We just got back from a week in the Badlands and Black Hills with Isaac's parents and youngest brother. It was the best family vacation we have ever been on. I had never been out to that part of the country before, and it was amazing. The views could just knock you over.
Elizabeth (as expected) loved the long car ride, and Amelie did way better than I expected. We spent the first night tenting in the Badlands. We set up camp in an enormous wind, ate dinner, explored a little as a lightning storm moved in, then headed into the visitor center for an astronomy presentation. When we got back out, it was storming wildly and our tents were underwater. I don't think a single tent in the Badlands stayed dry. We slept in the van that night and hung everything out to dry the next day.
I couldn't believe they just let you climb around and explore in the Badlands! It seems like they should restrict you to paths and mark everything as dangerous, but you're pretty much free to do what you want. Isaac and Elizabeth got their climbing desires from Beth, so they were pretty much in heaven, climbing around with Beth and Nathaniel. Dan and Amelie hike at about the same pace, so they made great hiking buddies, and I was free to worship and take pictures as much as I wanted!
I'm not scared of heights, but I get pretty protective of the girls when they climb with dangerous fall potentials. I found I do much better when I don't watch them and just trust the other adults to keep them safe. Elizabeth has pretty good ability and just the right amount of fear, and Amelie has less ability and no fear!
After the Badlands, we drove on to the Black Hills. Gorgeous! We liked hiking and climbing even better there because it felt safer - surer footholds and often rocks to catch you from falling hundreds of feet!
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