america the beautiful

Judd and Emily at the top of Independence Rock

It has been my lifelong wish to visit Mt. Rushmore, so David, Emily, Judd and I hit the road. We missed Chloe who had to work and Sadie who is serving a mission. On day one, we drove to Casper Wyoming, and stopped off at Independence Rock. Independence Rock is just a few miles from Martin's Cove and was a landmark on the Oregon and California Trail.  It was named Independence Rock at a 4th of July celebration and it was noted that travelers who reached Independence Rock by July 4th were sure to reach their destination before winter snow. Apparently the Martin/Willie handcart company didn't get the memo because they left Nebraska on August 27th.




Day two we drove to South Dakota and visited Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park. South Dakota is the 40th state I have visited and is absolutely beautiful!  Mt. Rushmore was everything I hoped it would be.

On day three we drove to the little resort town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado and spent the night.

We finished up our trip with a visit to Dinosaur National Monument near Vernal, Utah.

Driving on all the little roads through the back country of America helped me realize just how blessed we are. We drove through four different states and saw all different terrain, each breathtakingly beautiful, and evidence of a loving Heavenly Father. "All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." Alma 30:44