During our visit to the Mt Rushmore area we stayed in two Choice Hotels. We stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Rapid City for 3 nights and the Comfort Inn & Suites in Custer for one night Comfort Inn & Suites Rapid City, SD Comfort Inn & Suites in Rapid City is located on a…
Crazy Horse Memorial
A short 6 miles away from Custer, SD is the great Crazy Horse Memorial. When finished, it will be the largest sculpture in the world at 641 feet wide and 563 feet high. Started in 1948 the sculpture commemorates the Native American people and was sanctioned by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear. “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to…
Custer State Park, Iron Mountain Road, and Needles Highway
We took Highway 16 to Iron Mountain Road to get to Custer State Park. Iron Mountain Road goes through Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Custer State Park. Planned by Governor Peter Norbeck, the ninth governor of South Dakota, Iron Mountain Road is a gorgeous drive of twists, hairpin turns, and narrow single…
Driver's Licenses, Passports, and Birth Certificates
A very bad, no good day. This morning I met some girlfriends for a walk. Not wanting to leave my wallet in my car while we walked, I drove over with just my driver’s license hidden under the garage door openers. After a great walk and standing around talking for another 30 minutes, I…
We're Not Kidding – Alaska as a Family Destination
Ah, Alaska. Such a beautiful state. But if you’re like me, seemingly so far away that many of us don’t consider it as a family vacation destination. Today for Thursday Travel Thoughts, we welcome guest blogger Erin Kirkland from AKontheGo.com to tell us why we should. We’re Not Kidding Alaska as a Family Destination Excuse me, we’d…
Littleton Museum
Littleton Museum – Littleton, CO History – Art – Culture Free The Littleton Museum is a great educational outing for the family. This year the museum is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary. Children will enjoy the indoor exhibits and the outdoor period farms. Parents will appreciate the educational aspect and the free admission. I took the kiddos…
5 Tips for Visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
A great day trip from the Denver area is down to Colorado Springs. Our choice for the day, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. It only took us a little over an hour to get to the Zoo from the Denver area. The Zoo is located on Cheyenne Mountain, hence the name. It is set in…
How to Slow Down and Enjoy a Zoo Trip with Kids
Take clipboards, paper, and pencils to the zoo. It can be difficult to make children slow down when visiting the zoo. They want to see as many animals as they can and fast! One way to help them slow down is to have them stop and draw the animals. We’ve enjoyed many leisurely trips to the…
Tips for Avoiding Bed Bugs at Your Hotel
Bed bugs are in the news again. I know. I shuddered too. I think we’ve all heard of stories of these nasty creatures hitchhiking rides home from hotels. Nightmare stories of infested homes that need new furniture and carpet come to mind. At Hotel Check-In, Barbara De Lollis tells us how to handle a bed…
10 Tips for Visiting the Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO I’ve been motivated to finally take a couple trips that I’ve always meant to do. You know, day trips to local attractions that you always put off for another day. “We can always do that next week”? Or next year? But you never get around to it?…