Top Things to do in South Dakota
Top Hotels in South Dakota
- 1. Best Western Plus Rapid City Rushmore
- 2. Bavarian Inn, Black Hills
- 3. K Bar S Lodge
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Southwest/Sioux Falls
- 5. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sioux Falls
- 6. Deadwood Gulch Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 7. Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
- 8. Comfort Suites Conference Center Rapid City
- 9. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rapid City
- 10. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rapid City, SD
Things to do in South Dakota, United States: The Best Monuments & Statues
South Dakota has good golf courses, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hiking, and biking among rolling prairies, pine forests, and granite mountain peaks like Mount Rushmore. Glacial lakes and Missouri River reservoir lakes provide great fishing, boating, canoeing, water skiing, and windsurfing. The whole family will enjoy this prairie land where grain growing begat roadside attractions like the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Everything made from corn, even the popcorn, tastes better here. Where buffalo roam, roadside diners serve up buffalo and luscious homemade fruit pies. Shop for good deals on cowboy boots on the same Black Hills and Badland Main Streets where cowboys and cowgirls outfit themselves. Be near the eroded buttes, spires, and prairie grasslands of Badlands National Park in Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Custer, and other nearby towns. The whole family will enjoy watching for big game like bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, eagles, and hawks. Drive the one-hour Hwy 240 loop road, with a side-trip to Robert's Prairie Dog Town. Learn about the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the White River Visitor Center, which is near Wounded Knee. Tour the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site's Cold War nuclear silos, just outside the Park's boundaries. About 90 minutes west of Badlands National Park is Mount Rushmore. Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Whitetail Springs, and Custer are also very near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument. View Mount Rushmore from the aerial tramway in Keystone, which also houses the Borglum Historical Center celebrating the artist behind the sculpting of Rushmore. Take the kids to the Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Attend Custer State Park’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. Bedazzle the whole family with sparkling calcite crystals in 151-mile long Jewel Cave. Bison, pronghorn, and elk graze the grasslands of Wind Cave National Park. Central South Dakota has the state capitol, Pierre, in addition to numerous lakes along the Missouri River. Go fishing and boating in the rivers and lakes. Take the kids to the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium in Pierre to see the state’s native fish. Drop by the Dacotah Prairie Museum along the James River in Aberdeen in the northeast to learn prairie history and natural history. Swing by Sioux Falls to see the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial and special exhibits at the Old Courthouse Museum. Choose from among 10 golf courses in Sioux Falls.
Restaurants in South Dakota
1. Watertown Veterans Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By LadyMarian52 - Watertown, United States
This Veterans Memorial will make you proud to be an American and very humble. The men from this area who have died for our freedom is truly a humbling experience. The Memorial is very tasteful and Patriotic. I would recommend you visit this Memorial if you have the time!
2. Dignity
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By annettesN9225UP - Milwaukee, United States
Beautiful statue, info on Lewis and Clark, and hiking trail with amazing views.Just the break we needed.
3. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,337 reviews
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this famous mountainside carving of the visages of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Reviewed By tirana2015 - Miami, United States
Always near the top of my bucket list, it was truly an awe inspiring experience walking down the avenue of flags of the states and getting to view Mount Rushmore. A must see for any American or even any fan of history and art. The carved out heads are larger than life and truly spectacular. I highly recommend hiking the half mile presidential trail loop as it offers glimpses of the presidents from different angles and provides some information about the presidents as well.
4. Porter Sculpture Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By sassy46176 - Shelbyville, United States
Drove past this place last year, and didn't have time to stop. Glad we took the time to stop here this year!! Worth the $10 per adult, $5 Ages 13-17, Ages 12 & under Free (at the time). Nice place to get out and stretch your legs after being crowded into the car for hours. Artist and owner met us upon arrival and was super friendly and willing to talk about all the sculptures. Great photo opportunities, interesting unique sculptures, & poetry to go with the art work. Where else are you going to see a 60 ft bull head, fish bowl you can stand in and the large I would recommend to anyone to take the extra time, about an hour out of your trip to explore.
5. Tatanka: Story of the Bison
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 419 reviews
Reviewed By 741PamelaD
We visited on August 23rd. The cultural interpreter was a Lakota gentleman who spoke for an hour and we could have listened another hour! He was extremely informative and personable. Then we walked the grounds and viewed the extraordinary life-size bronze sculptures depicting a "buffalo drop". They alone are worth the visit.
6. Mt Roosevelt Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 185 reviews
Reviewed By BthEln1964 - Eldorado, United States
Do yourself a favor and go see this hidden gem in the Black Hills! Seth Bullock had this tower built in honor of his best friend, President Roosevelt! When Seth died, he was buried facing it .... Clear across the town .....it's an easy hike to get to and you can climb to the top for a breathtaking view! Don't miss it
7. Trail of Governors
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By leroyf733 - Fort Pierre, United States
4 new governor statues have been added to the Trail. Governor Tom Berry holding an axe to cut the state budget, Joe Foss searching the sky for planes, Sigurd Anderson waving to the crowd, and Leslie Jensen protecting the Soldiers & Sailors World War Memorial.
8. Wild Bill
9. Wild Bill Hickok
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By Journey492340
Fabulous time and statue done by relative of my friend- wild bill would be proud!! Don;t miss the graveyard tour of all those cowboys and cowgirls , we've heard of all our life !
10. Crazy Horse Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5,128 reviews
The mission of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation is to protect and preserve the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indians. The Foundation demonstrates its commitment to this endeavor by continuing the progress on the world's largest sculptural undertaking by carving a memorial of Lakota leader Crazy Horse; by providing educational and cultural programming; by acting as a repository for American Indian artifacts, arts and crafts through the INDIAN MUSEUM OF NORTH AMERICA(R) and the NATIVE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL CENTER(R); and by establishing and operating the INDIAN UNIVERSITY OF NORTH AMERICA(R) and, when practical, a medical training center for American Indians.
Reviewed By Q9062QJdavids - Shoreview, United States
We stopped here to visit and enjoyed our time here.The monument is huge and incredible to see.There is a museum and much information about native americans and their history as well as history of the monument.There is also a restaurant.Plenty of parking.Entry veries.A must see if your in the area.We recommend.
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