Mount Rushmore
- Spencer
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 13
Every now and then, we enjoy a date in the great outdoors. We are not campers or skilled hikers, climbers or hunters. But we enjoy beautiful scenery. And we particularly enjoy the wealth of sights within the National Park System.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a short drive from Rapid City, SD, through a pretty forest and hills. It is free to access, with ample availability in a parking garage on site. We were fortunate to go on a clear, comfortable day in late September. The introductory walkway of state flags and historical facts is fantastic. We held hands and made our way to the base of the famous structure. A lot of people end up seeing this memorial in childhood, on family road trips. Neither Nikki nor myself had that experience, so seeing Mount Rushmore for the first time together was special.
We definitely don't feel comfortable hiking through a forest. However, Mount Rushmore has an excellent paved walkway around the structure - the Presidential Trail. It is safe, easygoing (a few sets of stairs, but they can be tackled slowly) and very scenic. You see the famous heads from many different angles. You also see grand vistas looking out down the surrounding hills.
There is a great gift shop near the entrance / exit, full of souvenirs, artwork, jewelry and oddities. There is also a cafe and ice cream shop. We were entertained to learn about Thomas Jefferson's original vanilla ice cream, which they serve and we devoured. Mount Rushmore is a pleasant escape into tamed wilderness, a place to get fresh air and reflect. And a wonderful date to share as husband and wife.
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