36/50 unrelenting positivity for our southest of Dakotas.
Posted by CupBeEmpty@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 31 comments
This is our newest unrelenting positivity post.
The state in question is the great state of South Dakota.
To all our foreign friends give a shout ask questions send praise. To our Americans do the same.
Ask questions, share stories, make jokes. Just remember not to be a jerk.
Recall the famous phrase my grandma invented “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything that isn’t redemptively funny.”
Stay tuned for 37/50 after this one.
The states are in random order based on my whim at the moment. Today’s whim is just filling out the map and having fond memories of SD.
ScatterTheReeds@reddit
De Smet - the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
She is Wisconsin and Missouri right? Either way. My daughter has read her and I approve.
FWEngineer@reddit
Wisconsin is "little house in the big woods". Then they moved to Minnesota, where they lived in the dugout for a while, then I think South Dakota is "little house on the prairie". Or we could take 30 seconds and look it up.
ScatterTheReeds@reddit
She was born in Wisconsin. Then, Pa kept relocating them to Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and finally to South Dakota. Ma got frustrated with Pa moving them every couple years. I read all her books ❤️
_fenwoods@reddit
I was married in Sioux Falls and then my wife and I drove out west to Deadwood for our honeymoon. Falls Park was a lovely place to have a wedding, and western SD is underrated as a destination.
The diversity of the landscape out there between badlands, custer, cathedral spires, black hills, spearfish canyon all within like a morning’s drive of one another is bonkers.
And one of the best parts of driving from Sioux Falls to Deadwood was never having to wonder how much farther it was to Wall Drug. They’ll let you know.
(And of course we stopped there for free newlywed donuts, how could you not?)
In not from that area of the country, and in just so glad to have it set aside this perfect happy memory.
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
Free honeymoon donuts is kind of awesome.
South of the Border also lets you know.
EatLard@reddit
They also used to offer free donuts for missile silo crews. They’re all over the place over there, and there’s even a cool museum you can visit.
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
I want my missiles silo crews happy and well sugared.
Sad_bippy@reddit
So much incredibly underrated scenery. The Black Hills, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, I could go on and on. When I tell people that South Dakota is one of my all-time favorite states to vacation in they look at me like I’m absolutely bonkers, but I’m being so serious lol
EatLard@reddit
Have you ever been up to the Custer National Forest? It’s a couple hours’ drive north of the black hills. Just a forest island in the high plains. Lots of pretty buttes, pronghorn running around, and even a cave where you can still see the graffiti Custer’s men left.
Sad_bippy@reddit
I’ve driven through the area but haven’t explored it nearly as much as I should!!
Driftmoth@reddit
And don't miss Spearfish Canyon. It's free, it's an hour loop that puts you back on the freeway when you're done, and the views are fantastic.
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
There’s so many states I love that people overlook or condescend. They’re wrong. It’s a big reason I started this project.
mouglasandthesort@reddit
I have very fond memories of going to Badlands National Park as a kid.
Academic_Ad_8229@reddit
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think it's beautiful. The western part of the state gets the most love from a scenic perspective but I spent many years in the northeastern portion and the glacial hills and lakes are beautiful. It's a remote area in terms of population but that is also appealing to people who find that way of life peaceful.
Low_Attention9891@reddit
The Black Hills and Badlands are amazing.
upvoting_things_@reddit
If you’re ever driving through and wonder, “Is the extra time worth taking the badlands loop?” The answer is always yes. Every time.
Also, was driving through once during Sturgis and stopped at a gas station to check fluids. As soon as I popped my hood open, 5-10 bikers materialized out of nowhere and asked if I needed any help.
PacSan300@reddit
My family and I only visited SD once, and went to both Mount Rushmore and Badlands. While Mount Rushmore was cool, Badlands was the highlight of our trip.
bourbonix@reddit
Undisputed American champs of carving faces into mountain sides. They are genuinely cool sights to behold.
ubiquitous-joe@reddit
Horse faces even
ghoulthebraineater@reddit
Needles Highway is way better and is nearby.
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
Folks love hating on it on Reddit but it’s cool as hell
wormbreath@reddit
I’ve had many a good time in deadwood.
Love our neighbors
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
When Wyoming folks praise your state you know you have something going on
mickeltee@reddit
I love the fact that your highway speed limits are 80 mph, and your highways are so incredibly straight. I was cruising along like it was nobody’s business through South Dakota.
Icy_Consideration409@reddit
Black Hills are my favorite part of the U.S.
omnipresent_sailfish@reddit
There’s a gas station in South Dakota near the border with ND that has some amazing cheese curds.
Custer State Park and Badlands NP are pretty neat too
angrysquirrel777@reddit
So many cool places to see in SD and it's one of the best states to road trip!
French_Dip_Please@reddit
Is it the southest of Dakotas? There may be an undiscovered souther-dakota. Someone please check.
But in all reality pretty beautiful state, only ever been once in the summer but I liked it.
CupBeEmpty@reddit (OP)
Everything below 49N is technically Dakota.
ResponsibleFly9076@reddit
I drove from St Paul to the western end of South Dakota and couldn’t believe how pretty it was.