Thanks to some great intel from my Dad, we got up early and arrived at Mt Rushmore a few mintues after they opened. There were no crowds yet and it was breathtaking! I got chills when I first saw it. The most well-done photography of the site just doesn't do it justice. It is so massive and high in the air, but if you look at each face with binoculars there is an amazing amount of detail.
We walked the "Presidential Trail," which takes you all around the monument and through a Sculptor's Museum where you can see the sculptor's original 1:12 scale design, and also his plans to create a "Hall of Records" of US History in the mountain behind the faces. That was never fully completed, but there are some things up there, it's just not open to the public.
LB was frustrated that we wouldn't let him walk on his own, but there were TONS of stairs -- we'd still be there waiting for him! Hubby said, "Too many stairs for Baby LB." Short-legged LS, who was huffing and puffing behind, muttered, "Too many stairs for me, too."
BS said, "My favorite one is the one with the moustache."
LS said, "Why didn't they make them down lower so we could touch them?"
LINE OF THE DAY: In the ladies' room at the monument, LS noted the little triangle-shaped wastecans in the stalls and asked, "Mommy, why did they put birdhouses in here?"
After Mt Rushmore we had lunch and the kids had a nice long nap in the hotel -- their first proper afternoon nap all week! (It's just not the same in the car.)
Hubby found a great place to go in the afternoon -- "Storybook Island." It is a FREE park full of all the kids' favorite characters, with tons to climb on, go inside, tunnel under, etc. It even had a little train they could ride around the perimeter. They LOVED this! We had a good time watching them run all over and discover each new character. LB's favorite part appeared to be climbing all over the 101 Dalmatians statue, as he does love his "Arfs." LS's was seeing Ariel. BS liked playing in Snow White & the 7 Dwarf's house the best.
We ended our day with a dip in the hotel pool. The kids were wiped out! As Hubby and I went to bed, we noticed BS was half hanging out her bed, and her feet were moving like she was running in her sleep! She didn't remember anything the next morning, though.
Tomorrow -- a LONG day of driving to Bozeman, Montana!
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