicious! The new Main St location has more seating, but service is faster at the original Lacrosse St location.
Having lived in San Francisco, we love good pho and pad thai, and Pacific Rim doesn't disappoint. The "kids plate" is a nice surprise too -- it's a divided plate filled with various separate ingredients, all healthy and kid-friendly.
Pacific Rim Cafe
1375 N Lacrosse St
Having lived in San Francisco, we love good pho and pad thai, and Pacific Rim doesn't disappoint. The "kids plate" is a nice surprise too -- it's a divided plate filled with various separate ingredients, all healthy and kid-friendly.
Our favorite spot for a really good steak. Great for small groups (2 to 8 adults) who want to linger over a great meal.
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Delmonico Grill
609 West Main Street
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Our favorite spot for a really good steak. Great for small groups (2 to 8 adults) who want to linger over a great meal.
This locally owned bagel shop has comfy seating and local Dark Canyon coffee. (I personally prefer the bagels/coffee at Einstein/Caribou across the street, but Black Hills Bagels has more ambiance and local flavor.)
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Black Hills Bagels
913 Mount Rushmore Road
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This locally owned bagel shop has comfy seating and local Dark Canyon coffee. (I personally prefer the bagels/coffee at Einstein/Caribou across the street, but Black Hills Bagels has more ambiance and local flavor.)
Cafeteria-style Indian food -- go to this West Main St location, not the St Joseph location.
Curry Masala
2050 W Main St
Cafeteria-style Indian food -- go to this West Main St location, not the St Joseph location.
We've never actually been to Great Wall, but like their delivery menu.
Great Wall Restaurant
315 E North St
We've never actually been to Great Wall, but like their delivery menu.
Locally roasted coffee, great vibe for hanging out with friends or lingering alone over a cup of coffee
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Pure Bean Coffeehouse
201 Main St
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Locally roasted coffee, great vibe for hanging out with friends or lingering alone over a cup of coffee
Best flat-white in town (probably because the owners are Australian). Casual vibe.
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Essence Of Coffee
908 Main St
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Best flat-white in town (probably because the owners are Australian). Casual vibe.
This is our closest Starbucks. Zero local flavor obviously, but sometimes you just want your familiar stand-by.
Starbucks
1819 Mount Rushmore Road
This is our closest Starbucks. Zero local flavor obviously, but sometimes you just want your familiar stand-by.
This is the hippest café in town, with trendy breakfast treats.
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Harriet & Oak
329 Main St
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This is the hippest café in town, with trendy breakfast treats.
Arts & Culture
Free admission, local artists, frequent events. They also have an "Art Start" studio, which is a GREAT play area for young children. We love to play here when we need a break from the weather and crowded tourist attractions.
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Dahl Arts Center
713 7th Street
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Free admission, local artists, frequent events. They also have an "Art Start" studio, which is a GREAT play area for young children. We love to play here when we need a break from the weather and crowded tourist attractions.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pub vibe -- great for a wide selection of beer and Wednesday night trivia (check their Facebook page for event details, and arrive early to snag a booth), but the food menu variety and quality are sub-par
Wobbly Bobby
510 Main St
Pub vibe -- great for a wide selection of beer and Wednesday night trivia (check their Facebook page for event details, and arrive early to snag a booth), but the food menu variety and quality are sub-par
Not our favorite Mexican food in town, but definitely the best margaritas!
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Que Pasa Cantina
502 Main Street
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Not our favorite Mexican food in town, but definitely the best margaritas!
Good food menu, and GREAT drinks menu that will satisfy both beer and cocktail cravings.
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Murphy's Pub and Grill
510 9th Street
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Good food menu, and GREAT drinks menu that will satisfy both beer and cocktail cravings.
Getting Around
Bus stop in front of Safeway grocery store serves both the Lincoln and Roosevelt routes (landmarks along these bus routes: City View Trolley, downtown Rapid City, Parkview Pool, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rushmore 7 Movie Theater, Restaurants, Journey Museum, Roosevelt Indoor Swimming / Ice Skating, Dahl Art Center)
2118 Mt Rushmore Rd
2118 Mt Rushmore Rd
Bus stop in front of Safeway grocery store serves both the Lincoln and Roosevelt routes (landmarks along these bus routes: City View Trolley, downtown Rapid City, Parkview Pool, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rushmore 7 Movie Theater, Restaurants, Journey Museum, Roosevelt Indoor Swimming / Ice Skating, Dahl Art Center)