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Mount Rushmore: Gold & a Wagon Ride
2022
Mon, Oct 3 – Fri, Oct 7
(5 Days)
Bus Trip
Walking Level: Moderate
Join us for a trip to a most wonderful area of the country, Scenic South Dakota!
We'll begin our trip by traveling to the Black Hills of South Dakota to see if we can strike it big by panning for some gold! Take a step back in time and find some gold in the area of the country that has some of the richest gold veins on Earth. We will learn all about the South Dakota Gold Rush, how to pan for gold, and how to spot other minerals and rocks of this area.
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When we've finished, we'll head on over to the world's largest collection of Teddy Bears at Teddy Bear Town. This astonishing collection has over 10,000 teddy bears located in a small structure where every inch of the building is covered, including the ceiling! The owner has a story for each one, how she came to own it, and each bear has their story pinned to the front, there is even one dating back to the early 1900's.
Our next stop brings us to Mount Rushmore. This iconic monument is tucked in the Black Hills of western South Dakota, this will be an impressive sight you won't want to miss. The sculptures stand at 60 feet tall and cover over one thousand acres and are a stunning memorial to our late Presidents. No wonder it took approximately 14 years to create. We will take time to enjoy lunch at the park with a spectacular view.
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After lunch, we will make our way to Blue Bell Lodge for a Chuckwagon Ride. Nestled in the mountains, this 45-minute scenic hayride will bring us through Custer State Park, and if we're lucky, we may get a sighting of the areas wildlife. That evening we will enjoy a western cookout with delicious foods such as Cowboy Beans, cornbread, and coleslaw while joining in on a sing-a-long. Talk about classic Western entertainment!
Our final activity of this trip brings us to the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone, South Dakota. This exciting and patriotic experience will allow us to see over 100 lifelike wax figures, including all 46 presidents. The museum also offers original oil paintings, voting booths from the 2000 presidential election, and of course a huge gift shop filled with unique gifts so you can bring a quirky souvenir home!
