Crazy Horse

A trip to the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore would not be complete without going to see Crazy Horse. The Crazy Horse Memorial was started June 3, 1948 by Sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski and Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear. The mission of the Crazy Horse memorial is to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians.

The work on the largest stone sculpture continues by the Ziolkowski family. Korczak and his wife Ruth had ten children many of which have worked on the Crazy Horse Memorial and continue the work there today.

There is a wonderful Indian Museum of North America on the Crazy Horse Memorial Grounds. Several years ago my grandmother told me we are Choctaw Indian. Ever since that revelation I have become more interested in the Native American Heritage and the museums. There are beautiful arts and crafts on display. The Museum is home to a massive tribal flag collection that is on display. There are amazing artifacts which bring the history and culture of the Native American Tribes to life.

I encourage you to include this as a destination on a trip to South Dakota. They have events and displays for all ages including children of all ages. It is a full day to see both Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore in the same day.

For more information see the Crazy Horse website: http://crazyhorsememorial.org/

Mount Rushmore

My first glimpse of Mount Rushmore through the trees as we came around the corner.

This is me at my first full view of Mount Rushmore driving up the mountain before entering. the park

The Black Hills of South Dakota were beathtakingly beautiful as we meandered around the mountains. We saw chipmunks, Rocky Mountain Goats and various birds. Coming around a curve in the road I got the first glimpse of Mount Rushmore. It is one of those National treasures that I felt I had to see on my trip to the Dakotas. I had no preconceptions only the occasional photo or post card someone shared with me. From a distance it was beautiful and easily recognizable. It was interesting the National Park has no entrance fee but there was an $11 parking fee for cars (more for RVs and buses).

Do not deprive yourself of going into the park itself. Mount Rushmore is a beautiful symbol for hope, and unity in these United States. There is an awesome trail around the mountain
with plaques detailing the history and the making of Mount Rushmore. There are places
to sit and take it all in as well as on the walking path.

For more information on Mount Rushmore
see their website: http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm

A Word On Rental Cars

As an avid traveler I enjoy traveling both home and abroad. My first trip outside the US was at age six months to Africa. I totally enjoyed a two week adventure in North and South Dakota. I have a list of places I want to go and one personal goal has been to see all fifty states. I only have six left to complete that goal.

On this particular trip I had planned to fly into South Dakota and out of North Dakota. I planned to rent a car at the South Dakota Airport and return it to the North Dakota Airport. I was easily able to purchase airline tickets in this manner. What was impossible for a reasonable fee was the rental car. Neither of the airports in question would allow rental at one airport and return to the other one. I thought it might be because I was crossing state lines. So, I tried one rental car on one side of the state and another on the other side of the state. I tried rental car companies both in and out of several airports. I called numerous rental car companies in each combination I chose. I finally found someone that would do it or an additional $1,000. Needless to say I flew in and out of the same airport.

I did rent a car from and returned it to the Rapid City Airport. Unfortunately, this changed my route and travel plans based on the inability to be accommodated by the rental car industry. So word to the wise call all modes of transportation and be sure you can book what you want to do before you start paying for reservations as there are fees to change reservations. I did have to change airlines, and pay a fee, as I had booked one airline into Rapid City and another out of Bismarck before I discovered the Rental Car issue.

Remember, if there are to be multiple drivers get them all listed with the rental car company so they will be covered. You will want to be sure your personal automobile insurance covers the rental car before you decide to decline the insurance coverage from the rental car company. I have rented cars from various rental car companies in many states within the United States with ease. I have been pleased with the cars and the customer service by the companies I have used. In this experience I describe it was a lack of knowledge on my part as it never occurred to me that it would not be possible to rent in one airport and return at another airport as I have done it in the past in more metropolitan area of the country.