Miles and miles of plains stretching into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The Great Plains is where our wheels took us this week as we traverse the country in search of some of our members' best photos of the
United States of America. From fields to rock formations, the heartland of America served as a pristine backdrop and made us feel like Ansel Adams.
Oklahoma
The windswept plains, the wavin' wheat,
The Sooner State was our first pit stop up tornado alley. We took in the sights of
Oklahoma City, including the
OKC Memorial before heading into the country to see the miles of oil derricks lining the highway.
Photo by Vanilla Sugar Photo by Sail Army
Kansas
The serenity of the miles and miles of flat fields is just what we needed when we got to Kansas. As we slowly departed from the cities,
The Sunflower State let us breathe the clean fresh, sunflowery air. While some people may not think the prairie is the most beautiful scenery, the
National Preserve is not to be missed!
Photo by smallplasticman Photo by smallplasticman
Nebraska
The Cornhusker State was another state that let us crank down the windows and enjoy the beauty of the heartland of America. Old grain elevators and hay bales stretched as far as the eye could see, and we made sure to catch a game at
Memorial Stadium before we parted.
Photo by btwood2 Photo by Tracy T
South Dakota
Pictures say a thousand words, and we have ones from
Mount Rushmore State to prove it. The
eponymous landmark is iconic for its pristine granite and makes a great photo op from any angle. And is there any more alien a landscape in the continental USA as the
Badlands?
Photo by amillionmilestogo Photo by catsholiday
North Dakota
"Dakota" means friend or friendly in the Lakota-Sioux language, and the locals proved this to be true in
The Peace Garden State (yeah, we didn't see that state nickname coming either). With natural treasures like
Teddy Roosevelt National Park and picturesque towns like
Grand Forks, we felt bad about ever making a
Fargo joke.
Photo by RoBoNC Photo by AmeliaK
Montana
The Treasure State had plenty of just that; an abundance of natural phenomena were feasts to our senses. From the aptly named Big Sky to the absolutely must-see-in-your-lifetime Glacier National Park, Montana truly showed that it is an American treasure.
Photo by Mr. Wonka Photo by btwood2
Idaho
From treasures to
The Gem State, we felt like we were shopping at Cartier. Rightly so, as we passed through the old mining towns of
Silver City and there mining-town charm. The scenery outside of the towns was just as beautiful as the rest of the area, with stretches of fields heading into the mountains.
Photo by oldscrach Photo by Wildcat Dianne
Wyoming
The end of our tour of the Great Plains,
The Cowboy State was the perfect place to set up camp. If you have never experienced the beauty of
Yellowstone National Park, stop what you are doing, get in your car and drive there. And with
Grand Tetons nearby, there is no time like now for a road trip.
Photo by Binaya Photo by Lorengul
Previously on Road Trip:
The MidwestNext up on Road Trip: The Southwest
Posted by jhartmann13 (JJ Hartmann)