This Charming Homestead In South Dakota Will Be Your New Favorite Destination

Did you ever read or watch the Little House on the Prairie series? It served as a memorable story for countless of children through decades and continues to be passed down and read by children and adults alike today. The world created within them of the early pioneer days that the author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived through herself, and served as a place that filled the imaginations of all the readers of her books.

You can visit the very homestead she lived on and wrote about in South Dakota, in the small town of De Smet. It's known as the Ingalls Homestead - Laura's Living Prairie. It will take you directly back to life then and is also an absolute delight to experience.

As you'd expect, the homestead is located on a beautiful prairie that jumps right from the pages of the original books.

These vast plains were the definition of hope for many of the original pioneers who came to settle on these lands. The original, quaint homestead that Laura Ingalls Wilder lived on has everything she described from the books. The home, barn, school house, and more are all there.

There are many parts of the homestead to see and explore.

Beyond the ones listed, there is just so much to see and do. Everything here is hands-on and up close and personal. There is no better way to experience something than taking part in it yourself, and every aspect of the homestead is like that.

Some of the many hands-on activities including washing laundry the old fashioned way, making a corn husk doll, driving a covered wagon team, and more.

You really get a feel for what life was like "back in the day." The luxuries of today's society are stripped away and the bare basics of the simpler times are what's left, and it's a very refreshing experience. This is also great for kids to visit, as they'll love all the things they get to do.

Explore the buildings inside and out, all accurately portraying the life on the homestead.

The authentic structures are straight from the past and show what it was really like to live back then. Sod house walls, antique stoves and utensils, and just about everything else will really immerse you into the time it is depicting.

Beyond the houses, you can visit the schoolhouse for a lesson...

...Or the barn to see some of the cute animals.

Calves, kittens, ponies and mules are just the beginning. You will be able to drive your own pony cart or even the covered wagon team of draft horses or mules around the property.

To get the full experience, stay overnight in your own tent or RV or one of their covered wagons or the bunkhouse.

Spend the night at the homestead to really live through the life on the prairie. It's not a 5 star hotel by any means, but a rustic and eye-opening way to see a childhood favorite story come to life.

For more information on the homestead, reservations, and history, visit the Ingalls Homestead site.