Thursday, September 13, 2012

Visiting Frankenmuth Michigan
 
 
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland Entrance at Frankenmuth MI.
This is the best Christmas store we've
ever visited, spent hours and money and
really enjoyed. It is by far one of the largest
in the country if not the world. Worth a visit and allow
enough time to enjoy. Parking for large RV's.
 
Bronner's Wonderland
 
 
 
The address:
25 Christmas Lane 
It's a Wonderland throughout!
 
One of many themes to see and purchase
 Christmas ornaments. NFL, College Football,
to states, to popular tourist sites of ornaments. 
 
 
 



 
 
Zehnder's on Main St
Great chicken dinners
 
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Visiting Mackinaw Michigan

 
 
Leaving the Dakotas we headed back East with our next
stop at Mackinaw Michigan.
We have visited the area before and we loved it so much
we went back for another visit.
 
Lake Michigan Highway View heading to Mackinaw
 

Heading to Mackinaw Island with bridge in background.
No rain just spray from the ride.

The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island

Grand Hotel - Mackinac Island, Michigan
Grand Hotel up Close

The main street on Mackinaw Island where the
ferry lands. No motorized vehicles on the island
Michigan Governor's Summer Mansion on the
island.
 
Judy and Betty shoppin' the island
 
Arch Rock at Mackinaw State Park 
 
 
 

Friday, September 7, 2012

Needles Highway Scenic Drive, Custer State Park, SD

Needles Highway is located within the Custer State Park
and a part ot the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.
Needles Highway is 14 miles of scenic and rugged
granite mountains. The name Needles came
from the needle-like granite formations that can been
seen on the highway.
(Friday,  September 7, 2012)
 
Needles Hwy Tunnel 4 - Hood Tunnel heading toward
Sylvan Lake Lodge from Hill City SD
 
Our entry to Needles was from Hill City
SD Highway 87 at the Sylvan Lake area.
Above is the Lodge we passed travelling Needles Hwy.

View from the Sylvan Lake Lodge
 
 
At least two doe forward right along the highway.
Needles Eye just before Tunnel 5
at 6340 feet on Needles Hwy.

Judy is dwarfed around the Needles Eye area

Tunnel 5 Needles Eye Tunnel - 8'4" wide

Needles Eye Tunnel Opposite


Peter Norbeck, Govenor and Senator
of South Dakota was instrumental for Needles Highway
and he also brought sculptor Gutzon Borglum to South Dakota
to ultimately carve Mount Rushmore.

Norbeck also convinced Presidents Coolidge and Franklin Roosevelt to
provide support and funding for Mount Rushmore.

Cathedral Spires


Needles was the original site selected
for Mt Rushmore and rejected by
sculptor Gutzon Borglum because the
granite was too thin

Tunnel 6

Couldn't resist. It says Air Mail.
Could it also be for snow mail?

Tunnel 2
 
Ahead view after Tunnel 2
 
Tourists in the middle of the road 
 
 Tunnel 1 on Iron Mountain Road
 
 
View after Tunnel 1 on Rt 16A
View of Keystone SD village
as we exit the Needles Highway area.
 
 
More glimpses of Mt Rushmore
as we return to Hill City SD
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Jewel Cave National Mounument - South Dakota

The Jewel Cave National Mounument
Discovered about 1900 by two brothers Frank and Albert Michaud
South Dakota prospectors. It was proclaimed
part of the national park system in 1908.
The cave is full of sparkling calcite crystals.

Jewel Cave is named for its many rooms and passages covered
 with jewel-like crystals
There are over 140 miles of documented cave.
Credit is given to Herb and Jan Conn who started
in 1959 logging over 6000 hours of exploration.
Narrow stair well meander along
and up and down the Jewel Cave
visit. Mostly lit by artifcial lighting.
This is a view of a cave room
with crystal laden walls
Stalactites in this view

Looking closely you can see Betty and Steve
 climbing stairs common throughout
the tour.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Mount Rushmore National Memorial


Mount Rushmore carving began August 10, 1927
with sculptor Gutzon Borglum. It took 14 years to
complete the project on October 31, 1941. Borglum
died in March 1941 and his son Lincoln Borglum
completed the work. Lincoln became the memorial's
first superintendent.

These first few pictures were taken in early
evening and then darkness when the lights
come on.


Mt Rushmore honors veterans each evening at
8 PM on the outdoor stage. The park ranger
was an excellent moderator and is commended.

Steve and Betty

Mount Rushmore outdoor ampitheater
 





The Park Ranger was excellent and very knowledgeable
It took 14 years to complete and with no fatalities during
the process.






Each face is 60 feet high.
Each eye is 11 feet wide



 
This view of Mt Rushmore (Washington) from the Needles area.
 
Gutzon Borglum, Mt Rushmore Sculptor






Click the site below for information that will add
to you understanding of Mount Rushmore


Trivia: Recently many, for different reasons have suggested
our current president be added to the Mt Rushmore sculpture.
The National  Park Service spokesman at the memorial said that
what remains of any rock formation is not strong enough for any
additional work. Further, it has been suggested prior to current president, to add different people.
 The portion to the right of Lincoln
will not endure.