Welcome to our National Park series, where each week I will be highlighting a national park that my family and I have visited in 2020/2021. This year my son is in 4th grade which meant that he qualified for the Every Kid Outdoor Pass. The Every Kid Outdoor Pass is a free pass for 4th graders that gives 4th graders and their families free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters for an entire year! This includes our National Parks and many other government agencies. This year was our year of National Park vacations and since September we have visited over 10 parks with plans to visit more this summer! If you are also interested in visiting some of our national treasures, I hope that my experience can help you to prepare and have a great family trip.
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Monument, while not a National Park, is a spectacular site to see! Massive stone carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln look out to you while you not only take in the beauty of the Black Hills but also learn the story of the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States of America. I would say Mount Rushmore is a half day park , easily getting everything done in 2-4 hours. I also want to mention that there is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore, but you do have to pay a parking fee, $10.00 per vehicle. This means that The Every Kid Outdoor Pass can not be used at Mount Rushmore. Without further ado, here are 5 must dos at Mount Rushmore!
1. The Visitor's Center - I have been to Mount Rushmore twice in my life. This last time, during COVID, the visitor's center was not open, but I did go to it previously and really enjoyed the exhibits . According to the website, the visitors center is again open! It is a great place to start, learning all about the history and carving of Mount Rushmore before you get a really good look .
2. Find Your State Flag - As you walk into Mount Rushmore, you will walk down the Avenue of Flags. The walkway is lined with the flags of all 50 states, one district, three territories and two commonwealths of the United States of America. Take the time to check out all the flags of our country or just find your state. It is a fun little scavenger hunt for your kids (and you).
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3. Walk the Presidential Trail - The trail is 0.60 miles and has 422 stairs. It is a great way to get an up close look at the mountain and enjoy the landscape. It also has some great photo opps!
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4. Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream - Not only did Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence, but he also wrote America's first ice cream recipe and you can try that ice cream today at Mount Rushmore. Before you have that ice cream head next door to the Carvers' Café and try a Dakota Bison Burger or other great locally sourced options.
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5. Become a Junior Ranger - Mount Rushmore also has a Junior Ranger program , that is available for ages 3 and up. Just head to the visitor's center or Information Center Bookstore to pick up your booklet. Kids can complete the booklet while you are exploring Mount Rushmore. Kids can also participate in a Junior Ranger Quest. According to the Mount Rushmore National Park website, this activity is part of the Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Tour, which you can rent for $8. The Junior Ranger Quest is a new adventure that allows you to participate in up to 16 challenges at different tour stops around the park. Once you complete 12 of the challenges, you receive a Junior Ranger badge from a ranger desk, just like the written Junior Ranger program. The Junior Ranger Quest is also available for free download on the Apple Store and Google Play. Complete 12 of the activities anytime to download and print your own badge from our virtual Junior Ranger page.
Tips and Tricks for Mount Rushmore National Monument
- Check the weather before you go. The first time I went, we got there and all we saw was fog. Luckily, within the next couple of hours the fog had cleared and we had a great view.
- We used GyPsy Guide as we drove to Mount Rushmore and it gave us some great information and tips before we got there.
- Spend the rest of your day exploring the surrounding area. Only 1-2 hours surrounding Mount Rushmore is Wall Drug, Badlands National Park (We will be covering the Badlands next week), Deadwood, Sturgis, and other fun attractions.
I hope you have a great visit to Mount Rushmore!
Check out the other parks in our National Park series
