Mount Rushmore

We knew Mount Rushmore was a “must do” during our South Dakota adventure.  However, we were shocked by how much else there is to do right there in Keystone near Mount Rushmore.  You can shop, zip line, alpine slide, pan for gold, ride a helicopter, enjoy an amazing meal, ride a steam train, play mini golf, and so much more.

Mount Rushmore

We started our day early as lines can get long to enter Mount Rushmore.  You will drive up to a booth to purchase your pass before driving into the park.  Arriving early also means low crowds for better photo opportunities.  I highly recommend watching the movie in the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.  It is shown every 20 minutes and tells the story of the creation of Mount Rushmore.  Next, we walked the Presidential trail.  This easy half mile trail gets you up close and personal to the sculpture offering unique views.  Before you leave, visit the huge gift shop and get an ice cream from the Ice Cream Shop to enjoy on your way back to the car.

National Presidential Wax Museum

We stumbled upon this attraction and we are so glad we did.  It was rainy day which made us change our plans from outdoor activities such as ziplining to more indoor activities.  Located just minutes from Mount Rushmore this was a convenient next stop.  When you arrive, you will purchase tickets and wait until your party is called to enter the exhibit.  There is a gift shop to explore during your short wait.  When you enter the exhibit, you will receive your audio tour device and instructions.  You are free to roam around and explore the wax figures at your own pace listening to your personal audio device.  We really enjoyed this attraction!

Big Thunder Gold Mine

This experience is all about mining and gold panning.  You will walk through an original 1890’s underground gold mine learning about how the mine was created and the history of the gold rush.  Our guide was fun, entertaining, and knowledgeable.  My son was so excited to pan for gold!  He was sure he was going to strike it big.  So, after the tour when we learned about how to pan for gold, he was all ears.  We stayed after the tour and panned for gold in the numerous troughs they have out front.  Spoiler alert…he did not find a large nugget of gold. 

What a fantastic day!  After all this we drove back to our hotel in Spearfish, SD, grabbed dinner and went to bed to get ready for our next adventure.  Are you ready to take your family on an epic adventure in South Dakota?  I am here to help you plan.

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