Going to Mt. Rushmore-- WE'RE BACK! Day 5 is up!! page 10 Final Day!

[mnbrowns]

**Bump**

 

[mnbrowns]

I'm bringing this thread back since we are booked for a vacation and wondering what to do at Mt Rushmore for so many hours before the fireworks. Can we lay down a blanket to save a spot while we go hiking?

 

[mdrob214]

There should be plenty of entertainment while you wait. Have you checked the travelsd.com website? They may have all the information. I'm unsure about the saving of places--there are many benches in the ampitheater and you may be able to leave a blanket for a short while.

Check here: http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/rushmore/celebration.asp

And here http://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisit/july3_4_events.htm it says that fireworks are on July 3, not July 4th. FYI

From the nps website above:

Fireworks will be on July 3, not on July 4

Be prepared for crowds, heat, rain, and increased security.

No reservations are needed to attend the event. Parking and seating are available on a first come, first served basis.

Parking and Traffic
The Presidential Parking Garage concessionaire parking opens at 7:00 am on July 3. No overnight camping is allowed in the park and vehicles will not be able to line up at the parking gate until 6:00 am. If you want to park in the garage, we suggest arriving by 10:00 am. Once the garage is full, you may have to park 1-3 miles from the memorial and walk to the event. Please be prepared to wait an hour or more after the event as law enforcement clears all cars on the roadways and in the parking garages.

Programs
Interpretive talks at the historic Sculptor’s Studio will take place throughout the day. Education programs and entertainment, including bands, presidential re-enactors and children’s programs, are scheduled throughout the day. A schedule of events will be posted on this website in late June.

The fireworks program will begin at 9:15 pm on July 3, subject to weather conditions. The fireworks program is dependent on moisture and wind levels and could be delayed or canceled depending on the conditions. There is no back-up date for the fireworks.

Food and Beverage
Restaurant and food vendors will be available throughout the memorial on July 3. You are welcome to bring snacks, food, and coolers (subject to search).

Tips for the Day
Many visitors plan to stay at the memorial for the full day in order to secure parking and find a space to watch the fireworks. Please bring sun screen, water, snacks, and clothing for hot, cold or rainy weather. You are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs, umbrellas, and coolers (subject to search). Chairs and umbrellas, however, are not allowed in the amphitheater. Please also bring a flashlight and good walking shoes so that you may get back to your car safely after the event. No personal fireworks, barbecue grills or pets are allowed.

 

[caralyn817]

OP here-
Can anyone recommend a bus touring company for one of the one day excursions that takes you to all the major sites. Found one in a travel book for $69 per adult $34 per child- includes: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Hwy in Custer State Park, breakfast and dinner at the Fort Hayes Chuckwagon, Slyvan Lake and a few others...

We will have a rental to do our own exploring on other days, but the 'older' in our group of 4 adults, 2 kids think it may be nice to let someone else do the driving to some of the major attractions. And we wanted to fit in a chuckwagon dinner anyway so is that a decent one? Any opinions on the bus tour thing?

Also, have been pricing flights from here (east coast- knoxville, tn area, possibly Nashville, usually cheaper) and am wondering about trying Priceline or other discount site? Have never done that before and would not want to get terrible flights even if cheaper. Opinions on that, as well? Currently the prices are running about $500 per person round trip in mid-July.

TIA!!

My family did the bus tour from Fort Hayes about two years ago. We had 6 adults go on the tour. Originally, I didn't think it was a good idea because I like to spend time at the different places that I go. I highly recommend this tour it was amazing. I will post pictures from the tour for you to see. If I'm correct the tour you are talking about starts at Fort Hayes (film set for "Dances with Wolves") and then goes as follows: Mt. Rushmore, Iron Mountain Road, Custer State Park, State Game Lodge (where you will have lunch on your own), Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, Crazy Horse Mountain, and then back for the dinner show (think of Hoop-De-Doo but cheesy: my husband was picked to be part of the show). I hope this helps. I will add photos for you, plus some of the Badlands.

 

[caralyn817]

Here's some pictures for you. First stop, Fort Hayes:

My Dad had a custom tin plate made at the Tin Shop.

 

[caralyn817]

Next stop, Mount Rushmore:

The tour will travel through several tunnels and at this one our driver let us out to get some shots of Rushmore looking through the tunnel.

 

[caralyn817]

Now on the way to Custer State Park:

Our driver gave us left over pancakes from the breakfast to feed the mules.

He really liked them.

Some did not want to come over.

My friend did not want us to leave.

 

[caralyn817]

These next shots are after leaving the State Game Lodge. I don't have any pictures there (I don't know why), but the lunch was great. We chose the buffett.

Cathedral Spiers

Another tunnel, this one is one of the smallest ones on the route. We didn't think we would make it.
Getting ready to go in.

From inside the tunnel.

We drew a crowd!

No the driver said that there are always people who sit there and wait to see the buses come through there. I bet they get some great shots, because it was a tight fit.

 

[caralyn817]

Sylvan Lake:

Crazy Horse:

Custom Chopper dedicated to Crazy Horse Memorial:

 

[caralyn817]

Wall Drug:

Badlands:

Prairie Dogs

No, I didn't take pictures of dead bunnies. They were sleeping in the sun.

That's the last of the photos. The tour was great and remember that you can always go back to those places later to spend more time. We were only there for a short visit so, the tour was best for us. We went to Deadwood, but really didn't like it. The town is cool to look at, but most of the places are now casinos inside the old buildings. I don't have pictures of that and Sturgis, because my camera was acting up during that time due to the snow, Yes, it snowed while we were there in June.

 

[Katy Belle]

bookmarking!

 

[Inigo]

Please, oh please, tell me you didn't feed the prairie dogs? Human food has too much sodium for them, and causes major health problems for prairie dogs.

 

[caralyn817]

Please, oh please, tell me you didn't feed the prairie dogs? Human food has too much sodium for them, and causes major health problems for prairie dogs.

No, we didn't feed them. I knew however that people have when they came running up to the car.

 

[caralyn817]

I guess I killed the thread!

 

[dispor]

Caralyn,

I LOVED the pics! We are leaving June 13th for our trip.

Questions for you or anyone else...

Best place to "mine for gold?" My kids are 10. I think they'd get a kick out of it. I'd really prefer an actual stream instead of a tacky trough (sp?) set up. KWIM?

Anyone do a trail ride? The kids have only been on ponies, not horses. Considering the Circle B since they have 30 minute rides.

Anyone hit the surround states (WY, MT, ND) just to "say they were there?" Anything right over the borders to see/do? (Considering Devil's Tower).

1880 Train - worth it? We have a similar old steam train here that we have ridden. Nice, but not sure it's worth the $ if the trip is basically the same.

One last question... Anything to do between Indiana and Scenic, SD along I-90? Any especially good Lewis and Clark sites to stop at?

Oops, thought of another one... What kind of bugs and snakes do I have to worry about? I see everyone wears shorts...?

Thanks!

 

[TwingleMum]

Great info !! Thanks

 

[mdrob214]

Caralyn,

I LOVED the pics! We are leaving June 13th for our trip.

Questions for you or anyone else...

Best place to "mine for gold?" My kids are 10. I think they'd get a kick out of it. I'd really prefer an actual stream instead of a tacky trough (sp?) set up. KWIM?

Anyone do a trail ride? The kids have only been on ponies, not horses. Considering the Circle B since they have 30 minute rides.

Anyone hit the surround states (WY, MT, ND) just to "say they were there?" Anything right over the borders to see/do? (Considering Devil's Tower).

1880 Train - worth it? We have a similar old steam train here that we have ridden. Nice, but not sure it's worth the $ if the trip is basically the same.

One last question... Anything to do between Indiana and Scenic, SD along I-90? Any especially good Lewis and Clark sites to stop at?

Oops, thought of another one... What kind of bugs and snakes do I have to worry about? I see everyone wears shorts...?

Thanks!

I don't know of any mining places--never done it.

Trail rides--there are several. One just outside of Keystone (on the Rapid City side) on Hwy 16 is where we went many years ago. Nice ride.

1880 Train--totally worth it! Make sure to do round trip or have someone meet you on the other end. Beautiful scenery.

I-90: Wall Drug (you'll see hundreds of signs)
Go thru the badlands--get out and walk and plan on spending some time. Beautiful!

Shorts are fine. If you're hiking, boots would be prudent. Not tons of bugs there, because humidity is low. It's actually quite nice that way.

Have fun!

 

[kalameheke]

Really nice place

 

[disneybound31]

OP here--

Okay- I am back with our itinerary... we leave on the 18th and I wondered if I could get a critique of our plan from some of you who have posted or done this trip. Is it do-able? Too much? There is so much I want to see and do and the kids want to see and do, but we do have the grandparents who can't move at our semi-commando speed and my somewhat fickle sister who can be easily irritated, but I am not going to stress over her-- she asked to be added to this trip so I figure she can go with the flow.

Day 1-
travel day- arrive Rapid City 3pm... get rental and find our way to Powderhouse cabins.
Dinner at Powderhouse or Rushmore concession. Go to Mt. Rushmore lighting on arrival night (is a saturday???- mistake? too crowded?)
call it a night..

Day 2- Sunday

*Storybook Island
*Norwegian Church- near Storybook
*Memorial Park to see Berlin Wall monument
*Reptile Gardens
*Dinosaur Park?

anything I should add to this day since we are back in this area? how far away will we be at this point from the Badlands Natl. Park? Would love to see them at sunset, but not sure of drive times and if that makes for too long a day. Think we have decided not to do Bear Country. Unless someone thinks we have enough time and it is a can't miss attraction. I think we are more reptile than bear oriented in a time crunch.

Day 3- Monday

*Fort Hayes bus tour all day

This is booked. Breakfast included, major sites and Custer State Park, lunch at Custer, Sylvan Lake, etc... chuckwagon dinner at Ft. Hayes.

Day 4- Tuesday

*Deadwood and Keystone day
*Presidential Wax Museum and putt-putt nearby (we are HUGE putt-putters!)
*maybe throw in a little gold-panning action for the kids
*Deadwood- explore, mini-bus tour to cemetary, dinner (?- suggestions, please), evening shootout re-enactment

I need lunch and dinner suggestion for this day if anyone has some. TIA!

Day 5- Wednesday

*departure day
*Mt. Rushmore Cave possibly?
*can we get to Badlands Natl. and then to airport by 1pm if we can't fit it in earlier?

This is a quick trip and there is so much to see/do. We will prob skip Wall Drug and other major tourist things unless ends up exactly on our way to another must see on our list. I want to see and appreciate the terrain and beauty so anything I should knock out feel free to suggest.

Thanks for any and all help/ suggestions!

 

[dispor]

I would make the Badlands a higher priority on your list! It would be a shame to get so close and not see it. They are so incredibly different from the Black Hills. I think it should be about an hour or so from Rapid City to the exit to the Badlands (can't remember the exit number). If you have any desire to see Wall Drug do it on the same day you see the Badlands. They are relatively close to each other. Wall Drug is essentially a super-sized souvenier shop. However, there are lots of things for the kids to do at Wall Drug- fountains to run through, props to have pictures taken on, gem-panning (not gold) for an extra fee, arcade for extra fee, etc. etc.

How old are your kids?

We did not do the lighting ceremony at either Rushmore or Crazy Horse. Quite frankly, we were TIRED by that time.

Do you know what routes the Tour Bus takes? The most important scenic drives, IMHO, are:

Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park
Iron Mountain Road on the way TO Mt. Rushmore
Needles Highway
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Drive

and of course the Badlands Loop.

Check into the Ft. Hayes Show. It might have its own shootout. (Unless you really wanted to see the Deadwood one.) We did not visit Deadwood or Keystone - not enough time. Ft. Hayes may also have gold-panning.

The visitor center across from State Game Lodge in Custer State Park had gold-panning - I think maybe at 11 a.m. (Call to see if time has changed.) I regret not doing it there - they said they actually show you how to pan in the stream (not a trough - sp?).

Just keep in mind that most drives will take you longer than you think. The map shows Needles Highway as being 14 miles longer. It took us close to an HOUR to drive it!! (Not because of traffic, but because of the narrow turns.)
We went in mid-June and thankfully the roads were not crowded at all.

Hope that helps...