Top 5 Favorite Places in South Dakota

Living in the tri-state corner of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, I visit South Dakota on a weekly basis. My daughter goes to gymnastics in South Dakota, and my dentist and doctor’s office are also in South Dakota. To say we are there a lot is an understatement.

So I am excited to have an opportunity to share with you my five favorite places to visit in South Dakota.

Lets kick it off with #5 – Wall Drug

My husband will laugh at me for including this one, but there is nothing quite so South Dakota as Wall Drug. If you’ve ever made the trip on I-29 or I-90 as a kid, you have probably counted the hundreds of billboard signs telling you to stop at Wall Drug. Wall Drug is a huge gift shop that has items for everyone. It also includes a restaurant and soda shoppe. Wall Drug’s Western Art Gallery Restaurant is known for its homemade donuts so be sure to grab a dozen for the car! The Backyard at Wall Drug is a great place to grab some cute photo ops or just stretch your legs after a long car ride.

I mentioned that my husband would laugh at me for including this because on our last trip I made him stop in Wall.  Note to self, when traveling with 3 small kids, make sure there are kid’s menu options. This wasn’t the only blunder on our trip to Rapid City, and I sure wish I had used a travel agent back then!

If your kids are old enough to read, have them keep track of how many different Wall Drug signs there are – it’s a great way to pass the time in the car!

#4 – Badlands National Park

The Badlands National Park is such a cool hiking experience. It really was like nowhere we had ever visited before. My kids loved climbing on the big rocks, and seeing all the mountain goats. We didn’t spend as much time there as I would have liked, but my youngest wasn’t walking yet and quickly got bored being held. It made for a great afternoon driving through the park with the occasional stop for photo ops! You can drive through this on your way to Rapid City if coming up Interstate 90.

#3 – Palisades State Park

Palisades State Park located in Garretson, South Dakota is one of the most unique areas in South Dakota. Split Rock Creek, which flows through the park, is lined on both sides with Sioux quartzite rock formations. These pink rocks make for great photos and it is fun to walk through the water in the shallow areas. I definitely recommend wearing good water shoes if you do plan to get your feet wet as the rocks are slippery.

This park is easily done in one day, as the trails are shorter. Due to the smaller trail routes, this is a great place to visit if you have young hikers like mine. The longest trail was only about 2 miles. They do offer campsites if you want to make a weekend out of it. It is close to Sioux Falls so you can split your time between Palisades and other Sioux Falls attractions. 

#2 – Rapid City

A few years ago I took my family on a camping trip to the Black Hills in Rapid City. While we were there we got to experience lots of great family spots. Back then money was tight so I spent a lot of time researching places that were free or affordable.

There are some great spots including the Dinosaur Park and Storybook Island that are completely free and great to visit with young kids! We also visited Reptile Gardens – my kids loved this the most as they got to touch the snakes and hold a baby crocodile. Reptiles really aren’t my thing, but we still had a great day.

You can’t make a trip to Rapid City without stopping at Mount Rushmore. The historical landmark is truly a remarkable site. Try to time your visit when a special event is happening, such as Native American dancers or the 4th of July fireworks display! If you love to see wildlife, make sure to drive through Bear Country and Custer National Park as well!

#1 – Sioux Falls

This one ranks at the top of my list because we spend a lot of time here. The Falls park is a fun place to visit, especially at Christmas time when it’s all lit up with lights. Blank Park Zoo and the Butterfly Pavillion are both a great place to take your kids when visiting Sioux Falls. If you are coming to Sioux Falls in the summer, Wild Water West is a great waterpark that also includes waterslides, wave pools, swim up bar, mini golf, go carts, batting cages, bumper boats, sand volleyball, and my favorite, the lazy river!

But the main reason we like to visit Sioux Falls is for the food. Our smaller town is limited on good food choices so every so often we make the hour and half drive north to get some great food. My favorite place to eat in Sioux Falls is Carnaval Brazilian Grill. If you haven’t ever been here, I definitely recommend it! Servers walk around to tables carrying all types of grilled meats including lamb, chicken, sausage, pork, beef, even shrimp! They also serve a grilled pineapple,which is to die for! The salad bar is excellent with so many hot and cold choices to choose from. I will say this, if you plan to visit Carnaval, be sure to wear your stretchy pants! 

Contact your favorite Pineapple Escapes’ agent today, or email us at info@pineappleescapes.com to discuss a South Dakota vacation. Our agents help make your vacation seamless with our expertise, customized itineraries, and extra pixie dust!

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