A-Maize-ing

A certain similarity blankets South Dakota once you leave the southwestern corner: miles and miles of hay bales and cows. Honestly, the cows outnumber the people in South Dakota. And the hay bales aren't far behind.

And that's how it happens: after hundreds of miles of hay bales and cows, you hear yourself saying, "take this exit. Now. We must see the Corn Palace." It seems perfectly natural.

Decorated with corn -- in 12 colors of corn and at a cost of roughly $130,000 -- the Corn Palace in Mitchell is a must-see for anyone interested in American Whimsy.

Circumstances prevented me from getting to the real Mt. Rushmore to see the presidents carved in granite. However, I think I saw the next best thing: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln -- done up in hundreds of ears of corn.