Wild Bill Hickok Days
Deadwood

The good ol’ spirit of the Wild West lives on strong in the town of Deadwood, peaking annually around mid-June during the Wild Bill Hickok Days celebration. The world’s fastest gunslingers, a Wild West Parade, and free concerts are jam-packed into this weekend-long event. In fact, the whole city of Deadwood, made even more popular thanks to HBO’s recent show, is a national historic landmark. While you’re here, don’t miss a visit to Wild Bill’s grave in Mount Moriah cemetery, the Adams House, and local gold mines. For more history on Wild Bill, head to the Old Style Saloon #10, a living museum and full bar, that features the chair the Wild Bill was sitting in when he was killed. Reenactments of the shooting are held each day at 3pm. Read more.

Chapel in the Hills
Rapid City

Lots of weddings take place here for its "picture-perfect scenic beauty" and because it’s as close to an international destination wedding as you can get in South Dakota. If you feel like you’ve been transported to Scandinavia, you won’t be the only one. This Lutheran church is a replica of the 850-year-old Borgund Stave Church in Laerdal, Norway. Intricate carvings of Norse dragon heads and Christian symbols, pegged construction, and a grass-roofed welcome center also make this church worth a visit for those traveling around the Black Hills. Take one of their organized tours of the grounds and meet fellow visitors in the grass-roofed "Stabbur," built in Norway and assembled here. Admission is free and the grounds are open year-round, with limited hours in the winter. Read more.

Firehouse Brewing Company
Rapid City

Bellying up to the bar at South Dakota’s first brewpub might make you want to slide down their fire pole, but the fresh brews and tasty grub are an easy diversion. Taking advantage of its building’s roots as Rapid City’s first firehouse, the brewery’s beers and dishes have a distinct firehouse theme. Order the Fire Caps--mushroom caps, filled with a crab and cream cheese mixture, or get the Fire Fightin’ Nachos, with extra jalapenos. Steaks, fish fry, and pasta are excellent dining options, but save room for something sweet. Desserts like the Stop, Drop, and Roll or the Fire House Float will satisfy any sweet tooth. All the ales are made onsite, without additives, preservatives, and artificial flavor enhancers. Read more.

Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival
Custer

Every fall for the past forty-plus years, the annual Buffalo Roundup brings out the Wild West in everyone. Custer State Park’s 1,500 bison are herded to the buffalo corrals on Wildlife Look Road by park staff, cowboys, and cowgirls. These animals, which can weigh up to 2,000 lbs, are either released back into the park or kept in corrals to be prepared for auction. Wander back to the Arts Festival to buy crafts that are South Dakota made, as well as Native American art and entertainment. There is also a chili cook-off, where "the competition is just as hot as the chili." All the profits from the festival and auction go back into the park’s annual budget to pay its operating costs. Read more.

Foleys Fish, Chop, and Steakhouse
Sioux Falls

For Sioux Falls residents, Foley’s is "our special occasion restaurant." With a staff of smiling servers, the restaurant always manages to be "upscale and unpretentious all at the same time." The large menu lets you "surf or turf to your heart’s content," plus they’ve got a kids menu that boasts the "best hotdog in Sioux Falls." They also bring in seasonal specialties, like in June when they feature Copper River salmon flown in fresh from Alaska. Just be sure to "save room for dessert" — they’ve got homemade custard crepes and apple crisps that’ll "make grandma proud." Read more.