writer, editor, crafty gal
Crazy Horse Monument is almost inconceivably big. This is a rendering of what the final sculpture is supposed to look like.
Here is the monument from a distance–you have to pay extra to get up close but we opted not to (I don’t even remember why–I think we were in a hurry). At any rate, to give you some idea how big this thing is there is a tiny tractor at the base of the sculpture, as you can see below.
Craziness!
Cropped to see some detail. Pretty spectacular!
I always wanted to visit Mount Rushmore. And I always figured I’d be disappointed or underwhelmed but when I finally saw it–glimpsing it the evening I arrived at Keystone–I thought it was awesome. I got weirdly excited and felt kind of emotional.
It’s a pretty spectacular sight and it’s an incredible tribute to some of the great leaders of the past. It’s beautifully executed and majestic. I would go back–also because I never made it to the Reptile Park, which was a bummer!
While this is a weak example, the I-90, the highway that cuts across South Dakota is littered with promotional signs for Wall Drug. A drug store tourist trap that is a must-see in South Dakota–if only to answer the mysterious call of the dozens of billboards that boast all manner of exotic treasures at the legendary Wall Drug.
An 80-foot dinosaur greets you in Wall, South Dakota, along the highway. If you head into town you see the infamous store.
I don’t want to ruin the Wall Drug experience for anyone! So only a couple of pics of the inside. It’s a wacky labyrinth of mini shops offering everything from jackalopes to cowboy hats and everything in between.
One of the most unusual–and quiet (and oddly empty) spots is the traveler’s chapel. Just a quiet respite in the midst of a cacophony of tourist trappings. Pretty fabulous. Worth the minor detour. And you’ll be thirsty by then anyway!
You can see where the horns used to be on this Jackalope but the saddle is still in place. Awesome photo op in Mitchell, South Dakota.