The summer has flown by. Every summer seems to go by faster than the previous summer. This summer the kids and I decided to go on vacation even though my husband could not get the time off. As a kid my family would go on a month long vacation always out west somewhere. The starting and ending place was always Estes Park, Colorado, area. We visited several places before we ever got there.
Mitchell, South Dakota, was our first tourist stop. I remember this as a small child. Every summer a different set of pictures are displayed using corn, thus calling this the Corn Palace. If you have never seen it before and are traveling through South Dakota, it is well worth the stop.
This view is only one of many on the building. We watched a man creating the pictures. Fasinating.
I am very much into genealogy. I have been researching my family, both sides, and my husband's family, both sides, for about twelve years now. My parents and one of my sisters also enjoys this. She and I are trying to connect the Wadsworth family with the Longfellow family. So far we have nothing, just hunches. Then there is my other sister who has different interests. That is okay. That leaves more for me to find. :-) My paternal grandfather was brought to the South Dakota territory to be raised by his grandparents when he was a small boy along with his siblings. So we visited an old cemetery where his grandparents are buried. A moving experience for me. Not so much for my children as you can see.
Off towards Rapid City
Okay, the only way to describe the Badlands is that it is so ugly it is beautiful. The sun setting on the Badlands casts beautiful shadows and brings out the striped colors in the formations. I could go again and again.
Awesome.
I tried to pack as much into the week and a half that I could. I think my kids heads' were swimming. While in Rapid City area, we went up to Devil's Tower in northeast Wyoming. It is not that far and was well worth the trip.
Wow. They say that as you are traveling to see Devil's Tower and go around a bend - all of a sudden there it is, rising above all else around it. It have to say that it was cool. It far exceeded my expectations. The pictures I had seen of it were not that thrilling. Pictures do it no justice. The day we visited there were six groups of people climbing Devil's Tower. Yikes! What were they thinking! It is straight up. But there are those people that like that sort of thing. That is fine. It gives the rest of us something to talk and write about. The picture above is of one couple we watched. I think one was a woman. Go, girl!
Okay, for the next attraction
We visited the Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. The last time I was here I has one and a half. I remember going there. But it looks different now.
Mt. Rushmore
Words cannot describe this monument. Visit. Take the hike around it. I do have to tell you that the trail gets your heart pumping. But it is well worth it. We did not have a chance to go back at night. It is lit up and said to be breathtaking.
Custer State Park is near by. It is known for its wildlife such as buffalo, three-pronged antelope, deer, and burros. I think we got more kick out of the burros. They almost "attack" you as you get out of your vehicle. They are so used to being fed that you are just one more place to get food.
Most people were feeding the burros carrots, although I saw some feeding them corn curls.
This one is learning early.
Wyoming: Guernsey, Wyoming. A little known community. There one can see Register Cliffs, Oregon Trail Ruts, and much history. Just east of Guernsey is Fort Laramie. Wow. Makes one appreciate how we live today.
Here we come, Colorado!
For me it was like going home. Many summers our family had spent here. Hiking, breathing the fresh air and pine, watching the hummingbirds, sitting by the campfire, and trying to stay warm at night. I was thrilled to introduce the mountains, Estes Park mountain range, to my kids. When the word "WOW" came out of their mouths, I knew it was a hit.
We rented a cottage with the most gorgeous view. The cottage was not on the top of my list. The stove did not work, and neither did the hot plate. That made life interesting for four days. Anyway, we had a very relaxing and fun time around the area.
This view from our cottage was worth the stove not working.
When you visit Estes Park, there are a few places you must take in. One is Trail Ridge Road. It is the highest paved road in the United States. The views are outstanding. Take a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket with you. The weather is unpredictable. I have been up there when the wind almost knocked you over. This time it was just cold. The Continental Divide is just around the corner at this point.
You must also visit Bear Lake. If you can, plan to take a hike around Bear Lake. When I was a kid, Bear Lake was just a beginning mark for us. We would hike on up to the other lakes in this area. The highest we got was the top of Flattop Mountain. Awesome.
Did I mention why we decided to go on vacation when we did? Well, it is because three of my siblings had decided to climb Longs Peak. It is a mountain in the Estes Park area. It ended up being my two brothers, one of my sisters, and three of her kids. They started up the mountain about 2:15 a.m. One made it to the top; the rest almost made it. The winds were so strong that the five remaining decided not to chance it. There is always next year. Who knows? Maybe I will lose some pounds and try it too. ?
My other sister was not able to join us.
My son decided that he was to be the photographer when we were in Colorado. He is learning. But he captured the best picture.
I forgot one last place to visit:
My daughter finally got my son good. What do they say - Payback!
It was sad leaving this area. But we still needed to see Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and the Air Force Academy.
Great place to stop at. The Chapel is very impressive. The campus is huge.
We took the cog train up Pikes Peak. A must. You can drive up, but consider the wear and tear on your vehicle.
On a clear day you can see Kansas, Utah, and other surrounding states. Words cannot describe the view.
I think the only picture we have that the three of us are in is at the "Welcome to Wyoming" sign.
Garden of the Gods: Weird stuff. See it. We came here when I was quite young. I remember Balanced Rock (which we called Shipwreck).
Then there is Kissing Camels. Both still there. Both still cool.
By this time the kids, being gone for eleven days, are homesick and tired of being gone. So we headed for home.
If you ever get a chance to stop at the visitor center on I-80 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, do so. It was very impressive. It has quite a display of the history of traveling west and prairie life. It was also a good place to stop and rest.
Whew! There is twelve days out of my fast summer.
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