Devils Tower emerges from the horizon as we approach. At this point, I'm getting flashbacks to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Me in front of Devils Tower.

Helen.

A lot of prairie dogs roamed the fields around Devils Tower.

We parked and hiked closer to the Tower. The terrain becomes rocky from the boulders that have crumbled off the side of the Tower.

A slightly different view from the other side of Devils Tower.

Some climbers scale the side of Devils Tower.

Next we drove to South Dakota, a short distance from Devils Tower. We first visited the Borglum Historical Center, dedicated to Gutzon Borglum, the sculpter who created Mount Rushmore. Here is one of his other sculptures of Lincoln.

Next we go to Mount Rushmore. The photos don't quite convey the huge size of the sculpture.

Helen adds her head to Mount Rushmore.

Eating dinner at the Rushmore cafeteria. This cafeteria looks just like the one shown in "North by Northwest," although the film version was actually shot on a sound stage.

After spending the night in Rapid City, South Dakota, we drove east and visited Badlands National Park, famous for its vast, colorful landscape.

The ever-changing pattern of erosion colors and shapes these hills.

Helen on top of a mound of earth.

The road cuts through the barren landscape.

Go ahead, make my day.

The prairie extends outward from the Badlands.

Tourists explore the formations.

After traveling most of the way across South Dakota, we visited the Corn Palace in Mitchell. The building is famous for being covered in corn.