The United States is a nation of immigrants, and there are countless small towns scattered across the country (especially in the midwest) that were founded by one immigrant group or another. But it's hard to find a town that shows off its immigrant heritage as prominently or as proudly as the town of Pella, Iowa. 

Pella was founded in 1847 by a group of about 800 Dutch immigrants who were seeking religious freedom and greater economic opportunity in the New World, and many of today's residents are descended from these original settlers. One resident quipped that the "V" section took up half the phone book because there were so many names in Pella that start with the Dutch prefix of "Van." The town's Dutch heritage is readily apparent in town by the gabled architecture of the downtown storefronts, the Dutch windmills, and (if you visit in the spring) the multitude of tulips! 

One of the best times to visit Pella is during the annual Tulip Time festival, which is typically held on the first weekend of May so as to coincide with peak tulip blooming season. But Tulip Time isn't just about viewing Pella's 300,000 tulips; it's also an exuberant celebration of the town's Dutch heritage with parades, shows, music, dancing, crafts, food, and more! 

This is easily the most fascinating museum I've ever been to. There's just so much neat stuff to see! 

And before you say "Ugh, but art museums are soooo boring..."  A) I disagree, and B) this isn't your traditional stuffy, highbrow art museum! There's a world of difference between fine art and folk art. 

Folk art is produced by common, everyday people, and is typically made for a utilitarian or decorative purpose. Folk artists make objects primarily for use in their own homes or communities. This can be toys, miniatures, keepsakes, religious items, decorative items for the home, or even ceremonial items for use in local holidays or traditions. 

Folk art can also teach you a lot about other cultures. Every part of the world makes different sorts of objects and has their own unique artistic styles. So it's easy to see and appreciate all the differences (and similarities!) between various cultures simply by looking at their folk art. 

The wonderful thing about folk art to me is that it is accessible to everyone. Anyone can look at folk art and understand what it is, why it was made, and what it was used for. Everyone can relate to it. And since this is, after all, the world's biggest museum of folk art, so there's plenty here to satisfy everyone's interests! 

What if I told you that you could visit a real, active volcano right in the middle of the United States? You'd say I was lying, and you'd be right because Capulin Volcano isn't active and hasn't been for 60,000 years. But you can still visit a volcano right in the middle of the country! 

Capulin Volcano is considered one of the world's best examples of a cinder cone volcano. Its distinctive, nearly-symmetrical conical shape is relatively well-preserved, and has taught geologists a lot about how these types of volcanoes form. But even if you're not interested in geology, the great views and abundant plant and animal life will make this a memorable place to visit! 

Hot Springs, South Dakota has been a magnet for travelers for centuries. Long before white people built the town, the region's native people came here to enjoy the reputed healing properties of the many mineral-rich springs from which the town would get its name (and according to a sign, there are 170 springs in this valley!). When the town of Hot Springs was founded in the late 19th century, a new group of travelers started to come here to enjoy the waters, and many luxurious hotels and spas sprung up in town. 

Hot Springs retains its charms today. From its beautiful sandstone architecture to the gentle stream that flows through town, it's just a nice place to while away a few hours. Plus, it's very conveniently located to explore the attractions of the southern Black Hills, including Wind Cave and Custer State Park, which makes it a great place to base your Black Hills vacation. 

To the pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail in the 19th century, Chimney Rock was a very welcome sight and a cause for celebration because it marked a transition point in the long, difficult journey to a better life in the Oregon Territory. Chimney Rock is located just about 1/3 of the way between the trail's starting and ending points, so the travelers knew when they saw it that a third of their journey was now behind them. It also marks the start of a change of landscape on the trail - they would soon be leaving the open plains and moving into the more rugged lands leading into the Rocky Mountains. It's also highly visible; its distinctive shape can be seen from many miles away to the east. Imagine their feeling, after traveling across seemingly endless prairies for weeks and weeks, of seeing this famous milepost and realizing how far they've already come on their journey. 

South Dakota's Badlands are best known for their scenery, but they also boast a sizable wildlife community featuring many of the animals that live in the nearby Black Hills. The Badlands are home to bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and, of course, prairie dogs. Several large prairie dog towns can be found on the western part of the park, which is where I saw this one. Its town was perched on a flat area right on the edge of the badlands wall. Doesn't it look like it's enjoying that view? 

The Mammoth Site, in the beautiful town of Hot Springs, South Dakota, is a truly unique place. What makes it so special is not the types of bones found here - mammoth skeletons have been unearthed throughout the Northern Hemisphere - but the sheer number of them. Over 60 mammoths have been found in an area that is only 36,000 square feet (that's a little more than half the size of a football field), and there are probably still more hidden below waiting to be uncovered. 

The bones in the site date to approximately 26,000 years ago, and were only uncovered in 1974. In that year, a construction company was commissioned to work on a new housing development on the southern edge of Hot Springs. As they were digging on a particular hill, they began to find some odd bones, which were soon identified as belonging to a mammoth. The land owner, thankfully, agreed to allow scientists to investigate the area, and more and more bones were discovered. Once the significance of the site was realized, it was saved from becoming a housing development and was turned into a museum, and excavation continues today. Over 60 mammoths have been found so far, as well as a few other animals like prehistoric camels, bears, wolves, llamas, and rodents.

I was standing on top of Mount Rushmore's parking garage when I took this picture, which just goes to show you that spectacular views can be found just about everywhere in the Black Hills. I ended a busy day of sightseeing with a trip to the monument, which is open quite late in the summer months, and as I was walking around there, the sky was already starting to show patches of pink and orange in the west. As I was heading back to my car about an hour before sunset, and the sky was a lovely orange color, and storm clouds were beginning to move in. The timing worked out great for me, not only because it made for some great photography, but also because it didn't start raining until after I was safely tucked away in my motel room. 

Rapid City's newest museum just opened earlier this year, and is dedicated to telling the story of the Great Plains' most iconic resident: the bison. The museum chronicles the history of North America's largest land animal from their evolutionary origins 5 million years ago to their modern struggles for survival. 

It's a pretty unique museum; I can't think of another museum that's dedicated to one animal species. But it fits in well in the Black Hills since the bison has been such an important part of the region's history. 

Mount Rushmore is easily the most famous tourist attraction in the Black Hills, but it's not the only place in the area where you can come face to face with the nation's presidents. To see all of them together, look no further than Rapid City. And, I mean, come on, isn't seeing all 42 former presidents better than seeing just 4 of them? Serious missed opportunity there, Mount Rushmore - you should have left room for 38 more faces up on that mountain!!