9 Places In South Dakota That Are Better Than Anywhere Else In The Country

We're incredibly lucky to live in South Dakota. It's full of majestic, jaw-dropping spots that are unlike anywhere else (and a whole lot better). Take a look at these nine places that no other place in the country can rival.

1. Badlands National Park

Covering 242,756 acres, Badlands National Park's colorful hills and pinnacles are beyond compare. This gorgeous park also boasts the largest prairie in the United States. There's nothing like surveying this vast expanse of beautiful land to make you feel glad that you're a South Dakotan.

2. Mitchell Corn Palace

Sure, many cities have palaces...but you won't find any others made of corn! More than a half million people come to South Dakota to lay eyes on this architectural wonder, which gets a brand new facelift every single year.

3. Custer State Park

Nowhere else in the world will you find herds of bison and pronghorn, unique rock formations like The Needles, begging burros, endless lakes and incredible hiking trails. Custer State Park is the crown jewel of our state park system.

4. Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Majestic Mount Rushmore is truly one of a kind. The 60-foot-tall sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln draw visitors from all over the world.

5. Spearfish Canyon

Spearfish Canyon is stunning year-round, but it's especially beautiful during the autumn months. This place is a haven for everyone who loves nature's beauty.

6. Crazy Horse Memorial

How many other places in the world can boast the largest mountain carving...that's not even close to completion? This gigantic sculpture is breathtaking in its size alone, and even though it's far from being complete, it's still incredible.

7. Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave, with its unique boxwork formations, is incredible, and the rest of the 33,847-acre park is the epitome of South Dakota - vast prairie as far as the eye can see. Everywhere you look, you'll find wildlife including prairie dogs, bison, pronghorn, black-footed ferrets, elk and more.

8. Mammoth Site

You could scour the world over and not find a higher concentration of mammoth remains than that which exists at this site in Hot Springs. So far, 61 mammoths have been excavated, and paleontologists continue to find more.

9. Deadwood

The Wild West is alive and well (at least in our hearts) in the little town of Deadwood. This charming place is chock full of history and ghosts. From the Bullock Hotel to Mount Moriah Cemetery, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are laid to rest, you'll feel as though you stepped right back into 1870 here.

What's your favorite place in South Dakota?

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