Anyone near Rapid City, SD or know anything about it?

[elfie]

My best friend is moving to Rapid City for 2 years because of dh in Air Force. She is very AP and very active with her 13 year old boy w/hiking , mountain climbing, skiing, etc. They are also vegetarians if you have any restaurant suggestions or health food stores?

Any info or advice I can relay to her?

[karlin]

Hey, I live in Rapid City, SD...and I've been a veggie for 12 years and have a 7 month old son. Most places will have some veggie menu items or are willing to make up something for you. There is a veggie/vegan restaurant called Veggies. It's run by 7th Day adventists, so if you're not into that thing, just ignore the literature on the tables. It's very, very good food, and everything has labels on what the ingredients are in case you are wheat free, etc. There is a co-op with some neat food selection, and another great place called Staple and Spice where you can get organics and such.

With the black hills right here, there is plenty of wonderful wilderness to hike and 2 large ski areas. My husband works at the air force base here, but is civilian.

I would say most people are laid back here, and not many people even know what AP is. The first time I had my son in a sling in public, I got some weird looks, but some good comments too. :)

I hope your friend likes it here.

Karlin

[carmen veranda]

Ohhh!!! I am here too. I have not posted in a long time. Life has taken over, ya know. But how exciting to see something here!!! I check every so often.

There is a co-op called Breadroot. It is not all that well run, but nice people and good organic food. Much of it local, where possible. You have to go on truck day, which I think is Wednesday now, or most of the fresh stuff is gone.

There are two health food stores. Staple and Spice is bigger and in a cool old building. I am mad at them, due to rude employee's , who may or may not still work there, so I go to the Main Street Market. It is set up every confusingly and has no fresh produce as a rule, but nice people and comparable prices.

Rapid City is politically conservative. On any day the letters to editor are anti gay-marriage, anti-choice, and pro gun. But there are progressive thinkers here too, they just aren't as loud-mouthed about issues. To our discredit.

The outdoors is very accessable here. One can walk to the highest peaks. Camping is great. Hiking is awesome and the weather is fine.

It is a good place to live. It is not cheap, it is not as progressive, as some mountain towns in Colo., but a fine place to raise kids. I hope your friend enjoys her move here and meets some likeminded folks. She is welcome to pm me....

[lilyka]

I live east river but I just wanted to pop in and say Carmen I had no idea you were in SD. I love it out in the hills. Not so much in rapid which is sorta grey all the time but further out a ways in the mountians has got to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. And by further out I mean 30 minutes.

[carmen veranda]

lilyka
I know your friend hahamommy was out here, in fact we pm'ed a couple of times, and she lived very near me. I understand she has moved back east river now. We never did get around to hooking up. Darnit. I loved in Brookings for a decade and still have friends in the east. We get back every so oftern. My eldest is going to State for at least her first year, so we will be there even more often now. Wanna get together sometime if we are leasurely passing through SF?

Karlin, I would love to converse with you as well as the OP's friend.

[lilyka]

Sure I would love to get together!

[karlin]

Wow, I never expected to find other people from Rapid City here. Hiya Carmen!


I'm a sahm to my 7 month old son, Duncan. We live near Pinedale school (just bought this house..yay!) I've lived here most of my life...went to university, got a couple of degrees, then taught yoga..lol!


:)

[jengi33]

Karlin, just noticed your post. I'm in Pierre, and my best friend here is going to be moving to RC in a couple of weeks. :crying The house they are buying is also near Pinedale school! She is most definitely not AP at all, but is a wonderful mom and friend. She has 3 kids, almost 5, 2 and 3 months. I'm sure she would love to meet you, she's pretty sad about leaving here too, but excited also! Good to hear you're there!

[karlin]

Oh cool! The house next to ours just sold...wondering if it's your friend?? That would be pretty cool, huh?

I would love to meet other mommies here in RC!

[carmen veranda]

Well, then we should get together!!! And Jengii you can come from Pierre to see your friend. One of my sweet friends lives right behind Pinedale school and two more right around the corner on San Marco.

[karlin]

I live on Wentworth. lol...very close to your friends Carmen. Small world!

[jengi33]

I think it's Fairlawn where she's buying her house. We used to live out there before Pierre and kids. In an apartment on Pointe West Place. Right above Stevens HS. I'm sure we will be out there often. Our kids are same ages and we will sure miss them! Do you go to MOPS? Jeannie and I are both on the Steering team of our MOPS group here.

Jenny

[carmen veranda]

I don't know what MOPS is?

[karlin]

I think it's mothers of preschoolers. Duncan is too young to be considered a preschooler I think. :)

[jengi33]

Originally posted by carmen veranda
I don't know what MOPS is?


www.mops.org Rapid City has 2 different MOPS programs.

Jenny

[jengi33]

Originally posted by karlin
I think it's mothers of preschoolers. Duncan is too young to be considered a preschooler I think. :)


MOPS is for newborns through kindergarten. Great program!
Jenny

[karlin]

Sounds like a neat program. I don't think it's for our family though, as we don't adhere to any organized religion or faith.

[jengi33]

Yes, MOPS is definitely a Christian-based program, but no specific denomination. It is designed to meet the needs of Mothers! We have women from nearly all of the different Christian churches here in Pierre. However, we also have many women who don't go to a church.

It was a great way to get connected here in Pierre and make other friends who SAH with their kids!

We'll have to stay in touch when Jeannie is getting ready to move out there. First of May I think. I am also a RN, doula and breastfeeding educator. Jeannie is an Occupational Therapist, who stays at home now with her kids.

[karlin]

Cool, I wasn't sure if you had to go to church to belong. Maybe I'll check it out....oh, baby is awake...later I guess..lol! :D

[Momof6]

Small world!

I grew up in Rapid City. (from age 3 onward) My parents still live there. Beautiful place. I'm sure your friend will love it there. :)

I'm pagan, liberal, and dyed in the wool AP mother to six children. Rapid City has more of a "like mind" for me than here in Wyoming. No matter what your (your friends) beliefs, you/she will find friends in Rapid City who are likeminded.

I graduated high school there, attended college/graduated college in nearby Spearfish. Really a great place to live and raise a family. We ended up moving to my husbands homestate of Wyoming, however I enjoy our visits back to my hometown of Rapid City.

Hugs,
Michelle