Devil's Tower - Wyoming

      After visiting Mt. Rushmore, we headed on through Wyoming.  Just West of Sundance, WY we were able to visit Devil's Tower, a massive volcanic rock rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche river.   Devil's Tower was proclaimed the first National Monument by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906.  It really is quite impressive!

It was also interesting to pass a large Prairie-Dog settlement on the way up to the tower.

And, one last look back!

From here, we dropped down and thoroughly enjoyed our drive through Colorado!

Driving Further West - Mt Rushmore - PhotoStory

   After our visit to Carhenge in Alliance, NE, we headed on up to South Dakota and the amazing Black Hills.  We were able to visit Mt. Rushmore and were amazed by both the size of this landmark and the effort it took to etch these faces into the granite mountain.

   As you first enter the park, there is this long walkway between the flags of all the States of the Union.

Then you come out to a full view of the majestic Monument.

   I also applied some textures to the above photo and really loved the effect. See it here.

As you leave, make sure you take one more look as you drive around the mountain and you'll get to see the profile of Washington's face!

   From here we headed on to Wyoming and Devil's Tower!

Hosted by Cecilyand Krista

A Drive through Colorado

     After visiting Devil's Tower in Wyoming.  We were able to enjoy a scenic drive through Colorado!  We came down from Wyoming to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  So many amazing sights!  I've often seen the Rockies from the east side, but this was my first time to see them from the western side!  

      The Rocky Mountains are truly incredible and are well worth the drive!

Carhenge

     Many of you may be familiar with Stonehenge that "pre-historic . . . circular setting of large standing stones"
in Wiltshire, England. Well, we recently visited Carhenge, a modern-day replica that was built, not with large stones, but with vintage automobiles! Carhenge, located near Alliance, Nebraska was built by Jim Reinders in 1987.   In 2009, TripAdvisor named Carhenge the No. 2 Wackiest Attraction in the United States; coming in a close second to the Toilet Seat museum in San Antonio which boasts a collection of more than 800 toilet seats, but has no bathroom!

      As you stand and gaze up at the many cars at Carhenge, now firmly planted in the Nebraska plains, you are forced to consider the possibility that this great work of art may, in reality, be nothing more than the most redneck tourist attraction ever!  Yes, we were not sorry we made the trip, although it was only a few miles off of our planned route anyway.   We did pity the thought, though, of those who might travel hundreds of miles to see this great sight, only to arrive and find that it truly is as simple as a bunch of cars half buried in the Nebraska prairie.














     Yes, these cars now stand tall on the high plains as a monument to what one man can do to make the most red-neck tourist attraction in the world!  Definitely a must-see!


      From here we drove on to Mt. Rushmore.