I had taken a late night flight up to South Dakota, Rapid City to be exact, in order to visit my friends who had just recently moved out there. I remember looking out the airplane window and hardly seeing any lights; just a lot weeds. It was the country all right. And that was just the beginning.

Being a native California, thirty years running, I knew I was going to have a vastly different experience. It didn't take long to figure out I was right. Aside from visiting my friends, my intention was to clear my head. California may be home, but it can be hard to find solace at home sometimes. My visit to South Dakota was more suited for the cleansing I was looking for.

The tranquility that I experienced in the quieter, cooler, and more spacious landscape was undeniable. Nothing was rushed, no one was in a hurry, none of that. The air was clean and the sky at night was utterly beautiful; the stars brighter than I could have expected.

My friends and I visited some great places along the way: Sylvan Lake which arguably was one of the more beautiful lakes I've ever seen, not to mention we hiked through the hills around it; got a great look at Mount Rushmore...finally; got to spend quiet and reflective moments looking at the ancient Bear Butte; and I got a great look at the endless Black Hills, where I definitely felt like I was on top of the world.

Furthermore, I actually saw buffalo, deer, and various other forms of South Dakota wildlife walking around the roads we drove past, and a few of them even crossed the roads a few times. Back home in California there are always signs on highways mentioning deer crossing, but I've never actually seen one do so. To actually see a deer (or buffalo) crossing sign that delivered on its promise was truly something.

I was only there for a week, but I remember how much I didn't want to leave. Seeing my friends building their lives together in their new home was something I will never forget. Indeed, my journey to South Dakota was one of the most memorable journeys I have been on in a long time and it made the exact impression on me that I figured it would. I went up there to find a form of peace that I didn't think was attainable back in California.

Peace is exactly what I found.

Does anyone else have similar stories or similar experiences to share? Please do.