Ever wonder where the name South Dakota comes from? The state was named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, and is still a part of the Midwest.
Downtown Rapid City is a unique place to visit. First of all, there are statues of all the presidents on each street corner. Pick your favorite one and make it a photo op. In the Main Street Square children play in the fountains in the summer then the same spot turns into an ice skating rink in the winter. Currently under construction are 21 granite pieces in the square related to the Badlands.
For souvenirs, near the center of town just pop into the Prairie Edge Trading Company to observe the glass bead library and take home some authentic Native American artwork.
Movie buffs can walk around the preserved set of Dances With Wolves in Fort Hayes ( where it was filmed ), and then head to Chuckwagon Supper, where people can grab their tin plates and sit down to watch the country band play. There is some drag involved with the entertaining show but, trust me, it's no RuPaul's Drag Race.
For nightlife The Brass Rail bar in the middle of downtown is a gay-friendly hotspot.There are several gay friendly bed & breakfasts in Rapid City such as the Hisega Lodge, Peregrine Pointe B&B and the Sweetgrass Inn B&B.
Sioux Falls has one gay barcalled, appropriately enough, Toppersso pack up your apps such as Grindr and Scruff to locate the locals.
The Journey Museum take over 11 acres where explorers can talk through time to learn about pioneers and pottery. Relax in the Star Room under glittering lights then study the mining industry beginning with the gold rush. The Sioux Indian section of the museum hosts a collection of clothing and tapestries.
Museum of the American Bison is fairly small but I learned that using either the words "bison" or "buffalo" to describe our furry friends is perfectly acceptable.
Firehouse Brewing Company is a restaurant built in 1915 housed within an original firehouse and has a fine lunch menu.
Even with a touch of claustrophobia Rushmore Cave was a breeze to explore just pack a jacket because it's a bit drafty, maybe because of the holes in the walls and the fact it's underground. There is a massive gift shop above ground with a zipline ride and a 7-D interactive theater to compete with fellow gunslingers.
Make a pitstop at Keystone, a gold mining town and the adult home of Carrie Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie fame. Eat your heart out Half Pint!
Brothers are doing it for themselves in Keystone as two carving Dahl's, Jarrett and Jordan, keep it in the family and make chainsaw art of anything from a three-foot bear to a 25-foot Indian warrior. There's nothing like rugged men shaving things to order at Dahl's Chainsaw Art.
After a quick overnight at the quaint Battle Creek Lodge, the High Country Guest Ranch did the trick with plenty of outdoor activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and bicycling. A trail that is 109 miles long is being developed to link to Mount Rushmore making it a crossover excursion.
The all-screw-top Prairie Berry Winery has excellent food and rhubarb wine to pair with it. It's one of the first wineries in the state and still crushes the competition today.
It can't get better than free with an outdoor rock-climbing wall, indoor archery and a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium at Outdoor Campus West. This is a hands-on kiddie friendly place to explore so release your inner child at least.
You can't miss Wall Drug, as sign after roadside sign leads tourists to the place that started offering free ice water bringing in 20,000 customers on a busy summer. Shopping for souvenirs is on a whole new level in this massive store so bring a map to not get lost inside the humongous place. It's campy fun with a retro feel that should please all ages, including a huge animatronic dinosaur, roar!
The White River Badlands is the perfect place to see the work of erosion over time. Looking for fossils and taking in the sunrise at the crack of dawn is awe inspiring. Beware of wandering off the path as local even lose their way in the place named for a bad land to cross by original French trapper in the early 1800s.
For a bird's-eye view, helicopter tours are offered to the Black Hills and the Badlands. Pop in to the Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant for a Sioux Indian Taco made from fry bread. Who needs a health food diet in Dakota?
Museum at Black Hills Institute houses Stan the dinosaur, a life-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex found in South Dakota. Sue the dinosaur was discovered in Faith, South Dakota, before it was sold to Field Museum for over 8 million dollars.
Drop into the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, where nuclear missiles were controlled from below. Arrive early to see how day to day life was for the workers in the bunker.
With a beautiful landscape behind it the State Game Lodge has one of the best buffet brunches to wake up to complete with a Native American performance complete with adorable children in traditional garb.
The Lintz Brothers Pizza may not be able to compete with Chicago style but it gets points for variety as the buffalo chicken pizza ranch, blue cheese and homemade red sauce to compliment the chicken.
Crazy Horse Memorial is continually being carved by private funds from the original family and refuses government help to this day. Beginning in 1948 sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski was asked to make a long lasting memorial by Lakota Chief Standing Bear. It still be constructed today with no end in site. Members of the Chief Crazy Horse family still perform in reenactment shows daily below the monument.
Powered by steam the 1880 train covers 20 miles giving people a chance to see the Black Hills up close by rail in two hours.
In the heart of the Black Hills is Mount Rushmore, where sculptor Gutzon Borglum carved the face of four presidents, three million visitors from around the world take in the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This symbol of freedom lights up at night with a presentation and don't miss a short walk to see the original sculpture where the presidents actually had hands before things went bust!
Deadwood does have some historic deaths there with graves for gunslingers like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The entire town celebrates the Wild West with reenactments, gambling, and boozing.
Note: The Dolly Parton slot machine was particularly loose at the Tin Lizzie Casino on a recent evening. Give it a spin, y'all!
In September, the Buffalo Roundup is not to be missed. Custer State Park comes alive as 1,300 bison rumble by chased by cowboys and cowgirls on horseback. Admission is free and attracts a big crowd, so head to chuck wagon line quickly to beat the rush.
Heading the roundup is Dennis Daugaard, the 32nd governor of South Dakota since January 2011. This republican keeps things conservative and the state tax the lowest in the United States. There is no personal or business tax making it the number one place for young businesses in the United States.
For a combination of wildlife, Native culture and scenic landscapes, you can't beat South Dakota. How does it compare with North Dakota? Well, that is another story...
For information on these South Dakota spots and more visit www.travelsd.com .