Mount Rushmore

This little Brunson family took a quick weekend trip to Mount Rushmore recently. There was much to love about the trip and a few things that were less loved. Overall we are really glad we went. This was our first family vacation that didn't involve going somewhere to visit extended family. And hopefully this is something to be repeated again. Not that we don't love visiting our families, it was just sort of fun being just the three of us.

We stopped on the drive there to see some sites of the Oregon Trail. This is at signature rock. It was pretty cool. Jacob especially liked it having grown up in Oregon and learning A LOT about the Oregon Trail. This rock had loads of signatures of those that traveled this road many years ago. It also had loads of less historic markings as well.

We also stopped to see some of the Oregon Trail ruts worn into the rock. I liked this even more than the signature rock.

When we arrived at our hotel we took advantage of the empty pool and went swimming. Isaac loves it! He could stay in the water all day if his parents would let him. But we don't.

We then headed to dinner at a local diner. This time of year is the "off season" for most shops and towns around Rushmore so we were one of the three customers there. It was kind of fun being in this little old timey diner without much company. The food was only okay though. Good shakes and fries, less good sandwich and burger.

Entertaining an almost 11 month old in a hotel room is not one of the things I loved about this trip. Also, trying to get him to eat was not something I loved. He was too interested in all the new surroundings to really eat. And he wanted to get into everything he shouldn't in the room. And he is teething (I noticed number 5 tooth as we were driving to South Dakota) so sleeping in the hotel was also not awesome. As in, there wasn't really good sleeping happening. But we survived. And those are all the complaints I have. Everything else was good. Even driving. He traveled really well actually.

The next day we took a drive on one of the scenic highways near Mt. Rushmore. It was really fun. About the only thing I remember from our family reunion to Rushmore when I was a kid was seeing the faces framed in the tunnels on the drive there. This was not one of those "framing" tunnels but was on the other side of that scenic loop near needle rock. This tunnel was crazy. I'm not sure how some of the cars fit through this sliver in the rocks. But, we managed.

And then we let Isaac out to stretch his legs at needle rock.

He experienced his first time hiking.

We also saw a big buffalo while driving and had to get out for some pictures.

And then we came to Mount Rushmore. We pulled over at one of the lookout spots for a great view.

This was in the parking lot of the Subway we stopped at for lunch before actually heading to the Mount Rushmore Monument. Of course I had to have some cheesy photos.

Look for part two of our adventure a little later. I know you are excited!