| 
South Dakota's Black Hills
Badlands National Park
As you head west on I-90, the rolling grasslands of the high prairie abruptly give way to one of the eeriest landscapes in North America. You almost think you're on another planet when you enter this vast, 244,000-acre preserve of knifelike spires and mammoth tortoiseshell-shaped mounds (60 miles east of Rapid City). Steep canyons, cut by eons of rain and runoff, open at the base of broad, grass-capped mesas.
From I-90, take exit 131 and follow State-240 to the park's Ben Reifel Visitors Center at Cedar Pass. You can pick up a guide to help you explore 64,000 acres of designated wilderness. Several roads wind through the park (some are primitive and may be difficult to travel after heavy rains; ask in advance about driving conditions). You'll spot antelopes and buffalo, as well as prairie dog towns, along the way.
Two miles south of park headquar-ters in the tiny town of Interior, stop at WoodenKnife Cafe. Diners sample "Indian tacos"-beans and seasoned meat atop fry bread (a deep-fried dough that's a Lakota Sioux staple).
From Cedar Pass, drive 30 miles northwest on State-240, which takes you through the heart of the Badlands.
