2021-12-16 05:42:16
On your next vacation, live like a local and go off the beaten path to discover some unexpected treasures that you’ll want to write home about. We turned to our fellow South Dakotans to find out some of their favorite mom-and-pop eateries, hidden hiking trails and mustvisit events of the year — and here’s what they had to say. If you want to get one of the famous zebra donuts from Centerville's Ellis Donuts, be sure to arrive early. These chocolate and vanilla delights are fried, glazed, dipped in frosting and usually sold out first thing in the morning. In Huron, the familyowned Manolis Grocery dates back to the early 1900s (making it the state’s oldest grocery store). Today, it is beloved for its extensive craft beer selection and specialty sandwiches piled with just-sliced deli meats and cheeses. Another family-owned business, Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant is a no-frills joint in Elk Point with a lineup of flavorful, authentic dishes like tacos and enchiladas. At Whimps Place in Burbank, make some new friends with locals who come for a game of pool, a cold beer, tenderloin steaks and broasted chicken. For a true taste of South Dakota culture, be sure to visit one of the landmark rodeos that come with plenty of food and fun. June 22–25, 2022 marks the 76th annual Crystal Springs Rodeo in Clear Lake, where you can watch the top bull riders, a parade and live music. The Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche takes places every Fourth of July weekend. First held in 1918, this annual event includes rodeo competitions, barbecue, a parade and fireworks. Even more surprising sights can be found at small-town attractions and historic sites. If you’re driving along South Dakota Highway 240 outside Cactus Flat, be sure to pull over at The Ranch Store to take a picture next to its giant prairie dog statue, a 6-ton roadside spectacle since 1959. Down in Spearfish, ooh and ahh at a mindboggling array of 3-D “circle paintings” — realistic and fantastical paintings on globes that are suspended from the ceiling — at the Termesphere Gallery. Or marvel at grand architecture at St. Anthony’s “Cathedral of the Prairie” in Hoven, featuring soaring arched ceilings and elaborate stained glass. In Aberdeen, get a history lesson as you explore the exhibits at the Dacotah Prairie Museum, housed in an 1800s bank building built in the Romanesque Revival style. The great outdoors also holds plenty of lesser-known gems. On the southern edge of Brandon, escape to the shady trails of the Big Sioux State Recreation Area along the banks of the winding Big Sioux River. Its Valley of the Giants Trail will take you beneath the tree canopies and along the river’s edge, perfect for spotting woodpeckers, owls and migrating warblers. Union Grove State Park south of Beresford is another lush retreat, with dense forests along Brule Creek offering birdwatchers and botanists plenty to discover along miles of trails. Want to enjoy it during offseason? Bring your cross-country skis to trek the snowy paths in solitude. In South Dakota’s part of Custer Gallatin National Forest, score a campsite in the first-come, first-serve Reva Gap Campground near Buffalo, and take in dramatic views of the jagged sandstone peaks of Castles National Natural Landmark, which resembles a medieval castle and is habitat for one of North America’s largest populations of Merlin falcons.
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