8. Witness a sculptor’s dream at Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse
A chance to see Mount Rushmore National Memorial may be what drew you to the Black Hills in the first place. I think it’s a must-visit for all Americans. You either can join a free ranger-led tour or rent an audio (cost: $6) or multi-media tour (cost: $8) device to explore at your own pace. Make sure to watch the park movie and walk the Presidential Trail which brings you closer to the granite faces. Cost: Free; Parking $10.
KidTripster Tip: Plan your visit for late afternoon/early evening so that you can see the monument during the daylight and then stick around for the lighting ceremony at dusk.
KidTripster Tip: Don’t eat at The Carver’s Cafe. Honestly, it’s one of the worst meals that we’ve ever had at a national park. You’re better off bringing a picnic.
As for nearby Crazy Horse Memorial, my family was split. My husband and sons weren’t fans; I tended to be more intrigued. It’s an interesting story about how Chief Henry Standing Bear asked self-taught sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to create Crazy Horse on his horse in the granite rock. That request started a lifetime project for Ziolkowski and his wife, Ruth, which is carried on today by their children and grandchildren. But I had the same somber feeling visiting this last time as I did five years earlier. Looking at the granite mountain with only the face of Crazy Horse chiseled, I wondered if the memorial will ever be completed.
Normally, I’d always suggest watching the movie at a visitor center, but the 23-minute film here is painfully dated. It’s clearly been added on to over the years and doesn’t tell a cohesive story. You can get the background on the memorial in the Indian Museum of North America and Sculptor’s Studio, but it’s a lot of reading for kids. I think the most interesting and interactive exhibit (inside the Sculptor’s Studio) is the one that shows how Crazy Horse dwarfs other monuments around the world including Mount Rushmore. Admission cost: $30/car.
You can take a school bus to the base of the mountain for a closer look. Cost: Youth (6 & under) Free; Youth (7-17) $4; Adult $4. But I think the tour that brings you to the top for a view of Crazy Horse’s face is absolutely exorbitant at $125/person. A better option? If you visit the first full weekend of June or the Sunday of Custer State Park’s autumn round-up, you can join the 6-mile round-trip Volksmarch to the top. Cost: $3/person.
To read my full review and tips for Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, click here.
KidTripster Tip: Stroll the wood boardwalk and have lunch at one of the many eateries in nearby Hill City. Also, if you’re a sweet wine lover, stop at Prairie Berry Winery (23837 Highway 385) for a free wine tasting.
9. Embark on an outdoor adventure
Here’s what most tourists miss out on. Spend a day – or at least half a day – in the Black Hills. In other words, experience nature the way the locals do: rock climbing (or ice climbing during the winter), biking on Mickelson Trail, swimming at Hippie Hole or cliff jumping at Horsethief Lake or Pactola Lake’s Jenney Gulch. Or go hunting for bones (fossils) and stones (elusive Fairburn agates) out near the Badlands.
If you need help putting together a tour, I highly recommend contacting Carrie Gerlach, owner of Black Hills Adventure Tours. While you can book any of her organized tours, Carrie also can customize a day for your family. And Carrie’s a mom, so she knows exactly what your kids and teens will dig. I’m betting that it’ll be the highlight of your Black Hills vacation.
