AH Gorrie Vacation 2016

This years road trip took us out west again.  After miles and miles of rain.....we began our trip in the lovely city of Sioux falls. We spent a night at the falls and man was it hot! We hit the pool to get out some much needed energy and then went out to explore. The kids had a great time climbing on the rocks and looking for Pokemon....yes we did.

Family Selfie! 

Michael takes a pic

 

 

Michael takes another shot of mom and Dad 

The first pool of the trip was a success! 

The next morning we were on our way to Badlands National Park, South Dakota looks a lot like the lower Midwest that we were used to seeing, then you come upon this magical place. It's amazing. It's almost like it's somewhere in the middle of nowhere. In the distance you can see the buttes, the hills and valleys within the park were absolutely stunning.

A bit of history here: The best of these savagely beautiful badlands comprise the 244,000 acres of Badlands National Park, a unique region so ruthlessly ravaged by wind and water that has become a scenic wonderland. The badlands region sprawls over 10,000 square miles of vast prairies and grasslands, amidst the chiseled spired landscape and rugged pinnacles. Explore this picturesque region of South Dakota that few see. For some of the most amazing sunsets anywhere in the U.S. or to view the millions of stars at night, this is one of the most beautiful places to visit.

This particular area is home to the Oglala Sioux, which is part of the Great Sioux Nation. This vast region was once home to the mysterious and little studied paleo-Indians who are thought to be some of the first inhabitants of the Badlands region. The Badlands are also known worldwide to have the most significant mixed-grass prairie, the best known Oligocene fossil resources, and remnants of sea and turtle shells, leading proof this area was once under water. Paleontologists and many institutions continually study this region, giving insight to life of 33 million years ago.

The western prairie comes alive with the indigenous prairie dogs, bald eagles, antelope and bison roaming throughout the badlands region. You may even see a black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America that is being reintroduced in the 64,000 acres of Badlands Wilderness Area. 

We entered the park and checked into our cabin. Everything was made out of logs, it was so perfect. We unpacked our stuff and hit the road to explore. The Badlands Loop took us through the whole park. We drove up and down and across the landscape. The first stops allowed the kids to get our and touch hand feel the landscape. They climbed the buttes and felt the ground on their hands. It was a chalky feel, yet solid. The sun was shining and man was it hot! The Rangers recommended ALOT of sunscreen and at least a gallon of water per person per day while exploring the park. 

That evening we went back to the cabin and rested before dinner. I sat out on the back porch and took in the landscape, while there wasn't much vegetation the park had its own beauty. It was so different from the hills, valleys, mountains and lakes that we had seen in the past. This place a sense of beauty about it that was like no other. 

After dinner we went to the pavilion for a star walk from one of the park rangers. There was a large telescope and the kids got to go up and see Jupiter. Then the Rangers provided a presentation other park and the celebration of the centennial of the national park service. We walked back to the cabin and the kids passed out.... it was a long day. Tony and I were able to grab a moment together, we headed outside to see the stars. I have never seen that many in my entire life.  The Milky way was as clear as day, of course we tried to take pictures but they didn't come out. Perhaps some things are best left to your memory. It was amazing. 

Family Pic, CHECK! 

Rattlesnakes are a real threat here. 

You were allowed to climb on many of the buttes! 

My boy. 

They found some shade, the sun was brutal 

Cooling off in the car after a hike 

Picnic lunch in the shade 

Our cabin for the evening 

Yep you guessed it, saddle pass folks. 

There is a Mountain goat up there....

Back to the cabin to relax

People were silly during dinner, i.e what else is new. 

Happy Parents 

Headed out to the pavilion for our Star walk and talk 

Dancing on the Buttes, they were wild and free! 

It was a long day.......

 The next day we headed out to the northern side of the park and stopped at many of the overlooks. The colors and vastness of the Bandlands were mind blowing. We headed further north and came upon so many prairie dogs! They. Were. Everywhere. The kids loved them, I don't think we had ever seen so many in one place. I was sad to leave the Badlands but so happy to have experienced it. 

Early morning 

A few dear greeted us 

Well rested kiddos - sorry kids but this picture was just too cute to pass up. 

Thanks to random stranger for taking pictures of our family. 

Mindful on the Buttes 

Prairie dogs! 

I found a bit of color! 

Thank you Badlands, for being something spectacular in the middle of nowhere.

One our way to the Black Hills we then headed to the famous Wall Drug store. It began with the homesteaders as as pharmacy in the middle of nowhere, they became famous for offering free water to all the costumes that came by. Over the years it became famous for doing this. It really is a mall in the middle of nowhere. ( like many things out west) The kids got ice cream, and we shopped through the many stores. We took some pictures with the nostalgic art of the place. A great place to stop when passing through for sure! 

Still have free water! 

We then hit Rapid City, after a quick hotel switch ( thank goodness) we got into the pool and what a pool it was! What an amazing place for the kids, it was so nice for them to have a pool with some many options! We went out to eat at Resturant that he to be an old firehouse in downtown rapid city. Along the walk there were statues of presidents all over the kids had a great time trying to identity who they were, thank god for their dad on this one because I didn't have a clue. 

The next morning we hit the road up to black hills the plan was to drive the needles highway and Custer State Park.  I have to say that I was blown away by the Black Hills, THEY ARE INCREDIBLE! 

Custer state park began as a prairie with buffalo as far as the eye could see to a mountainous forest with lakes and streams. We took the needles highways around the hills past Mt Rushmore ( we will see that the next day) and got to the top of the highway at Spry Lake. What a gem of a find this place was! It was probably my favorite the place of the trip. We parked and picnicked for the afternoon at the lake. The kids climbed the rocks and waded in the water. We headed back down and back to Rapid city for pool time and dinner. 

Learning buffalo safety 

our first tunnel 

Coming up to Spy lake on Needles highway 

Picnic lunch - this was my favorite spot of the trip! 

Day 2 in rapid city we headed out to Mount Rushmore  - back up highway 42 we got there early ( which I would recommend)

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."

Gutzon Borglum

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is host to almost three million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. They come to marvel at the majestic beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota and to learn about the birth, growth, development and the preservation of our country. Over the decades, Mount Rushmore has grown in fame as a symbol of America-a symbol of freedom and hope for people from all cultures and backgrounds.

All the cultures that make up the fabric of this country are represented by the memorial and surrounding Black Hills. One of the most important gifts we can give our visitors at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is an understanding and love for our nation's history and cultures and an appreciation of the importance of caring for that legacy.

To be honest I wasn't too excited to see Mt Rushmore, I thought ok it's a bunch of faces in a mountain. But to be there, in person, it was so much more than that. The kids were even moved by it, picking out their favorite president and learning the history of how it was built ( what a crazy job BTW). They now have a number of wooded walk ways and you can get very close to the monument. We went on a guided tour which was so interesting, the kids did great. 

After the tour we walked back down to the gift shop I picked up a coffee mug and the kids got ice cream, because vacation :) We headed on to crazy horse and were disappointed, it was nothing like Mt Rushmore and frankly you can just look at it from the road and save yourself the 35 bucks. we then made our way back to the hotel for pool time and dinner, rinse and repeat. 

Walking into the monument 

Rushmore's creator! 

I see you George 

One of the tools they used to create it 

POSTCARD PERFECT 

I see you again George 

Goats 

Crazy horse 

Storm is a comin'  - it rained pretty hard that afternoon. 

Vacation 

My darling Lope 

Day three we headed south to hot springs. There was a mammoth grave dig site there that we thought the kids would like. The kids got to dig for bones and we took a brief tour of the site and how it came about. It was sink hole surrounded with limestone back in prehistoric times that preserved itself. Over time all the animals that fell in were fossilized. Millions of years later a man bough the land to build homes, when they stuck ground they unearthed a mammoth tusk. At that time the man realized that he needed to give this land back and see what was really done there. And thus the Mammoth dig site was born. 

Getting their  digging orders. 

A bone! We found one! 

Oh those wide open WY roads.....

After a terrible hail storm...we hit a double rainbow! 

After the dig site we made the 6 hour trek down to Ft Collins to see our dear friends Kate and Dave. We spent the evening with them, it was SO great to catch up and spend time. We also went to Rocky Mountain National Park to get a picture of the kids three years later at Sprague lake. We drove some of the park but had to hurry back so we could catch up and meet with Tony sister Aunt Kat! 

How cool has it been to be able to connect with her in her home town! We had a great lunch and spent time in downtown Fort Collins. We love you so CO! 

Yeah yeah they had their shirts off, its summer and they are kids! 

Rock Mountain Color 

Reunited! 

Chickens 

We then headed home to Omaha and then back to Kensington...on the drive home I took some time to reflect on this time with the family. It is so important. It is so meaningful. It is so valuable. South Dakota blew me away, it has so much to offer and if you ever get out there you will see how it can move you. The black hills are one of the most beautiful places I have been to so far, it was that much more beautiful that I got to experience it with my family. Vacation 2016 such a success, now on to 2017 and what that will bring! National Parks of America here we come!