Black Hills and a Birthday

When our daughter requested a trip to Mount Rushmore last summer, I tucked the thought away in my memory. Her 10th Birthday was coming up in October, and I imagined it would be such a treat to surprise her with something fun when she turned double digits. My husband and I decided that fall would be the perfect time for our family to go to the Black Hills. The leaves would be changing. There would be less crowding than during the summer months. It turned out to be the little vacation that we all truly enjoyed, but also left us wanting to go back to see more.

With both our children taking online school this year, it provided the opportunity for us to take their studies on the road. They both completed a full school day during the drive to South Dakota. To break up the trip, we stopped in Pierre to see the South Dakota State Capitol building, and at Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota.

The Capitol in Pierre was a beautiful Romanesque style building that featured extensive marble, sculptures, and hand painted details. A sign on the door to the Governor’s office says, “Please come in,” so we did. We were greeting by a kind intern while the Governor was busy in a meeting.

After our tour at the Capitol, we were on to Wall, South Dakota. Wall Drug has been known for their ongoing marketing campaign that has lasted decades. There are numerous billboards for Wall Drug on the way into the town of Wall from every direction. I’ve even heard people say they keep their children busy during a trip to South Dakota by having them count Wall Drug signs. And if you haven’t seen a Wall Drug bumper sticker before, keep your eye out for them. I guarantee you’ll see one soon.

After a night’s rest in Rapid City, we started the morning out with a hike up the Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore. The weather was a perfect 70 degrees, the sun was shining, and the leaves on the trees reflected the colors of the fall season. It was amazing to be able to hike up so close to the monument.

One of my family’s favorite activities we did during our time in the Black Hills was a guided tour at Rushmore Caves. The entire tour takes about an hour to complete. It will take you 150 feet below the earth’s surface on rugged terrain. We were thankful to have read up ahead of time to find that we should bring jackets, and to wear a good pair of tennis shoes. Although the caves are a bit of an exertion, it is well worth the effort to see the many mineral deposits deep inside.

The Custer State Park was also a big highlight during our visit to South Dakota. As we drove through the winding road, we had a chance to closely observe wild donkeys, hundreds of bison, prairie dogs, dear, and birds. One of the bison was right next to the road and we could even hear it loudly munching grasses as we drove by.

In the evening, we had the chance to see Crazy Horse Memorial. We learned about the history of the sculptor, The Indian University on the land, and that the sculpture has been under construction for over 70 years. My family also had time to tour the museum filled with Indian artifacts, information, and artwork.

On our way home, we took a different route than on the way to the Black Hills, so we could drive through Mitchell, South Dakota. The Corn Palace, located in Mitchell, is the only one of its kind in the world. The building is decorated with murals made from corn and other grains.

My family was glad to have the chance to create memories together in honor of our daughter’s birthday. If you’re looking for a family road trip destination with a chance to learn more about our nation’s history, take a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Happy traveling!