South Dakota surprised us in the best way. We packed a lot into a few days and somehow still left feeling like we only scratched the surface.
Our first stop was Badlands National Park, where the landscape felt almost otherworldly. We spent hours photographing the the endless canyons and ridgelines, and it honestly felt like walking on another planet.
Next up: Black Hills National Forest. Between the dense pine forests and winding trails, this was an off-roading paradise. We took full advantage, getting off the beaten path (and absolutely covering Walter's brother Nick's car in dust) — no regrets.
We also made a stop in Deadwood, a historic town straight out of the Wild West that brought us back to the days of gunslingers and gold rushes.
No trip to South Dakota would be complete without seeing Mount Rushmore, and standing beneath those massive stone faces was just as awe-inspiring as you'd imagine. We followed it up with a visit to Crazy Horse Memorial, which is equally impressive — not just for its sheer size, but for the powerful story behind it.
Between hiking, off-roading, and chasing the best light, we packed our memory cards full and still left wishing we had more time.
