Travel Tips

When you think of the breath taking splendor that is the North American continent, it seems we will never stop being astounded by the beauty all around us in this phenomenal land that God has given us for our home. But every now and then as you re sightseeing in this magnificent land, you gaze upon something so breath taking, so inspiring and yet not entirely made by nature.

We have in diverse locations around our countryside some of the most phenomenal man made works of art that have ever been created. Small wonder that any vacation that sets out to see the wonders of our nation would have to include trips to see such amazing creations as these man made sights that our culture has produced.

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is a perfect example of a magnificent sightseeing stop that combines the greatness of nature with the creativity, tenacity and artistic talent of mankind. In addition its a well crafted monument to the greatness of our leadership especially in the early years of the federation.

It is almost impossible stand and not be awed by these mountain sized tributes to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Some might say that we are participating in a bit of hero worship making such grand statues to our early presidents. To that I say, guilty as charged. And why should we not hold these men as the tremendous heroes that they were and still are? And Mount Rushmore only dramatically brings out our deep sense of gratitude and respect we have for these early presidents who put all on the line to make this country the great nation that it is.

The statue of liberty in the New York harbor is just the kind of fantastic man made sight that both makes its visitors go wow and inspires everyone who sees it because of what that statue stands for. Just like the monuments at Mount Rushmore, Lady Liberty, as she is called is also stunning for the striking physical beauty of the harbor and of Manhattan Island to her North.

As much as we sometimes have mixed feelings about the relationship between the French government and our own, this gift that the French gave to our nation when we were just becoming a real country of our own is such a beautiful reminder of the value and enduring friendships America has with the international community. But more than that, because so much of our citizenry came to this country with little more than a dream and the clothes on their backs, the Statue of Liberty is a dramatic statement that this country is the home of the brave, the land of the free and the place people come to know true liberty in a world where freedom and opportunity are often very scarce indeed.

But not all of the man made wonders you can take in when sightseeing all over America are statues. In a way, the city of Washington DC itself is one huge work of art. This is particularly easy to see when you watch video of shots of the city taken from a helicopter that shows the stunning view looking down the Washington Mall. The elegant and simple Washington monument stands proudly in the center surrounded buy the reflecting pool, the White House, Congress and the most amazing art museum campus in the world, the many buildings of the Smithsonian Institution. The beauty of Washington is so unstoppable that it could not even be contained to one building. Instead to really get a feel for this amazing artistic creation, you need lots of time to explore the nations capital on foot.

The man made wonders that are welcoming you as a visitor all over America are more evidence of how great this country really is. And because they all touch us so deeply because of the combination of the beauty of art and the wonderment of nature, they point to what makes America great too. And that is the glorious country God gave us to live in combined with the heart of a great people who are the nation called America.

There is a hidden treasure in this country. It is a vacation spot that has amazing mountains, lakes for fishing and boating and something very special to top it all off as well. That hidden treasure is tucked in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

For most people, when you think of great sightseeing vacation spots, you might think of New England, California, Florida or Colorado. And too be sure, those are outstanding American sightseeing locations. That is why this hidden treasure is such a gem. The Black Hills provide all of the pleasure of mountain relaxation but without the crowds that you will run into in Colorado or one of the major tourist destinations like Yellowstone. The Black Hills have ample sites for camping, lakes for fishing or boating and trails for hiking so you can commune with nature to your hearts content.

Moreover, you may find the Black Hills to be even more rustic than some of the better known vacation locations. Dont be surprised as you drive along on your way into those beautiful mountains when you find yourself in the middle of a large herd of buffalo or elk roaming free in the wilderness of South Dakota. That kind of face to face contact with wildlife and nature is quite common in these scenic hills.

But of all the hidden treasures that these beautiful hills hide, one magnificent national treasure stands out as a location that every family will want to visit at least once if not many times. And that is the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This memorial to the leaders of this great nation in its first 150 years is famous for its power, its elegance and what it says about greatness in America.

When you first walk out on the visitors center plaza and glimpse these magificent memorials to Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, your reaction will be typical if you cannot help but say wow. Part of it is the sheer size of these amazing works of art. We, as Americans, are always in awe of the talent that God gives to great artists. But when the outcome of the artistic vision results in a memorial that is the size of a mountain itself, that is a sight that leaves a lasting impression on the heart and on the soul.

We wont give away any secrets but be sure you watch the film that gives the story of the creation of these amazing sculptures of the heads of four of our greatest presidents. With most works of art, we see the skill, talent and effort of one inspired artist working to complete his vision. But when you look at Mount Rushmore, you have to notice that this kind of tremendous work of art could only be the result of the work of an army of workers along with the legislative skills of Congress to approve the project and the tenacity of a team of designers and visionaries to see the project through the many years that Mount Rushmore was in the making.

Many movies have been made at the site of Mount Rushmore and it has been depicted often in photographs and engravings showing the great patriotic locations around the country. Truly, Mount Rushmore ranks right up there with the great statues on the Washington DC mall, the historic sights in Boston or New York or any of the great architectural wonders around this great land of ours.

The simple elegance of those faces will make you want to draw closer than is humanly possible to bond with this art in a greater way. But the park officials are wise to keep the eager crowds back to the observation deck because not only is it possible to get hurt coming too close to these great statues, you really cannot truly appreciate their grandeur and beauty except from a distance of almost a mile away.

As you and your family leave the Mount Rushmore National Monument, you will all have different impressions and inspirations that come from viewing a work of art of this scope and magnitude. Take advance of this moment of quiet reverence to reflect together on how the impact of Mount Rushmore inspires greater patriotism in all of us and a call to great achievement in even the most average of Americans. If that is your inspiration, the creators of the Mount Rushmore memorial will feel like they have done their jobs well.

When you think of heading out to do some serious sightseeing in America, we often associate that with vacation times. And to be sure, those times are especially fun because you can be with family and friends and take in the heart stopping sights that are so unique to our great country.

But for many of us, traveling on business can be as much a part of our travel life as family vacation time is. Of course, on a business trip you have to be focused on the purpose of the business trip itself. But if your business takes you to some of the truly great parts of our country, its allowable for you to use that time you are serving your business well to enjoy the glory that God has put around us all over this great land.

Airplanes can provide some of the most spectacular ways to take in sights from the vantage point of the air. If you are flying over one of the spectacular mountain ranges of this country, you can gaze down and daydream about the pioneers who crossed those mountains to explore the country and spread its scope from coast to coast. If your imagination is active that day, you may speculate on where those roads down there lead and on how it would be to live in one of those remote towns you see scattered in the majestic but rustic mountain locations.

But the mountains are not the only sights of this country that can take your breath away when you fly over head. The sights of Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, of the shoreline of Chicago, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Cod, to name just a few, are even more stunning when seen from the air. You wont be able to see such things on every flight, but when they become visible, dont forget to close the laptop for a minute and take in these rare treats when they present themselves.

But the opportunities to catch a moment to take in a great sightseeing treat while on a business trip do not end when the plane lands. Many times conferences and big meetings are scheduled in some of the great cities of our country. So dont just hang around the hotel after the job is done. If you dont have business activities in the evening a cab ride through the city hitting the big attractions can be most enjoyable. Many cities have sights worth seeing that you never have to get out of your vehicle to enjoy. But taking some time to get out and walk in a memorial park, go to the best museum in town or take in the atmosphere in one of the ethnic neighborhoods can take a routine business trip and make it truly memorable.

You might also consider extending your stay in a particularly interesting part of the city or state you are going to go on business to give yourself the chance to get out and really jump into the local color or to give a great attraction or sight the time it deserves to really enjoy it. If you can afford to give yourself a whole Saturday just for sightseeing, you will come home from that business trip with an enhanced sense of accomplishment because you not only accomplished the goals of the trip, you enriched your life seeing one of the great and maybe spectacular sights that makes our country so unique.