Finally we reach Mt. Rushmore. It is an awesome sight! We loved looking at the amazing art sculpted from a granite mountain--90% of it was done with dynamite! Every year they put on a spectacular fireworks show behind the heads of the monument--except this year because of an increased fire danger due to an infestation of pine beetles in the trees surrounding the monument. Just our luck!
Future president?
This is in front of the crazy horse monument. You can't see it very well, but it is just as awesome as mount Rushmore. It was started in 1948 and so far have the face of Crazy Horse done. It will eventually be a sculpture of crazy horse on his horse pointing out. Mt. Rushmore will fit in the face and hair of Crazy Horse so you can imagine how massive this one is. While we were there we were able to see them do a blast of dynamite on the mountain. This is where we spent the 4th of July and they put on a fantastic light show against the mountain. We were not disappointed!
Brett giving Nate a spider on the swing set of our KOA campsite in Hill City, SD. We stayed at 4 KOA s (because they have flushing toilets and showers :)and this one was the best.
The kids panning for gold. They were able to bring the gold flakes they sifted out of the dirt home with them.
Inside the Big Thunder mine. This particular mine wasn't a lucritive one and they spend years drilling into the mountain for only a couple hundred of dollars. They kept hoping they would "strike it rich".
Heading inside the gold mine.
A beautiful view from Devil's Tower. The valley was so pretty. By the look on Nate's face you might guess that he just stubbed his toe!
Kacie is always willing to strike a pose for the camera.
Devil's Tower National Monument. This was a cool stop on the way to SD in Eastern Wyoming.
Packing up the tent at our KOA at Devil's Tower. You can see the tower in the background. This was a really pretty camp spot with all the red clay soil all around.
We stopped at Shell Falls where Brett and Brayden showed us how strong they were. :)
"take a picture of me mom!"
Trying to catch kacie giving Brett a kiss on the cheek. I was a little slow with the camera.
At Shell Falls
The drive all the way to SD was amazing! There were several places where we stopped the car and got out to take in the scenery. This was one of those places before we reached Shell Falls. The mountains were beautiful!
We stopped in Cody WY at this museum. Its fun to see all the things they had from so long ago. We also ate at Fat Daddy's Wild Burgers where I had a bbq wild boar pulled sandwhich. I was a little hesitant but it was very delicious! Hence, the name wild burgers. I just assumed it meant spicy or something, not wild meat! Brett had a buffalo burger and he liked it. The kids lucked out because they did serve beef as well. I tried not to look at the wild boar head mounted on the wall while I bit into the sandwhich.
Our first night of the trip we went to the Playmilll in West Yellowstone and camped there. We drove through the park the next day and made a couple of stops to see the paint pots.
They really are cool how they bubble all the time.
Walking (or balancing) down the trail to see the paint pots.
Our first night at the West Yellowstone KOA. This was a nice campground also. All the KOAs had swimming pools. We had a fun trip and made lots of good memories!
3 comments:
Great pics!! I'm glad you had so much fun - Is Haley's hair still braided from Mexico? Holy cow! I remember when we all went on that trip and the fun we had, alhtough it was kid free : )
Wow! What a GREAT trip! It looks soooo fun. I wish we would have come with you guys! What great memories. We'll have to do this one of these summers! You guys want to come again? :)
Boy are you brave. All that way in a car? But it looks like you had a great time, with lots of fun memories!
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