This trip has taken me a long time to write about, not because it wasn’t meaningful but because it was very meaningful. My time in Rapid City felt pivotal. I spent a lot of time there being challenged in my faith and reconnecting with close friends I hadn’t seen in over ten years.
So here I am, a while later, finally sharing about my time in Rapid City. Many people were confused as to why I loved it so much, as it isn’t loud or flashy but that’s exactly what made it extra special to me. Life there felt slower and more intentional. People were kinder, more polite and deeply grounded in community.
I had so many highlights from my time there, so I’m just going to share a few, in no particular order.
First up… Nerdy Nuts. I’d heard about them from so many people who told me I had to try them or at the very least check them out on TikTok. As someone who loves Reese’s, art and baking, this place felt like the perfect combination of all three. Naturally, they didn’t disappoint.
While I was in Rapid City, I also celebrated my 24th birthday. It was peaceful and special for so many reasons. One being, the aunt I was staying with surprised me with donuts, which was such a sweet way to wake up, being far from home. My family back in Australia also surprised me by sending me very beautiful flowers as you can see pictured below.
Another special part of my time there was attending Rapid City’s annual Hills Alive concert, where multiple Christian artists come together to share their music outdoors. It was so cool seeing thousands of people gather to worship and have fun, all with their faith in common. I was especially excited to see We The Kingdom and Jon Reddick perform, especially since I’d seen Jon play just a month earlier in Los Angeles and really do love the lyrics to all his music.
Some of my favourite memories though, were the simplest ones. Daily walks with my bestie, watching the sun dip below the horizon became such a beautiful, everyday ritual we enjoyed together.
And last but not least, seeing Mount Rushmore in person was surreal. Learning about the amount of time and effort spent carving the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln into the rock is truly mind blowing. I don’t think many people today would have the patience to work on a project like that, especially considering the lack of technology and safety measures they had back then.
Rapid City surprised me in the gentlest way. It reminded me that rest can be productive, that community really does matters and that some places leave a mark on your heart long after you’ve left them. I’m so grateful for the memories made there and for the people who made it feel like home, even just for a little while… and I hope I get to return again someday.
Have you ever visited Rapid City or South Dakota? Or is it somewhere you’d like to see one day?
Many Blessings, Grace. Xx
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