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You are here: Home / Travel / 3 Memorable Monuments Everyone Should Visit on a South Dakota Family Vacation

3 Memorable Monuments Everyone Should Visit on a South Dakota Family Vacation

August 26, 2016 by Kathryn 32 Comments

One of the things that often amazes me about traveling is discovering how many majestic places are hiding just a short distance away from our own home. This summer, Jeremy and I decided to discover some of those places by driving to the Black Hills region in South Dakota to check out some of the South Dakota attractions the area has to offer. From our home in Southern Saskatchewan, the drive is less than eight hours.

ford edge and devil's tower

We had the chance to take the brand new 2016 Ford Edge on our adventure and it made every minute of our trip a smooth, comfortable experience for both us and the boys. Once we were there, I only wished we’d visited sooner! If you’re planning on making a trip to the region, these three mind-blowing monuments should be on your family’s must-visit list of South Dakota attractions.

Mount Rushmore

mount rushmore

One of the most well-known and popular South Dakota attractions, Mount Rushmore is an easy choice when deciding what sights to see in the area. Going early in the morning is highly recommended, as the crowds can get a little congested later in the day. But fortunately, the large, open area means that getting a great view of the majestic sculpture is achievable even when the area is packed.

kathryn and jeremy mount rushmore

Personally, I loved taking the Presidential Trail walking path around the base of the monument to get a proper view of the creation from a variety of different angles. And visiting the Sculptor’s Studio was a great way to learn more about the work that went into creating Mount Rushmore. I was fascinated to learn that the original plan had been to have full bust carvings of the four presidents, but the rock composition had limited the artists to just carving the faces.

mount rushmore ampitheatre

For those visiting later in the day, Mount Rushmore has a stunning evening lighting ceremony held in the amphitheater at 8:00 pm daily until October 2. We didn’t have the chance to view the illuminated sculpture but it’s something I’m going to be sure to schedule into our plans the next time we’re in the area! Sticking to a budget on your vacation? Admission to Mount Rushmore is free, and the parking pass for a private vehicle is just $11.00. Best of all, the pass is good for a full year!

Crazy Horse Memorial

crazy horse memorial in progress

The Crazy Horse Memorial is one of the lesser known attractions of South Dakota, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. The work-in-progress sculpture is being created as a monument to the Native American people and once complete, will be the largest stone sculpture in the world. In fact, just the head of Crazy Horse is larger than all four of the heads of Mount Rushmore combined!

crazy horse native american museum

Admittance to the Crazy Horse Memorial lets visitors explore the Indian Museum of North America, view a video about the creation of the memorial thus far and take photos of the memorial itself. One of the facts that I found most fascinating about this sculpture is that its creator, Korczak Ziolkowski, believed it should be completed without government funding. He thought that to accept government money for its creation would cheapen the emotional value of the monument.

As a result, all funding for the sculpture’s progress comes from donations, admission to the area and fundraising efforts. The price of $28 per carload makes visiting this monument a little more pricey than most attractions in the area, but knowing the money was going towards the creation of the memorial made it worth the cost in my mind.

crazy horse and boys

Looking at the progress of the Crazy Horse Memorial since the carving first began in 1947, I have to say that I have doubts I’ll ever be able to see it complete in my lifetime. But I do have high hopes that my boys might someday be able to see the finished masterpiece. And I’m so happy that they’ll be able to say they once saw it as a work in progress when they were children too. This creation has always been a labour of love for everyone involved and seeing the work currently being done is something that shouldn’t be missed.

Devil’s Tower

devil's tower in the distance

While this amazing natural wonder is actually in Wyoming, it’s only about an hour’s drive from the Black Hills of South Dakota and is a popular destination for people visiting the area. After seeing two powerful examples of the beauty that man can create, it was even more humbling to visit Devil’s Tower and experience the majesty of which nature is capable without any aid from humankind. Approaching the butte is almost as awe-inspiring as arriving, since seeing it from so far away offers a bit of perspective into just how massive it is.

devil's tower with kids at top

But there really are no words to describe actually standing at the base of Devil’s Tower and looking up to its peak. That first view makes it easy to understand why the Native Americans believe the structure is sacred. And after being struck speechless in that first moment, it’s only natural to want to get as close as possible.

The base of Devil’s Tower is a mass of large, broken rocks and climbing to the top of them is a highlight of visiting the area. All four of us clambered up as quickly as we could, often jumping from rock to rock when needed. Once at the top of the rocks and the base of the tower, we made our way through a gap in the trees to quickly touch the base of the butte. But going past the rocks is something that’s restricted for mountain climbers that have registered with the park officials. After watching people scaling the sides, I now have a goal to make it to the top of this structure one day.

devil's tower hiking area

Devil’s Tower also features two hiking trails and numerous viewing points, so after climbing back to the bottom of the butte, we walked the 1.25 mile-long Tower Trail that loops around the base of the structure. It was a fun way for the boys to burn off some energy and let us feel that we’d experienced the area as fully as possible.

The $10-per-vehicle admission also gave us access to a visitor’s center with exhibits, ranger-led activities and a prairie dog town for those that want to spend a little more time in the shadow of this stunning natural wonder.

driving ford edge

Getting to all our must-visit attractions took a bit of driving, but the Ford Edge made every moment enjoyable. Boasting seating for five and a roomy back hatch, it had all the space we needed for our gear while still leaving plenty of room for my boys to move around in the back seat.

I loved the individual climate controls for the driver and passenger that let me enjoy extra heat while Jeremy stayed nice and cool. And with SIRIUS satellite radio for entertainment and Adaptive Cruise Control for safer driving, this car really made our road trip an experience to love!

Visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial! Don't let the picture fool you; the head of Crazy Horse is bigger than all four of the heads of Mount Rushmore combined! My heart is dreaming of seeing the completed sculpture someday…

A photo posted by Kathryn Lavallee (@mommykatandkids) on Jul 31, 2016 at 2:09pm PDT

Once you’re done exploring the Black Hills, make sure to spend some time checking out the great things to do in Deadwood, SD as well! This little city has tons of great kid-friendly attractions and cowboy history to discover!

I have to admit that I was surprised by just how much the Black Hills area had to offer in the way of family fun. From amazing hiking trails to tucked away swimming spots to breathtaking monuments and natural wonders, it’s an area that’s made for exploring. And doing that in style and comfort in the Ford Edge was one of the highlights of our summer this year!

If you’ve never seen these iconic spots, why not plan your own road trip before summer ends? It’s sure to be one your family will remember for years to come!

Filed Under: Travel, USA Tagged With: black hills, crazy, crazy horse, crazy horse memorial, devil's, devil's tower, family road trip, ford, ford canada, ford edge, ford road trip, horse, memorial, monument, monuments, mount rushmore, must-see monuments, must-see south dakota, natural wonder, road, road trip, south dakota, tower, trip, united states, vacation, visit mount rushmore, visit south dakota, wyoming

Comments

  1. jan says

    September 9, 2016 at 10:56 am

    Such incredible scenery. Thank you for sharing you photos!

    Reply
  2. Florence C says

    September 16, 2016 at 12:10 pm

    Looks like a wonderful place to visit. Your pictures are beautiful.

    Reply
  3. Stephanie LaPlante says

    September 16, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    Looks like an awesome place to visit!

    Reply
  4. kristen visser says

    September 16, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    first of all, i totally love that Ford Edge. Hubby and I will be looking for an SUV soon and I love the look of that one 🙂 secondly that look like an awesome place to have a family vacay! it would be so cool and such a great experience to see Mount Rushmore !

    Reply
  5. Debbie White Beattie says

    September 16, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    I still have no idea how back when there were no proper tools and only ambition did they carve Mount Rushmore. I think the people who made it were amazing. But my favorite is Devil’s Tower first because it’s beautiful and second because it’s all natural, nature is a miraculous thing.

    Reply
    • Kathryn says

      September 16, 2016 at 9:35 pm

      I feel the same way, Debbie! It’s incredible what men can do. But we’ve got nothing on nature!

      Reply
  6. loriag says

    September 16, 2016 at 6:18 pm

    I was in SD as a wee girl, but I would love to get back there someday.

    Reply
  7. NickyJ says

    September 16, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    I remember visiting these places when I was a kid. Was a great family vacation.

    Reply
  8. Kim Tanti says

    September 16, 2016 at 11:36 pm

    It looks like it was a great vaca. I wish I was there. BOOHOo

    Reply
  9. Doris Humber says

    September 17, 2016 at 6:21 am

    Beautiful photos…this looks like a place I would enjoy visiting.

    Reply
  10. Gord says

    September 17, 2016 at 8:54 am

    I’m officially jealous, such beautiful scenery. It sounds like a great area to visit.

    Reply
  11. Doris Calvert says

    September 17, 2016 at 10:52 am

    They all look amazing! I watched Jack and Ozzy osbourne go there on a trip and was so interesting!

    Reply
  12. Cheryl says

    September 17, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Looks incredible there

    Reply
  13. Lynda Cook says

    September 17, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    I’m amazed by the Devil’s Tower, it’s huge, it looks like you had a great time!!

    Reply
  14. Judy Cowan says

    September 19, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Sounds like it was a great trip, would be nice to visit the area at some point for a vacation.

    Reply
  15. angela m says

    September 19, 2016 at 8:59 am

    Looks like a great family vacation.

    Reply
  16. Tara Betterley says

    September 23, 2016 at 7:10 am

    My family did this trip two years ago and was so worth it.. Loved seeing Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore and Devil’s tower..

    Reply
  17. Rosanne Robinson says

    September 24, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    Your pics are really beautiful, it looks like a very educational and fun family friendly vacation spot.

    Reply
  18. Jody D says

    September 25, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    Some great shots! Lovely family times!

    Reply
  19. Elva Roberts says

    September 26, 2016 at 11:42 am

    I would really love to visit Mount Rushmore. The sculptor(s) who did these works of art surely knew their craft. I wonder if any other faces will ever be sculpted. This is a fascinating place to visit and a must for anyone who lives near, or can travel to, this wonderful work of art.

    Reply
  20. Laurie P says

    September 27, 2016 at 10:00 am

    South Dakota would be a great place for a family vacation! Such a beautiful place 🙂

    Reply
  21. Tanis says

    September 28, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Wow, great photos and what a nice area to visit! Something on our to-do list!

    Reply
  22. Julie F says

    September 29, 2016 at 4:43 am

    I would love to visit all of these, lets hope one day I will!

    Reply
  23. sharon says

    September 30, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    i visited there years ago,would be interesting to see it all again

    Reply
  24. sarah alexis says

    October 4, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    I’ve never been… but I think I need to add Mount Rushmore to my Bucketlist!!!!

    Reply
  25. Caryn Coates says

    October 5, 2016 at 10:12 am

    Wow, It’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  26. ivy pluchinsky says

    October 7, 2016 at 7:40 am

    Sounds like a fun family trip!

    Reply
  27. Brandon Sparks says

    October 7, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    Wow.. Looks so amazing.. I really need a vacation like this…

    Reply
  28. Christine Murray says

    October 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    What a great blog. Beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  29. Heather Cameron says

    October 27, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    My husband and I just did a bike trip to S.D and it was great! We seen all those monuments and can’t wait to take our daughter when she’s a bit older.

    Reply
  30. loriag says

    November 3, 2016 at 4:45 am

    Those would be amazing places to see.

    Reply
  31. Stephanie says

    November 4, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    Wow, amazing photos! I’d love to visit one day!

    Reply

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