Adapted from ‘Around the World: 6 Countries in 6 Months‘
Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
It goes without saying I’m a HUGE fan of the vast expense of land that is called the United States of America.
Hugely influenced by movies growing up, I’ve always had an interest in – and have been drawn to – this fascinating country, seeing cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle projected from my TV set on a daily basis…
And, since 1999, I’ve been lucky enough to visit 30+ States out of my 50 State goal!
Yet, like the ones mentioned above, it’s the larger cities that seem to receive the most attention AND the most visitors…
And, whenever there ARE small American towns featured in movies, they’re often given a fictional names.
But, there’s been three less visited States that have left a lasting impression on my travel memories; All of which were fun to experience; All of which were interesting to see; And, all of which were on my To See List from their cameos in movies…
SOUTH DAKOTA
This was the first time I’d ever experienced the quaintness of small-town American life.
Prior to this, I’d only spent 2-days in Missoula, in Montana.
But, it was a 3-night stopover in a town called Spearfish in South Dakota that made me aware that hardly any British people visit this part of America…
One night, I started talking to a girl in a bar called Zbar, and she freaked out when she heard my accent!
She then phoned her friend JUST so her friend could hear my accent, too!
It was a very memorable experience. The way both girls went crazy when hearing the British accent, since they only ever hear that accent on TV…
If you’ve seen the movie ‘Love Actually‘, when Colin visits a small-town in America, and three girls are fascinated by his accent…it was kinda like that scenario, only a bit more realistic (the girls DIDN’T invite me to their home for a foursome!)
But, the two movies responsible for my decision to visit Spearfish were Superman 2 and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind…
Because Spearfish is quite centrally located between the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, and, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
I’d conversed with a Couchsurfer named Janette in the months leading up to this, asking if she could not only accommodate me with somewhere to stay, but could she also help drive me to these movie locations, if I was to cover fuel costs.
And, she agreed!
I remember Mount Rushmore being a lot smaller than I thought it’d be, yet the first sight of it will leave you in awe, especially if you know the history behind this sculpture.
WYOMING
The first impressions of the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, however, were much more cinematic…
On the day we drove there, snow was on the ground & fog was in the air…
And, as we got closer, seeing the gigantic Devil’s Tower emerging through the fog toward you is just as impressive as seeing it close up.
Walking around the perimeter of this monument, you can’t help but look up towards the peak of the tower, to imagine that huge UFO shadowing over the top of this monument, taking you back to your childhood memories.
I did like Spearfish.
I liked the small city feel it had to it, and, it was enjoyable (yet cold) spending a day walking around this snowy town.
It was great seeing Mount Rushmore, too…
Although, I’m sure most of us only remember these sculptures from ‘Superman 2’ – or ‘North By Northwest’ – rather than the actual history behind it!
I was on a movie location roll…
Seeing the Devil’s Tower coming out of the fog was definitely a highlight of the trip.
Having grown up on 80’s movies like ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’, it’s great to visit the actual location 30 years later.
ALABAMA
I think many people – including myself – associate Alabama to Forrest Gump.
And again, it was another Couchsurfer – Malette – who helped make this experience what it was.
I’d chosen to visit Huntsville because it was the home of the US Space & Rocket Center, a location used in the movie ‘Space Camp‘…
And, it also houses a G-force simulator, too.
The US Space & Rocket Center is a fun place, with actual used space crafts on site…
But, it was a trip to the neighbouring State of Tennessee where much of my love for Alabama stems from.
Alabama resident Malette had learned I’d been unable to visit the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg while I was in Tennessee.
And so, she kindly offered to drive me there…
Just so I could accomplish the dream of visiting the very place my favourite whiskey comes from.
And, it was on the way back from that trip when Malette had one more surprise for me…
To fire a gun at a shooting range!
She was only meant to pop in to that ammo store to collect ammunition for her own guns, but she asked if I wanted to give shooting a go, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass.
Firing a gun for the very first time is very memorable: the power & force that you feel when you pull the trigger; and, that it really does take skill to hit a target with a gun.
STATES UNITED
So, thanks to Alabama, I was able to cross-off three NEW things from my list, because I:
- went behind-the-scenes of one of the worlds most famous whiskeys…
- experienced G-Force…
- fired a gun!
And, thanks to South Dakota & Wyoming, I was able to cross-off three CHILDHOOD DREAMS from my list,which were to:
- have a close encounter with one of Spielberg’s iconic movie locations…
- see the historic monument that was also of interest to General Zod…
- have small-town American girls going crazy for my accent!
In summary: All worthy States to visit!
Coming Next: The final adaptation from ‘Around The World: 6 Countries in 6 Months‘ …
Christmas in New York City