The large but not largely populated state of South Dakota is actually filled with exciting natural wonders and many stimulating distractions. It's known for the production of honey and gold, both which make great gifts to bring home. The state flower is the Pasque and Black Hills Gold jewelery is created and manufactured exclusively in this state.
Native Americans once ruled this land and giant bison roamed freely. Even before that, dinosaurs lived here and left behind ample fossils for us to find. Lewis and Clark brought people to this state which they named after the Dakota indians, but what really populated South Dakota was the search for gold.
Of the must see sights in America, one is in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Monument. This huge sculpture commemorates four great presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. A large statue of Crazy Horse has been in progress for over sixty years and is just a short drive from Mount Rushmore. Badlands National Park is also a sure bet for family fun, outdoor relaxation, wildlife sightings and adventure. The state is filled with things to do that will be remembered for years to come.
South Dakota Towns & Cities
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state, named for the cascading falls of the Big Sioux River, its main attraction. This is a quickly growing city with modern amenities and a rich past. Native Americans have lived in this region for many centuries, enjoying the magnificent fast-running waters of the falls.
There are plenty of theme parks to keep the whole family occupied, Wild Water West Waterpark, Thunder Road Family Fun Park, Jesse James Pontoon Ride, Great Bear Recreation Park, Adventure Park and more. Some interesting spots include Buffalo Ridge, a real cowboy town and the Sioux Empire Medical Museum which documents advances made in medicine over the centuries. The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History is a fantastic place to view animals in their habitats and to discover something new and get educated on conservation.
Just five miles east is Brandon, a thriving community. Huset's Speedway is the official race track of summer and one of the town's hot spots. For a bit of wine and nature, visit the Wilde Prairie Winery and the Oak Ridge Nursery. There are Native American burial mounds that date from 500 to 1000 AD at Split Rock. Big Sioux Recreation Area is an ideal place to camp or canoe or even practice your archery skills. In the winter, there's skiing and snowmobiling there as well. Beaver Creek Nature Area has a lovely stream, flowing year-round and supplying visitors with a peek at living nature. There are a few golf courses and parks to enjoy and even a skateboard park for the kids.
Watertown is another town with plenty of resources and tons of dining options, whether you want Mexican or prime rib, there's a cuisine for you here. If you're feeling repentant or holy, visit the Mother of God Monastery, populated by Benedictine women. Historic Uptown Watertown is a vital core of the community where over 60 structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Codington County Heritage Museum, the Goss Opera House and the M&St. L. Railroad Depot. The Redlin Art Center will give you peek at the outdoor themed paintings of Terry Redlin, depicting his Watertown youth. Each June the town holds an art walk, and in September, the Watertown Art Festival. For those interested in hunting and fishing, Lake Kampeska and Lake Pelican are near the city and are good for pheasant, goose and duck hunting.
Once home to the author of The Wizard of Oz, Aberdeen emerged with the building of railroads and has grown as a strong agricultural economy with metropolitan progressiveness. Aberdeen has just about anything you could hope for as far as family entertainment is concerned, including tennis courts, the Lee Park Municipal Golf Course, indoor and outdoor pools, indoor and outdoor ice-skating rinks, roller skating rink, indoor and outdoor archery ranges and so much more. For local theater or concerts, there's the Aberdeen Community Theatre production in the historic Capitol Theatre or acting at Northern State University. The Dacotah Prairie Museum tells the history of the area's indigenous population, including authentic artifacts such as quilts. The Aberdeen Aquatic Center has a 9,000 square foot leisure pool, a 30-foot high water slide tower, a raft slide and diving boards. The Yellowstone Trail, the 1,200 mile first transcontinental highway reaching from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans, runs through town, offering visitors a glimpse at America's rich past.
Mitchell has one of the more interesting attractions you might find on the prairie: the world's only Corn Palace. The Corn Palace looks as if it belongs in Saint Petersburg, with its medieval Russian architecture. Though it's not made of corn, each spring the exterior is completely covered with thousands of bushels of local corn that are arranged into thematic murals that birds can later eat! You can stay in nearby der Rumbolz platz, which offers the experience of staying on a working dairy farm. The Prehistoric Indian Village and Archdome, the Dakota Discovery Museum and Starlite Drive In Theatre are very cool places to explore. Each year there's the Corn Palace Stampede, one of the best PRCA Rodeos in the state, the annual Dakota Fest and even a Polka Fest, so bring your dancing shoes! Hunters will enjoy the services provided at the Rock Creek Lodge, a pheasant hunter's paradise.
Huron is special in more than a few ways. The town's outdoor mural project displays scenes of the town's past on downtown buildings. New murals are added annually. Also a very exciting sight is the world's largest pheasant sculpture made of fiberglass and steel, honoring the town as a premiere hunting location of this animal. The Pyle House Museum was the abode of the first female US senator Gladys Pyle. Centennial Center, Humphrey Drug Store and Dakotaland Museum are other attractions recommended by tourists for tourists. The town hosts many annual events, including the Huron Ringneck Festival and Bird Neck Challenge, Prairie Fest, Scarecrow Festival and the South Dakota State Fair, to name a few.
The capital city of Pierre and neighboring Fort Pierre are two of the oldest settlements in the country. Pierre preserves the history and culture of the American west and offers a great location on the Missouri River. There are plenty of places to dine and unwind in town. A visit to the Lewis and Clark Family Center will teach you the differences in animal hides and tracks. The whole family will see the sorts of canoes used on Lewis and Clark's adventures. The South Dakota National Guard Museum was established in 1862 and is the state's repository for memorabilia and documents relating to the Guard's past. The Brad Garrett Guide Service specializes in combination goose and pheasant hunting. Broken Arrow farms also provides hunting for pheasant, partridge and waterfowl. So if you are an outdoors person, you are in hunting heaven right here in Pierre.
The small town of Missionwill provide the family with time to relax and play and also the best location to learn about the area's natives. You can stay in the Quality Inn Rosebud and Casino, just minutes from the Rosebud Casino where you can catch concerts, rodeos or even see authentic powwows. Nearby are the Niobrara National Scenic River, Saint Francis Mission and Sinte Gleska University, all great places to learn about and experience culture and history. Ghost Hawk Park is a pleasant sanctuary where you can camp or picnic. Buechel Lakota Memorial Museum will teach you about the best of Sioux arts and culture.
Just a short drive away from Wall is Badlands National Park. This tiny town is the gateway for one fascinating place. Just an eight mile drive will bring you to the Pinnacles Entrance Station where you can witness the unique buttes and stark scenery of the park. Visit the world famous Wall Drug Store, established almost 70 years ago, boasting a $3 million art collection, 5 cent coffee and free ice water.
A visit to Badlands National Park will reveal the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, over 28 million years old! Besides these remains, there is a ton of wildlife to witness in action, including bison, ferrets, foxes and big horn sheep. If you'd like to take a horseback ride, most of the park is open for riders to roam. Places of interest include Wounded Knee Museum, educating the public about the massacre, the Prairie homestead, one of the few remaining sod dwellings still intact today and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
The bustling city of Rapid City is a comfortable place to stay to explore the Black Hills. It is the state's second largest city, named for the limestone spring stream that runs through town. Historic downtown has many specialty shops and restaurants, even spas and native arts and crafts.
Bear Country USA is the place to go if you want to check out one of these majestic beasts close up. A three mile drive through rolling meadows will allow you the ability to see bears without the danger of a one on one. Not far from downtown is Stavkirke, Chapel in the Hills, a replica of the 850-year-old Stave Church in Borgund, Norway. The bats and rock and crystal formations at Black Hills Caverns will get your blood moving and your skin crawling. Crystal Cave Park is a sight to see, as well, where 80 percent of the walls are crystal formations. Likewise, Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns offers subterranean tunnels filled with neat rocks and even an underground lake. Your smallest travelers will enjoy Storybook, while it takes a more fearless sort to get a kick out of Reptile Gardens.
The town of Spearfishis populated by about 8,000 people, but is well located in a scenic valley at the mouth of Spearfish Canyon. The town is surrounded by three mountain peaks and its clear stream was always a great place to fish for the areas first settlers, the Sioux. Home to Black Hills State University, the town has great dining and drinking spots. You must visit the Opera House and see a performance of the Black Hills Passion Play, a portrayal of the last seven days of Christ. The D.C. Booth Historic Fish Hatchery is a federal hatchery established in 1898, and a cool place to learn about fish culture.
The entire city of Deadwood is on the National Historic Register, which speaks volumes about the historical significance of this town. In 1876, this wild west town was a gold camp and today the Victorian architecture is enough to warm the coldest heart. The city now has 80 historic gaming halls, so you'll definitely want to try your luck at one of these antique casinos. There are a range of hotel options, from luxury suites to historic hideaways. There are amazing restaurants and raucous nightlife options. Three of the best parties on Main Street are Wild Bill Days, Deadwood Jam and Kool Deadwood Nites. There are rodeos, muscle car and motorcycle shows and a good music scene. Take a narrated Backtail Horseback Tour through the scenic canyon and learn about mining, local plants, animals, history and geology.
On the other side of the Black Hills, south of Custer State Park is Hot Springs with its beautiful sandstone architecture. Evans Plunge Hot Springs are naturally heated to 87 degrees. A dip in these waters are sure to be therapeutic and enjoyable. Fought over by Native American tribes for centuries, the springs now have water slides, float tubes, Tarzan rings and a health club.
The Mammoth Site is the world's largest mammoth research facility, there your family can tour an active paleontological dig site and get an up close view of Ice Age fossils. Wild mustangs run free at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary and you can see Native American ceremonial sites, petroglyphs and the Crazy Horse movie set. For more outdoor fun, including fishing, mountain climbing and camping check out the spectacular Custer State Park.
Home of Mount Rushmore, Keystone is a top tourist destination in the Black Hills. This is one city that will keep you busy. Look for gold at the Big Thunder Gold Mine or compete with your family at the Holy Terror Mini Golf course. The National Presidential Wax Museum allows you to see our leaders up close and face to face.
The Wildcat Valley Sanctuary of the Black Hills contains many different species of wildcats, such as bobcats, mountain lions and many other wild animals. A one hour tour of Beautiful Rushmore Cave displays breathtaking cave formations underground. Mount Rushmore is also visible from the air, so you can take a flight overhead to see these big heads. If you want to stay closer to the ground, there's a tramway and an alpine slide that will get you close to the mountain. A historic train takes you through some of the most stunning scenery.
Any way you want to see South Dakota, you're in for a thrill. The old west has many secrets and the landscape is sure to be one you've never seen before. There are plenty of great amenities to make your stay comfortable and adventures around every corner to make your visit amazing.
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