Going to Mount Rushmore - What else is around there?

[Teasel]

Vacation. Denver, Mt Rushmore.etc

Coming over to the States for a vacation in Sept. Denver, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, the dinasour place(forget the name) Moab Canyonlands etc. If we can, would like to take in the Custer place. Just a bit north of our westerly route. So its probably tight for time.Not sure how long we are staying in Sheridan. Its just north of there I think.
Ian

 

[HGWT]

Hey guys, don't forget the Corn Palace in Mitchell So Dak.

 

[ACP230]

I'm glad somebody mentioned Keystone. We stayed there one night and had a good dinner at a local restaurant featuring buffalo.

I had passed through the area as a 12 year-old (a long time ago) and took my kids out to show them the places I liked. Mt. Rushmore was a lot bigger than I remembered. There was comparatively little development there in the early 1960s. Of course, we went to Wall Drug and had some free ice water. It had grown a lot too but had
some of the same stuff. The kids had fun there and in Rapid City
at the park with concrete dinosaurs. I stayed at the bottom of the
hill and watched them gallop up. It was 100 degrees and I didn't
have the energy to make the climb. I did walk to a couple of
gun stores in town. Should have bought a Luger I saw in one.

We had gone out through ND and had a good time at Theodore Roosevelt's National Park and at Wibaux, MT where Roosevelt used to
ship cattle.

We plan to go back sometime. Year after next, perhaps.
Got an eastern trip in the thinking stages for next year.

 

[TheHobbyist]

In this order, Rushmore, Badlands, Keystone or Deadwood, and camping.

Yep.

I think you will find if you look around that the camp grounds around those parks are some of the best is the nation.

What to see? Well, nature my friend. Will it be entertaining for the kids and the adults? Oh yea.

Your in beautiful country. Make the most of it.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Used to be stationed at Ellsworth AFB when I was in the Air Force.

Didn't see anyone mention Reptile Gardens, which used to always be a good place to take the kids. About 5-6 miles south of Rapid City on the way to Mt Rushmore.

If you have time, driving through Custer State Park is good too....can see buffalo and all kinds of animals wandering around out there.

I don't recall when you said you're going but check the Ellsworth AFB site and see when they are doing their summer air show, if your kids would be interested in that.

A side note on Crazy Horse Monument. I believe their website will tell you when they are doing night blasts, which are fun to watch and give the kids something to brag about to their friends.

I really enjoyed my time out there. Definitely a slower pace of life but these days I think that's a good thing.

Michael

That reminds me, one of the top attractions in the area is watching the B1 fly, if you are fortunate to do so. In maybe 60 or 70 trips to the Hills, I have seen the B1 fly maybe three or four times. The most memorable was a few years back; I was towing some dirt bikes out for rally week, and approached Ellsworth about dusk. The sky to the south was quite dark from thunderstorms. Nearer, it was still dark blue, being occasionally lit by lightning on the horizon. This was already a dramatic sky-scape, but it got a lot better when the B1 took off over the freeway about a mile ahead, then made a hard left turn to fly right toward me, almost directly overhead. The pale blue jet exhausts added to the ambient lighting. It is too bad that "awesome" has been so cheapened by popular usage. I guess "awe-inspiring" will have to do.

I always keep kicking myself for never having visited Ellsworth; there is a lot to see there, including presumably a closer look at the B1 on the ground, but seeing it fly is still the big thrill for me.

 

[mtgianni]

Devils Tower for sure. Needles is great as is the Custer St Park and Hot Springs. There is a live dinosaur dig there also. I found Crazy Horse about as exiting as watching paint dry, money extracting at its purest form. I would also pass on the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Lots of other great historical sites depending on how you come. CHimney Rock to Ft Laramie along the Platte and a few other battle sites.

 

[feralmerril]

I like the pioneer auto museum in murdo S. Dakota. There is a nice cabellas at mitchell. Ft. Robinson to the south edge of the state from the black hills. It is the ft. that custer left for his doom. Sitting bull was killed there. Jack first gun parts is on the east outskirts of rapid city. He used to have many fine collector guns there. Dont know if he gave up that part of the business or not. He`s pretty old now and I think his daughter runs the place.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Never been-can't help you-sorry.

 

[7Iron]

Lots of good suggestions. The Needles Highway, Wind Cave, Custer Nat'l Park. If you have time, I suggest a hike from Sylvan Lake to Harney Peak (highest point east of the Rockies, if I recall). It's about 5 miles each way, and not too difficult. Great views. Last time I was there wehad mountain sheep wandering around.