Where to Retire? The Black Hills of South Dakota
Smack-dab in the middle of America, in the midst of a million-acre natural playground, the Black Hills of South Dakota are attracting retirees who are opting for soft adventure vs. a sedentary retirement.
Home to the highest concentration of parks, monuments and memorials in the USA with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation amid creek-carved canyons, mountain meadows and alpine lakes, Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills are becoming a destination for those who seek the trail less traveled.
Among the nation's most iconic symbols, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is carved from a granite cliff in the highest reaches of the fabled Black Hills.
The mountain range, which hugs the state's westernmost border with Wyoming, also is home to Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Badlands National Park and, in Wyoming, Devils Tower National Monument.
In addition, the 110-square-mile Custer State Park boasts the largest buffalo herd outside Yellowstone National Park and some of the most picturesque drives in America.
The ancient range known to the legendary Lakota as "Paha Sapa" — literally, "Hills Black" — covers an area roughly the size of Delaware.
Annually more than 3 million visitors are drawn to the region's public and private attractions, as well as 19 golf courses, 14 lakes, several major reservoirs and 400 miles of nature walks and hiking trails.
When the snow flies in the northern Black Hills, off-season lodging rates, 340 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, two downhill skiing areas and Deadwood's vibrant nightlife make this one of the premier winter destinations in the Midwest.
Bisecting the ponderosa pine forests, aspen groves and meadows carpeted with wildflowers are thousands of miles of backcountry trails, ideal for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and wildlife viewing.
The 109-mile, nationally recognized George S. Mickelson Trail spans much of the Black Hills, north to south, allowing access to the wildlands of the last region of the United States to be mapped.
This excerpt was taken from "America's 100 Best Places to Retire," a new book of city profiles compiled by the staff at Where to Retire magazine. The book can be ordered by visiting WhereToRetire.com , by calling (800) 680-2858 or through Amazon.com. The magazine has been the retirement relocation authority since its creation in 1992.