Theodore Roosevelt National Park Attractions
Home > Family Vacations >
USA National Parks Family Vacations >
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Attractions
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Attractions
 | Chateau de Mores Medora, ND • 701-623-4355 While it's not a traditional chateau, this 26-room summer home was where French aristocrat Marquis de Mores and his American bride, Medora, staked their dreams in 1883. The Marquis hoped to make a fortune in cattle and beef that was to be shipped east. Those grand plans went bust as did many local ranches (including Theodore Roosevelt's) after a brutal herd-killing winter and devastating spring floods. The interpretive center gives visitors a feel for early settlers' big dreams, hardscrabble times and the legacy they left behind. There's a special living history tour specifically for kids given at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and an actor portraying the Marquis gives a few free talks on Saturdays. Historic walking tours of Medora can be downloaded from the historical society website. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Medora Musical Medora, ND • 800-633-6721 For evenings, the must-do double-header is the pitchfork steak fondue and Medora Musical. At the fondue, steaks are skewered onto pitchforks and plunged into vats of boiling oil. Kids can opt for hot dogs, and everyone can dine on a terrace high above town with sweeping views of the badlands illuminated by the setting sun. The country's most amazing open-air escalator ride descends seven stories into a 2,800-seat amphitheater for the two-hour Medora Musical that's been going strong for more than 40 years. It's a bit hokey at times, but kids love it -- especially with real horses, joke-telling, special effects, guest acts such as comedians or Chinese acrobats, and the chance to go on stage. The patriotic parts inevitably tug adults' heartstrings. The outdoor setting, where elk wander up the hills behind the stage, adds to the magic. When it's done, kids can meet the actors and get autographs. And they'll leave knowing even more about cowboys, North Dakota and Teddy Roosevelt. Depending on the time of year, it can be a little chilly at the outdoor amphitheater, so blankets can be a good idea for the whoop-it-up song-and-dance show. The welcome center doubles as a museum with vintage costumes, photos and interpretive panels on how this popular production started and evolved over four decades. Concessions are available during the show. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Peaceful Valley Ranch Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora, ND • 701-623-4568 The most historic way to see the park is from the back of a horse the way Teddy Roosevelt did. There are more than 80 miles of trails to explore in the South Unit alone, including the petrified forest (where prehistoric palms, cypress and redwood turned to stone), Halliday Wells and Painted Canyon. Peaceful Valley Ranch offers horse rentals and guided trail rides with lessons and interpretive talks along the way. Riders must be 7 years old and 54 inches tall. You can also reserve rides with Medora Riding Stables. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Visitor Center & Maltese Cabin 315 2nd Avenue Medora, ND • 701-623-4466 Theodore Roosevelt National Park greets visitors with one of its most impressive views at Painted Canyon Visitor Center right along Interstate 94. The South Unit's official entrance can be reached through the Medora exit. Admission is $10, which is good for seven days. The Visitor Center near the entrance has extensive displays on Theodore Roosevelt, but also an impressive prehistoric crocodile-like skeleton from the badlands' days as an ancient swamp. With films, books and maps, it's the best place to get oriented, figure out the best hikes and grab a free junior ranger workbook or family fun pack with field guides and binoculars. Rangers offer daily tours of Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin at the visitor center where the 36-mile scenic loop drive begins. It passes at least four prairie dog towns, along with easy, interpretive places to hike including Ridgeline, Coal Vein and Wind Canyon trails. Pre-trip tip: The national park site has coloring pages and activities related to the park on its website. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
Read more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park Resorts Read more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park Family Vacations
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...