We’ve passed the halfway mark between New York and Home and tonight we’ve decided to stay two nights in Rapid City, South Dakota, so we can visit Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore National Park is at the top our list of special places to visit because no one has been there in our family.
On the way there in-flight we have some decent cell service and mama pilot is able to find a hotel. For the first time a Google Advertisment shows the Marriott Fairmont as suggestion and it has an indoor waterpark. Since we have been flying all day and are planning on staying two nights it looks like a great place to go to let the little dude swim and exercise.
We taxi up to the FBO and they pull out a Chrysler Pacifica minivan. The little dude was so excited to have a TV in our rental car and it was perfect for adventures ahead. We check into the hotel and go straight to the waterpark. Some of the slides were a little big but the smaller area was perfect for The Little Dude to explore.
We woke up the next day and headed to Mount Rushmore. We also considered going to Crazy Horse as well after or try to see the Buffalo or to go to Badlands but we are just playing the day by ear. (the best one can really do with time changes, travel, and the volatility of a baby traveler) Mount Rushmore is part of the National Park system but you still have to pay $15 to park in addition to the monument fee if you have the pass to park a car.
We walk up and the monument is stunning; way larger than it appears online in photos. After walking up and viewing at the large viewing area, you can walk around the monument and read different signs on the boardwalk learning about the presidents and the building process. We walk through the visitor center and learn about the the construction of the monument and the Hall of Records. You can’t see the Hall of Records from the ground but you can from the air. (We flew back over the monument at the 2000 feet and were able to see it behind the presidents! *Bonus of being a plane family.)
After we left Mount Rushmore we did a little bit of T-shirt shopping in the town of Keystone. From Keystone it is east to Badlands or west to Crazy Horse, we chose Badlands!
It’s about. 2.5 hours drive to Badlands. We have a “movie car” so we were hoping The Little Dude stays entertained and Plane Girl, who is only 2 months old, will take a nap.
Badlands is an open area of rock formations. Travel South Dakota describes Badlands as “ An ancient sea floor rises and swallows the rolling plains. Colorful, dramatic and surreal, the sculptured pinnacles and painted gullies preserve the past in layers of colorful sediment.” We take The Badlands Loop Road and look at all the dramatic scenery. We really enjoyed the loop and all of the formations. We did see a ton of prarie dogs too.
After the drive we are done for the day!! Traveling with a baby and nursing means lots of breaks!! Back to the hotel pool to go swimming before calling it a night! We’re back in the air again the next day and want to head to a new place! We didn’t notice it on the way in, but the FBO has a kids playroom! What a dream come true for flying kids who need a few minutes to play.
