Road Trip Excursions

 

Mike picked the perfect hotel for us to stay in Rapid City right on the road to all the things we wanted to see. The place had free breakfast so we decided to eat a bigger breakfast pack a lite lunch each day and eat on the go. We didn't have to search for a lunch spot and we could eat at one of the many roadside picnic areas.

We planned on our first visit to be Mount Rushmore. We both really wanted to see it and were very anxious to get there. 

There was no traffic and no crowds, we got in and out very easy.

Oh Man - this thing was amazing. 

The weather was nippy, but so clear. The sky was soooo blue I couldn't stop looking up at it.

The best part (besides not costing anything, but parking) was the movie and museum  that they had about the design, planning and making of this magnificent presidents sculpture.

Smaller scale models used

There weren't too many people there and we got right in saw what we wanted and headed on over to our next stop.

BEAR COUNTRY

This place was a drive thru zoo where the animals ran free - fenced in of course.

Never been to a place like this. Lords Park Zoo doesn't count.

elk

Reindeer

Bears

Baby Bears

They did have a small area to walk and see smaller animals. Racoons, Fox, Skunk, Coyotes, all we can see in our backyard. Not too exciting, but we took advantage of it to get some steps in and our legs working again. We spent a lot of time in the car the last few days.

So far a great first day in Rapid City.

Day 2 was planned for first a drive thru Custer State Park. Mike decided to take the first leg, because he wanted to drive the curves, the bridges, and the tunnels. No complaints from me.

Small Single Lane

Peek a Boo Presidents

Mike got to drive the Wildlife Loop - and did we see wildlife! The buffalo had control of this road. Turns out Buffalo walk at 2 MPH.

I Show Where to Go

Going My Way?

That was fun...

The Needles Highway thru the mountains was closed. There was still snow up in the mountains so they recommend we take the tiny inner roads. 

We stopped for our picnic lunch at a beautiful roadside area. Got out and stretched our legs too.

I took over the driving and things got boring. We really thought we had seen everything there, then we take the dirt narrow inter road (we had the choice of turning around and going back the way we came, but Mike talked me into taking the road we hadn't seen yet). OMG buffalo everywhere.

Far Away

And Close Up

Last Stop was to see the Crazy Horse Sculpture being built.

The Crazy Horse Foundation did not want the help of the government so it cost to get into the memorial area. 

Again the movie had really good info about the work being done and the drone footage was worth the time to watch it. The couple who started the thing had 10 kids who are my age now and still working to get it built along with the Grandkids. It's gonna take many more years.

Crazy Horse

The weather has been getting warmer and the sky is still a startling bright blue.

Great Vacation so Far.