We finally made it to South Dakota's west side and it didn't take long to fall in love.
Sioux Falls, particularly Palisades park, was very beautiful, but it lacked a certain energy; a vibe that I look for when traveling to new places.
There was so much to explore in an around Rapid City before we made the last trek down to Sturgis, but you can't really come this close to Keystone and not go to Mount Rushmore.
At least we couldn't.
Especially as it was the summer of 2020 and we happened to be in the one state that flipped the bird at all the mandates.
Living in NY, this was literally the first time I had seen people's faces in public places in a few months, and I hadn't realized how deeply affected I was by that until this trip.
And speaking of faces, the stone carvings on the side of the mountain were absolutely stunning!
Again this was an instance where photos don't quite capture the magnificence and magnitude of a place.
It boggles the mind that men did this by hand almost a century ago, from the dangerous position they were in while sculpting to the artistry of capturing the likeness of the presidents, it really is extraordinary.
What humans can do when they set their mind to something is truly incredible; it gives me hope that one day we will evolve to a place without petty skirmishes and prejudice...
A girl can dream