Mt Rushmore area activities for different age groups?
 

We have a large group planning a trip to the Rapid City, SD area next summer. We'll have a 3 little kids, 3 elementary aged kids, some high schoolers, college kids, adults, and a couple of grandma's.

We're not opposed to breaking up into smaller groups and would appreciate your recommendations for activities that will appeal to certain ages as well as for the whole group.

Also, where should we go to get wet if it's hot? A lake? Is there a nice waterpark?

Any good restaurants?

Finally, is there an Entertainment book for the area and is it worth buying?

Thank you.

We were there last summer and have yet
organised a next visit in July 2006.
In 2005, we were only parents and in 2006 with our childrens, 12 and 19 yeras old...
There is fun for all the family :
-Custer park hikes are easy and scenic,
but drives are full of wild life...The
lakes there are wonderfull.
-mammoth site is interesting for all the family and the small towns around-
Hill city, Hot springs are western like with a lot of interesting western shops.
-Badlands are also for the whole family with hikes going from easy to moderately streanous and you can also
see wildlife.
-Wind cave is wonderfull.
-Deadwood is "typic" in architecture but not so interesting in fun except during the days of '76(rodeo,...)
-Spearfish canyon is wonderfull.
-not so far, Devil's tower would be good for all.
-and finally don't miss Mount Rushmore and Crazy horse memorial with for this last one of the nicest indian art collection we've seen.
In rapid City the Journey museum is
very interesting.
You can find our trip report on the site..
Erik

AJ: click on my screen name to see my trip report also.

There were 2 things we did not do that may interest your group: Evan's Plunge (indoor water part) & the Mammoth Site at Hot Springs.

You will love SD!!!!

We're in Rapid fairly often for soccer tournaments and other family stuff--tons to do for all ages! There's a waterslide park on the edge of Rapid that's perfect on a hot summer day. Near there is also a go-cart facility that also has bumper cars and bumper boats--very fun. We couldn't drag my husband out of there this summer--LOL. Bear Country U.S.A. and Reptile Gardens would appeal to the younger kids--very touristy but perfect for the younger ages. My children are now 13 and 16 and still talk about the chicken they saw years ago that played tic-tac-toe at Reptile Gardens :-) Funny what they remember!

Check out the alpine slide in Keystone (the town by Mt. Rushmore)--all ages should like that. Mt. Rushmore has a jr. rangers program where the smaller kids can earn a badge if they fill in an answer book while in the visitors' center. I'd recommend doing the faces at night--the evening program is patriotic and touching.

Restaurants--Fuddruckers at the mall is a huge favorite with my kids. The Firehouse Brewery downtown has good food and works well for groups.

Botticelli downtown has marvelous Italian food--make reservations.

I can give you tons of hotel recs for Rapid. If you're interested in staying near the hills, check out Custer State Park, but do it soon for summer 2006.

I watched Hitchcock's 'North by Northwest' just this week on TCM and am now interested in also making a Mt Rushmore trip. Please post trip report upon return.