Yellowstone/Mt Rushmore Vacation help needed!

[mom2boys]

First, Thanks for the bump Disykat.

I found a great book at the library Fodor's National Parks of the West, 2nd Edition It even has suggested tours. I think we will loosely base our travels on a combination of the Glacier Lakes to Tetons & the Dakota Badlands to Rocky Peaks Driving Tours in the book. I borrowed it from our public library but will probably end up purchasing my own copy. The Fodor's website at http://www.fodors.com/parks/ has a section devoted to National Parks. I haven't had a chance to fully explore it but plan to ASAP.
We are driving from Maryland and intend to hit Craters of the Moon (ID); Yellowstone; Devil's Tower; Mt. Rushmore; Wall Drug; the Badlands; & the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD. We are considering a route which will take us across I-94 through Wisconsin, Minnisota & North Dakota. It will take us add about 100 miles to our trip but will mean I've been to all but one U.S. state & DH has been to all but 2.

 

[cl1067]

South Dakota is a looooong boring drive and you would have to do it twice.

I have to totally agree with Lisa here...we live on the east side of the state and drove to the black hills this past weekend and spent the weekend in Deadwood. I thought the drive home on Sunday was about going to kill me!

 

[Sandy V.]

Hi Maci,

Some suggestions for things to do in the evenings with your kids:

Board Games/Checkers
Card Games (Uno, Old Maid, Go Fish, etc.)
Reading Books together
Portable DVD player with your family's favorite movies
Sit outside and look up at the stars

We've had some wonderful family times at National Parks!

 

[rockin_rep]

I found a great book at the library Fodor's National Parks of the West, 2nd Edition It even has suggested tours. I think we will loosely base our travels on a combination of the Glacier Lakes to Tetons & the Dakota Badlands to Rocky Peaks Driving Tours in the book. I borrowed it from our public library but will probably end up purchasing my own copy. The Fodor's website at http://www.fodors.com/parks/ has a section devoted to National Parks. .

Yes, this is the same FODORS as FODORS.com that i suggested a few posts back. Actually, you may not have to buy the book once you get into the website (similar to searching The Dis when planning WDW)

Be sure to go to "talk" and do a search on Yellowstone, or any of the amazing national parks.

Truly, you'll read for HOURS....answers to every detailed question you haven't even thought of yet!

You are in for one Sweeeeet treat at our beloved national parks!

 

[SleepyMom]

Have to laugh at the loooooonng boring drive across SD, been doing it for years! We live in the SE corner of the state and most of my family live in the Hills, so this is a trip we make often. Our girls know the trip by things on the side of the road... the large bull head, the River, 2 different dinosaur's, the Badlands and Ellsworth. If you've made the trip, you know what I'm talking about.

We went to Yellowstone in August 2003 and our youngest was then 9 years old, when we told her we were going to Yellowstone National Park, her first question was "what kinds of rides do they have there?". Guess we had been to a few more amusement parks than National Parks at that point Planning to take her to the Grand Canyon this summer!

As for what to do in the evenings, we stayed in Cody, Wyoming and loved it... we went to a Gunfighter's show in the early evening and had a blast. We also spent one day just walking around the downtown and shopping, meeting people, etc... There is also a big museum there and rodeos, but we ran out of time. Also, the drive (about 50 miles) between Cody and the park is beautiful. We took a drive one night around dusk and I got some of the most gorgeous pictures of the mountains and the sun setting.

Have fun!

 

[lilallybean]

"The first thing I would recommend is, if you have children, sign them up for the Junior Ranger program - my girls (ages 12 and 6 at the time) LOVED it!! It is educational (in a very fun sort of way) and my girls were able to earn all of their badges. The second thing I would recommend is, pack clothes for ALL weather conditions."

EXACTLY!!! Our kids loved the junior ranger program and they got SEVERAL badges...Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, Wind Cave, Bad Lands, Jewel Cave...they loved it and love showing off the badges!

DON'T forget some clothes fro cold temps! We about froze our butts off! Late June and they had to close the roads down last year for a few hours because of the snow!

There is SOOOOO much more to do than 'just' Old Faithfull. The kids loved the upper and lower falls and the mudd pots!

If you have a portable DVD player or VCR watch Brother Bear before you go to the falls, see if you see anything from the movie.

We loved Jackson Hole and wish that we had planned to spend more time there! The Alpine Slide was a blast! Pack a picnic and take the ski lift to the top of the mountain and enjoy lunch with a GREAT view!

Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[TSTEWARTFAN]

Can anyone tell me how long the junior ranger programs at the various national parks are? Especially at Mount Rushmore and the Badlands?

 

[lilallybean]

There isn't a set time that it takes. Mount Rushmore...I think the kids had to attend one program that was about 15-20 mins long and then the rest was just looking for items and answering some questions. We did most of it while sitting down for lunch. If you are going to Rushmore I recommend that you look for the 'living Lincoln' and have your picture taken with him. Also stay for the night time show...that was one of our favorites! While you are in the area you may want to go see Crazy Horse...WE LOVED IT! Give yourself plenty of time here and take home a free rock from the mountain.

Badlands didn't take long at all....seems like it was all done indoors and took about 1/2 an hour total.

 

[mom2boys]

Badlands didn't take long at all....seems like it was all done indoors and took about 1/2 an hour total.

Did you drive the "loop" road? Make any stops along the way?
We are going this summer & I am not sure how much time to allocate to the Badlands - DH & I were there in 88. We didn't do any inside stuff and just stopped at pull-offs. I seem to recall about 1/2 day.

 

[lilallybean]

We did drive around the Badlands and that took some time, the kids were pretty unimpressed. What didn't take long was the work for the junior ranger program. I don't think that there was much if any that you had to do away from the ranger/tourist station. Word of advice...WEAR sunglasses if there is any wind when you visit!

 

[mom2boys]

Word of advice...WEAR sunglasses

Sunglasses also "enhance" the colors of the Badlands. That accidental discovery still sticks in my mind from '88.