A Wall Vacation

So how was your 4th?

The Lovely Mrs. G. and I spent 18 ½ hours in the car, driving from Sioux City to Missoula, Montana. It was an adventure, that’s for sure.

To make the drive bearable (and to avoid having to see more of boring South Dakota during the daylight), we left home at 2:30 AM, and drove practically nonstop. Gas, rest stops, a quick Arby’s sandwich in Billings, and that’s about it.

We did however make the mandatory stop at Wall Drug, though.

If you’ve never driven on I-90 through South Dakota, you’re missing out on the experience that is Wall Drug. For hundreds of miles in either direction of Wall, SD, you’ll see signs along the highway advertising this place. “Free Ice Water! Wall Drug”. “A Must See! Wall Drug”. “Kids Love It! Wall Drug.” You get the point.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of these signs along I-90. I’ve seen them as far East on the freeways as Albert Lea, Minnesota, and as far West as Spokane, WA.

So after the barrage of advertising at 80 MPH, it’s impossible not to stop at Wall Drug. Which is exactly what Mrs. G. and I did. I mean, how can you not?

Actually, we usually stop at Wall Drug every time we’re in the ‘hood. Why? Well, besides being an incredible tribute to tacky traveler stops everywhere, they also make the world’s best donuts. Seriously. So we stopped for breakfast, wandered through the Wall Drug backyard (where you too can meet a T-Rex, a 8-foot tall jackalope, and a plastic bison), and then were back on the road. 400 miles down, 750 to go.

There’s something special about places like Wall Drug – a pure bastion of tourist excitement. There’s no disguising why they’re there – they want you to stop, take some photos, and drop a few bucks in one of their many gift shops. T-shirts, homemade fudge, and postcards, oh my.

Some people may write it off as kitsch, and others may turn their nose up at the thought of stopping at a gauche place such as Wall, South Dakota for a free glass of ice water. But personally? I love it. Places like Wall Drug are a large part of what makes America unique. We love to pack up the family, hit the open road, drive like there’s no tomorrow, and see/taste/smell/hear new things. It’s the root of many people’s favorite childhood memories – riding in the back of the station wagon, watching the open road, reading the signs as you go by, begging Dad to pull over so you can see the mysterious wonders.

So here’s to Wall Drug, South of the Border, the Sea Lion Caves of Oregon, Reptile Gardens, Rock City, and all of the other tourist traps out there. You keep the signs on the road, and we’ll keep comin’. It’s the American way.