AKA a visit to Rapid City, with a couple of stops along the way! My stepfather's navy shipmates have a reunion every year, and this year's was in Rapid City. When I mentioned to my mom that I had always wanted to see Mt Rushmore, she said that Tyler and I should come up for the reunion with them. I was (understandably, I think) nervous about driving up there alone with a toddler, but my new best friend Elmo made the trip super smooth. The 6 1/2 hour drive honestly was a piece of cake!
We arrived in Rapid City just in time to get on a bus and go to a chuckwagon dinner with the group. Tyler was very excited about the bus ("Ride bus! Ride bus!"), and even more excited when we got there and there was a bunch of boardwalk he could run around on and get all his energy out. He wasn't so sure about the show after dinner, but I think that was because we were so close to the speakers. He had a good time clapping along when I took him to sit in the back!
Dinner with the grandparents...he refused to let me put his hood down!
The next day was rainy, so we decided to spend the morning at Bear Country, USA, which is a drive-through wildlife park. It could have been kind of lame, but it was actually really really cool. The cool weather meant that the animals were really active, and we got up close and personal with a couple of them. There's a good reason they tell you to keep your doors and windows shut at all times!
Yes, that's a bear passing RIGHT in front of my car. Seriously, if you look closely, I bet there's some fur in the grill!
There was also a little zoo-like area that had a bunch of bear cubs...I've never seen anything like 4-5 bear cubs all in the same tree!
Later that afternoon, we went to meet up with the group at Crazy Horse and then Mt Rushmore, where the veterans were to be honored at the monument's lighting ceremony that evening. I have to say, I was less than impressed with Crazy Horse. If they ever get it done, it could be really cool, but right now that looks like a BIG if. On the other hand, I LOVED Mt Rushmore. It was truly phenomenal, much more than I expected. One of the coolest things is the hiking trail that goes right along the base of the mountain. It gives a really cool perspective on the monument, while also being a legitimately beautiful trail through the woods all on its own.
Cool view of George from a "cave" along the trail
Posing in front of "the heads"
The following morning, we took a drive up to Dinosaur Park, which is a free park overlooking Rapid City. It's called Dinosaur Park because, as part of the Works Progress Administration in the 1930's, several models of dinosaurs were built in this park. It was really cool, and did I mention free?
After Dinosaur Park, we decided to go back to Mt Rushmore. Our visit the night before had been kind of rushed and I wanted to take the audio tour that goes along the hiking trail. Tyler had a fantastic time hiking, especially on the hundreds of stairs!
Checking out the flowers
That evening, we took a drive out to Badlands National Park. We had heard that the best time to go was either at sunrise or sunset, and it was no lie! The way the light hit the rock formations was truly spectacular. Tyler slept through most of it!
Our last day in Rapid City was spent with the reunion group. We took a bus ride ("Ride bus! Ride bus!') out to Black Hills National Cemetery, with a detour through Sturgis, for a memorial ceremony for the veterans who have passed away. The cemetery was absolutely beautiful.
We finished up our trip to Rapid City with a banquet that evening, then headed back to Denver the next morning. We made a stop in Hot Springs, South Dakota, to visit the mammoth site. This is the world's largest mammoth research site, as well as being an active dig. They leave the majority of the bones as they find them, which was kind of cool. Tyler LOVED the guided tour since it consisted of going to different spots and picking up a phone in order to hear the tour guide.
It was pretty darn cool, especially the two almost-fully complete skeletons.
That was our last planned stop, but we decided to make one more when we saw signs advertising the Oregon Trail ruts near Guernsey, Wyoming at a rest area. It was a short drive out of our way, but it was really interesting to see. The ruts were cut into the soft rock by the wagon wheels passing through on the Oregon trail. It was pretty amazing that the wheels cut through rock that deeply...shows you just how many wagons passed through.
From there, it was just a few short hours back to Denver, and the comfort of our own home. Well, for one night anyway! Look for vacation part III, our trip to Durango, to be posted soon!