Mount Rushmore in South Dakota

Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is an iconic American landmark that you have to see (preferably as part of a lengthy cross-country road trip) at least once. Carved between 1927-1941 by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln, Rushmore features 60 foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.  

Wall Drug in South Dakota

To truly appreciate what Wall Drug is, you first have to abandon any notions that you might have about your typical drug store. Located in Wall, South Dakota this elaborate strip mall is one of the few reasons you'd probably stop in this little town along the interstate.

Opened in 1931, Wall Drug has evolved over the decades into a massive roadside tourist attraction featuring shops, restaurants, kitschy western displays, and of course, a drug store.  What makes Wall Drug unique is in how it advertises. You can't drive anywhere in South Dakota without seeing a billboard along any of the interstates, many promoting "Free Ice Water". 

In fact, there's a display of photos throughout the store showing people holding a Wall Drug sign all over the world and saying how far away they are from it. Wall Drug even marks their geographical coordinates right next to their doors in case you needed further proof that you've actually arrived. We spent an hour looking around and buying souvenirs. 

Wall Drug is one of those quirky roadside attractions that you just have to see for yourself.

Close Encounters at Devils Tower in Wyoming

A geological wonder and the backdrop for Spielberg's 1977 science fiction classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Devils Tower is an unmistakable landmark in eastern Wyoming. Flat on top and vertically lined, Devils Tower is also referred to as "Bear Lodge" and is depicted in Native American artwork with a giant bear clawing its sides creating its distinct facade.

 

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is one of those iconic American landmarks that you have to see at least once in person. Carved between 1927-1941 by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln Borglum, Rushmore features 60 foot heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.  

It was on a 2007 road trip that my friend Andrea and I made our way to South Dakota. We also stopped off at Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Chimney Rock in Nebraska, and the other nearby mountain sculpture, the Crazy Horse Memorial also in South Dakota.

From North by Northwest to Team America, there's always something pretty cool about seeing a landmark in real life that you've already seen so many times in pop culture. For instance, I had no idea what the area around Mount Rushmore actually looked like, or that you could walk a trail that lead directly below the mountain. It gave me a completely different perspective on something that I thought I'd already seen. Plus, there was a surprising amount of other things to do surrounding Mount Rushmore that made for some pretty entertaining exploring.

The original design of the completed Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore in a rainy fog.

The view from the trail below Mount Rushmore.

Jumping in the rain at Mount Rushmore.