We were up early for our included breakfast. Although the buffet looked nice, there were too many guests coughing. Taking our son Jeff's advice, we drove into town and had breakfast at Mornin' Sunshine Coffee House. We had really good eggs sandwiches and cappuccinos. We had to wait awhile until it opened, but it was worth it.

Our agenda today was different than the Bensons and Matutes. Ann and I decided to explore the Wind Cave National Park. This was an underground park. Our tour was led by a park ranger. According to the National Park Service the Wind Cave is "one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere". Our guide let us feel the wind at an old cave entrance that is not being used. She then led us down into the main entrance where we could see all of the formations. It was a different cave experience that we saw in other caves. There were no stalagmites or stalactites and there was little color. Near the end of the tour, she turned off the lights so that we could experience total darkness. It was disorienting.

Cave Entrance for Tours

Original Cave Entrance

By the time we got back to town, we were ready for lunch. We decided to try a funky local family restaurant. Dale's Family Restaurant. It was really old but had OK inexpensive food. I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with tater tots while Ann had soup and salad. The bill came to $10.75. We were entertained by a large group of churchies at the table next to us.

We arranged to meet the Bensons and Matutes at the Mammoth Site. I had no idea what to expect. I thought that we would see a museum with a few bones and tusks. I didn't know that this was a real working archaeological site where workers were sifting through the dirt uncovering countless mammoth skeletons. The excavation began in 1975 and it is still going. There is a huge building covering the excavation area as well as labs and the requisite gift shop.

Back at the hotel, we had Happy Hour in our room. Then we went to Buffalo Dreamer and had the best meal of our trip. This was a new restaurant. It was very small with only four or five tables. There was only one waitress who was very efficient anf friendly. The owner/chef came out of the kitchen to chat with us after the meal. She said that she tries to purchase local, wild and organic as much as possible. What she produces is magic.