Nate and Jill's Post-its: Cross Country Roadtrip Day #3

Sight-seeing day! The animals were able to rest in the hotel room while Nathan and I became "ultimate tourists" and I finally got to see MT. RUSHMORE!!! It was everything that I had every hoped and more :) I was almost giddy as we were walking up the pathway with all of the state's flags. Then I made Nathan take a picture in front of the same walkway where he looks like a little boy in his Wolverine shirt. We even found our favorite state!

Took a walk around the Presidential Trail Loop to get a closer view of the sculptures. It was there that we realized that Nathan seems to resemble a certain somebody on that mountainside. Can you guess who?

Next we checked out the Crazy Horse monument. Since Nathan visited the park as a kid they have managed to complete his face (this was slightly more exciting than the armpit that Nathan remembered seeing back in the day).

Took a scenic drive through Custer State Park next (within the Black Hills National Forest) and saw some antelope and buffalo. Nathan decided to stop at a little creek to munch on his chips and salsa. The entire park reminded us of being in Yellowstone 2 summers ago with our families.

Custer State Park turned into Wind Cave National Park and we stopped again for a scenic view (where this time I had some tasty blueberries).

Next we checked out the town of Hot Springs (the hometown of Nathan's Grandpa Schmunk) and explored the Mammoth Site. They have uncovered bones from 56 young adult male Columbian and Woolly Mammoths in this former sink hole and give tours at the actual dig site. Pretty cool.

We were confused about the next fossil though. Supposedly this was an extinct giant bear (larger than a grizzly), but we didn't remember this bone from anatomy class....were the archaeologists just messing with us?