Tired of hot, crowded beaches, expensive hotels and too many T-shirt shops? Do clean, crisp air, fewer people (who have nice manners) plus unspoiled wilderness and tremendous scenery appeal to you? Take a break in the Black Hills. That’s where you’ll find all the above, plus one of the country’s most popular attractions, Mount Rushmore. Almost without exception, people who like South Dakota refer to the solitude and magnitude of the western part of the state. They also mention historical sightseeing and an abundance of quail, deer and other wildlife.

South Dakotans, largely descended from Scandinavians and Germans, are rugged individualists with warm hearts. More than 8% of residents are of Native American descent, a higher percentage than in any state other than Alaska and New Mexico.

You can enjoy gaming here also, but with less show and pizzas than in Las Vegas — and that’s just fine with South Dakota’s fans. It has unique attractions, like the Corn Palace in Mitchell that redecorates its exterior walls with stunning murals made from multi-color Indian corn. The town also has several unique museums and stores that sell interesting minerals and artifacts. But above all, the state has some of the friendliest and warmest people to be found anywhere.

Who goes there? It seems easy to identify South Dakota as a venturer destination, but in fact travelers of all personality types are equally satisfied with this choice Venturers seek new experiences and enjoy visiting unspoiled places where they will encounter relatively few people. But the state is also good for families or any travelers who want to spend some peaceful, quality time away from the stresses at home and who appreciate having an educational experience in the bargain. When do they go? Hardy souls can go in the winter for the skiing and snowboarding; everyone else will be more comfortable in warmer months. Any time of year, be prepared for the weather to be cooler than you expect.

Compete in an ice fishing tournament in Mobridge, or compete in a spring archery tournament in Pierre. There are several South Dakota fishing competitions each year, some for kids.

Kayak down the Missouri River.

Participate in an archaeological dig. See www.travelsd.com for a list of opportunities.

Dance at one of several pow-wows staged annually in South Dakota (visitors get their opportunity to participate during the intertribal dance). Then, sample traditional foods like Indian fry bread and Indian tacos.

Join the annual Earthwatch-sponsored excavation project at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. Paleontologists, with help from scores of volunteers, have already unearthed 56 mammoths plus numerous other fossilized animals that died in a spring-fed sinkhole.

Bring camping gear and be on hand for the October buffalo roundup in Custer State Park. The herd is about 1,500 strong; each autumn, some animals selected for sale.

Attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, an event that dates from 1938 and now draws hundreds of thousands of like-minded biking enthusiasts. Compete in races, take day trips in the Black Hills — and get a tattoo.

Or, plan a non-motorized biking trip. The top trail in the state park system is the 114-mile George S. Mickelson Trail, which runs the length of the Black Hills (used for hiking and horseback riding, too). But you can choose an itinerary as short or long, as gentle or difficult as your wish. Time the trip for autumn, and you can have a fall foliage tour, too. Download trail guides at www.travelsd.com.

Plot an itinerary that follows the South Dakota Lewis and Clark Trail, which follows the roughly north-south path of the Missouri River. You can take the rustic approach and camp at some of the recreation areas along the way.

Pan for gold at Deadwood or any number of other places in the Black Hills.

Gamble at the Grand River Casino on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, but experience the reservation, too; it offers boating, camping, hiking and swimming. Other tribal groups also operate casinos.

See what may be America’s best-known sculpture, the stone carvings of four U.S. presidents at Mount Rushmore. Called the “Shrine of Democracy,” its four faces are 60 feet high and sit 500 feet above their admirers. Also, see another monumental sculpture in the making, the Crazy Horse Memorial.

Ride an 1880 steam train on a two-hour roundtrip journey between Hill City and Keystone.

In winter, go ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling.

See something of the Wind Cave National Park. The cave system has more than 110 miles of mapped passages. Above ground, see buffalo, elk, prairie dogs and other wildlife.

Hike in Custer State Park. See www.travelsd.com/thingstodo/hiking.asp for hiking options covering trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels.

Go bird-watching in a state that is home to nearly 400 species. Download trail guides at www.travelsd.com.

Attend the Black Hills Passion Play in Spearfish; it has been presented every summer since 1939.

Be a leaf peeper. Get help on selecting your scenic drive at www.travelsd.com.

Visit Deadwood to get a sense of the Old West — this is where Wild Bill Hickok was killed, after all! Cast your eyes over a town that is so well-preserved the entire place is on the National Historic Register. See Wild Bill’s grave and that of Calamity Jane, then toss the dice in some of the same casinos they frequented. The town offers more than 80 gaming venues.

Remember famous Native Americans. Visit Sitting Bull’s grave at Lake Oahe and, nearby at Mobridge, see a monument to Sacagawea, who had been the guide for Lewis and Clark on their journey of discovery 200 years ago.

Drive one of the state’s designated scenic byways.

Attend the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo in Mitchell, as much to see the Corn Palace as the rodeo. Or just get to this town to see this building covered with mosiacs created anew every summer with thousands of bushels of corn and other grains.

For more information, consult the South Dakota Office of Tourism at www.TravelSD.com
To find travel agents who are expert on the Black Hills and the Badlands, go to www.blackhillsbadlands.com and click on Find a Black Hills Travel Agent Specialist near you.

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