Badlands National Park, South Dakota

The Badlands received a big boost in land when a volcano blew up in Southern Utah millions of years ago, dumping lots of material throughout the Midwest. Then many years later, a rise in the plate under what is now the eastern part of the U.S. caused rivers in South Dakota to change course. Thus, the Badlands were born.

At least that's what the exhibit at the visitors center said.

The best way to see the major viewpoints is on the Badlands Loop Road, which can easily reached off Interstate 90 in South Dakota. You'll come out of it with an interest in geology.