Kids can be cowboys and cowgirls for a day at 1880 Town, which pays homage to South Dakota's Wild West heritage. Explore buildings that date between 1880 and the 1920s, furnished with authentic historical relics. You’ll also find items from the set of Kevin Costner’s award-winning “Dances with Wolves” (filmed in the Black Hills) and a tribute to Casey Tibbs, a nine-time world champion rodeo cowboy. For another fun experience, grab a meal in the '50s train car diner.

The only American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) accredited company in the area, Sylvan Rocks is the Black Hills' leading climbing school. Their 4-, 6- and 8-hour New Climber Adventures are great options for families. During these sessions, you’ll learn the basics of climbing and rappelling before heading out on a route tailored to your ability. Climbs take place on the world-class granite formations at Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. What a rush!

Did you know one of America’s last and largest gold rushes happened in Deadwood? The Broken Boot Gold Mine was established in 1878, producing 15,000 ounces of gold and tons of pyrite (aka fool’s gold) during its 26 years of operation. Today, Broken Boot shares the history of the South Dakota gold rush through interactive tours, gold panning and other unique experiences, like the popular Candlelight Ghost Tour (ages 12 and up).

Housing one of the world’s finest collections of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, the Museum at Black Hills Institute is a must-visit for kids and teens who love all things dinosaurs. The museum collection includes a massive assortment of ammonites and cephalopods, Peruvian marine mammals and the largest compilation of T.rex, among many other exhibits. It also has several interactive areas, such as kid-friendly “dig sites,” and educational events throughout the year.

One of the oldest and most unique attractions in the Black Hills, Evans Plunge is an indoor/outdoor water park fed by a naturally warm thermal spring. The park houses twisting slides, kiddie pools, hot tubs, a sauna, water volleyball and basketball areas, swing rings and more. Food and drink concessions are also available, making this a great spot for all-day family fun.

Beer, bowling and a brand-new arcade … talk about fun for the whole family! Sprockets Fun Foundry features 50+ arcade games, duckpin bowling and a cozy taproom, plus the largest selection of fully immersive virtual reality games in the country. One of the most popular VR experiences, Hologate Blitz, allows you to play a part in the iconic “Ghostbusters” movie. Other VR games include laser tag, paragliding and HyperDeck, a multi-sensory experience with heat, wind and moving platforms.

In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which allowed people to settle throughout South Dakota and the American West. Because wood was scarce, many of those settlers built their homes using sod. Dating to 1909, Prairie Homestead is one of the last remaining original sod homes in the state. This historic site is open for tours, giving families the chance to trace the footsteps of pioneers and learn what life was like on the South Dakota frontier.

If your family is searching for an experience they won’t find anywhere else, book a tour of South Dakota's most interesting attraction, where science, mystery and laughter collide. At the Cosmos, the laws of nature seem to have flipped upside down. Here, tall people are short, short people are tall, walls can be climbed and you might be pulled sideways by physical forces you can’t even see. Please note that Cosmos closes for the winter season, from late October to mid-April.

You’ve likely heard the song “Old MacDonald,” but did you know his farm is in Rapid City? At Old MacDonald’s Farm, your family will meet (and pet!) more than 100 friendly animals including sheep, chickens, alpacas and llamas. Children are also welcome to bottle-feed animals, ride ponies and tour the farm on kid-size tractors. In the autumn, the farm hosts Fall Festival Days, complete with a pumpkin patch, bounce house, pig races and more.

The largest indoor water park in the Dakotas, WaTiki offers more than 30,000 square feet of splish-splashin’ fun. From an activity pool with basketball hoops and lily pads to exhilarating slides, a lazy river and a relaxing hot tub, visitors of all ages will find something here to enjoy. More than just a water park, the resort also houses five hotels and several restaurants, making it an all-in-one destination or great jumping-off point for more Black Hills adventures.