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7 Most Laid-Back Small Towns In South Dakota

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7 Most Laid-Back Small Towns In South Dakota


The antidote to the rat race, with all its traffic nightmares and hard-to-beat deadlines, is a weekend trip to a quaint, slow-paced spot where the air is fresh and playful, a town with charm-soaked streets and a laid-back atmosphere. Unfortunately, with the developments taking place in many towns in the country, such spots are becoming fewer and far between. Trust the Midwest, however, to surprise you with its array of laid-back towns and warm, welcoming communities. Ready to switch to a relaxing mode? The following towns in South Dakota beckon.

Brookings

Weary Willy-The Spirit Lives and Dirty Lil and Women in Hobo Day Statues on the campus of South Dakota. Editorial credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com.

Although Brookings is just an hour north of Sioux Falls, it beats to a much slower, leisurely rhythm. It is home to South Dakota State University, the largest higher-education institution in South Dakota. Most of the time, students just want to have fun learning — even as they explore the entertainment and cultural landscape of an area. To an extent, this accounts for the homey and relaxed atmosphere in Brookings. The town features some nice bike paths for cruising along, restaurants that serve a delicious range of cuisine, and a commercial historic district with many buildings predating the Great Depression. With its luxury reclining seats, Brookings Cinema is a cozy space to catch new releases on wall-to-wall screens. There is the Children’s Museum of South Dakota as well, housed in a 1936 school. Other attractions include the nearby Brookings County Museum and the Brookings Arts Council, which displays works of local artists.

Vermillion

Dean Belbas Center on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
Dean Belbas Center on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Editorial credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com.

Vermillion is a lovely college town that is homey, laid-back, and welcoming. If you are scoping for a yummy eatery that any local will easily give a nod to, Café Brulé is what you have in mind. From its friendly atmosphere to its outstanding desserts to its ample parking, it will be difficult to find fault with this Main Street establishment. That said, one can sip her way through the town during the Great Dakota Wine Fest, enjoy a soul-moving sonnet during the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, and savor local tunes when Thursdays on the Platz come around. A one-day visit can commence with a hearty breakfast at the Bean Community Coffeehouse, then marveling at the most extensive collection of natural and cultural history in South Dakota at the W. H. Over Museum before catching an afternoon show at Coyote Twin Theater.

Madison

An old radio station building in the downtown strip of Madison, South Dakota.
An old radio station building in the downtown strip of Madison, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Sabrina Janelle Gordon / Shutterstock.com.

Madison is yet another college town that seems unbothered by the rat race — and is just enjoying life on the low and slow side most of the time. With Lake Herman on the west and Lake Madison on the east, there are ample opportunities for getting out and enjoying nature’s pristine beauty. With just $5, one will enjoy a movie at the Dakota Cinema, situated on the west side of town. Wondering how to crown the day? How about a yummy burrito deluxe chicken at Los Tapatios, a family-owned establishment that serves authentic Mexican cuisine? If spending the night and looking for a quiet, nature-themed experience, grab a rustic cabin at the nearby Lake Herman State Park.

Deadwood

Street view of downtown Deadwood, South Dakota.
Street view of downtown Deadwood, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Bo Shen / Shutterstock.com.

If there is a South Dakota town that does not need any introduction, especially in the nation’s vacation landscape, it will have to be Deadwood. With its Old West legends (think of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane) — historic sites, and awe-inspiring architecture — this 19th-century gold rush town often leaves first-time visitors spoilt for choice. Its setting in the northern region of the Black Hills, in a canyon formed by Whitewood Creek, gives it a nice, laid-back backdrop most movie directors would swoon over. There is the Mount Moriah Cemetery, where the body of Wild Bill rests. Wild Bill helped bring order to the Wild West, albeit many times through unconventional means. Look for his revered pistol at Adams Museum, before heading over to Saloon #10, where visitors witness a re-creation of his shooting. What’s more? Try panning gold at Broken Boot Gold Mine, as you relive the everyday life of a 19th-century miner.

Yankton

Yankton, South Dakota
O’Malley’s Irish Pub at 204 W 3rd Street in historic downtown Yankton, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com.

Yankton is heaven, especially if one loves camping — or a camping-based vacation. From the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area to Cottonwood Campground to the Yankton / Missouri River KOA Journey, this cute, laid-back town provides an experience most towns will struggle to match. Plus, it is right on the Missouri River, whose rustic ambiance rubs off on the town. An outdoor enthusiast will enjoy a world of outdoor fun and adventure opportunities, whether fishing, boating, or hiking. There are some nice bike paths one will enjoy zipping along — as well as Riverboat Days, the ultimate Yankton festival. If you think Yankton already has enough, wait until you hear that it boasts some of the best disc golf courses in the state.

Watertown

A view of the historic downtown of Watertown, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Sabrina Janelle Gordon / Shutterstock.com.

It could be because of its location in rural South Dakota, but whatever the reason; Watertown is a friendly, laid-back community that first-time visitors often find endearing and charming. You will love many things here, including the Redlin Art Center, which many believe is the town’s cream of the crop. The center displays many works of Terry Redlin, one of America’s most popular wildlife artists. For avid movie-goers, however, there is the Odyssey Grand 8 Theater, loved for its comfortable reclining seats, clean environment, and amazing sound system. That said, the award for the best whole-family entertainment venue in Northeast South Dakota goes to Thunder Road. They have go-karts, a mini golf course, an arcade, and a fun, lovely atmosphere.

Spearfish

Aerial View of Spearfish, South Dakota in Summer
Aerial view of Spearfish, South Dakota, in summer.

It does not matter who you ask. Spearfish is among the most loveable and lively towns in South Dakota. Life is slow-paced here and laid-back — while the environment is authentic and unassuming. Expect lovely biking trails, some unexpectedly good restaurants, a walkable downtown area, a fairly good music scene, and a delightful range of outdoor fun and adventure opportunities, especially in the surrounding Black Hills region. You will enjoy the trails at Spearfish Canyon Disc Golf Course, a hearty breakfast at Green Bean (it is on Main Street), plus good wine and good music at Spearfish Creek Wine Bar, a lively space with a fun outdoor area. If you want to be with the wind, the trees, and the azure sky, Lookout Mountain Trail features a cool stroll underneath the interstate — and serves beautiful views of downtown Spearfish.

The Takeaway

You know it; the craving to look for a peaceful spot where you can move at a much slower pace, if just to experience a rebirth and regain your serenity. For such an experience, the Midwest can just be what the doctor ordered. And it is not just about the Wild West history or the charming streets. It is something to do with the character of the towns; how they are authentic and laid-back. They don’t care if you have bills to pay. They will just somehow slow you down. For specific recommendations, check out the towns highlighted here, from Brookings to Spearfish.

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South Dakota

College football QB transfer tracker: South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski commits to Iowa

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College football QB transfer tracker: South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski commits to Iowa


It’s both transfer season and bowl season in college football.

The poor timing of the sport’s calendar means that players need to enter the transfer portal immediately after the end of the season to enroll at a new school for the second semester. That means players across the country have to leave their current teams before a bowl game to find a new school. And that coaches have to both prepare their current players for a bowl game while also recruiting transfers for the 2025 season.

Here’s our tracker of notable QB transfers across college football ahead of the 2025 season.

Iowa has landed a top transfer quarterback.

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Former South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski told ESPN that he’s committing to the Hawkeyes for his final season of eligibility. Gronowski entered the transfer portal after coach Jimmy Rogers became the head coach at Washington State following SDSU’s FCS semifinal loss to national champion North Dakota State.

Gronowski has been one of the best players at the FCS level over the past three seasons. In 2024, he was 206-of-338 passing for 2,721 yards and threw 23 TDs with seven interceptions. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns. In his career, Gronowski has thrown for 93 TDs to just 20 interceptions and has also rushed for 37 scores.

Iowa has been looking for an upgrade at quarterback in recent seasons. The team added former Michigan QB Cade McNamara ahead of the 2023 season, but McNamara suffered a season-ending knee injury a season ago and also dealt with injuries during the 2024 season before entering the transfer portal again for a potential seventh season of college football.

Overall, Iowa quarterbacks McNamara, Brendan Sullivan and Jackson Stratton were 163-of-260 passing for 1,711 yards and 10 TDs with eight interceptions during the 2024 season. The Hawkeyes finished the season 8-5 after losing to Missouri in the Music City Bowl.

Former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson is heading to UTEP.

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Per ESPN, the former USC and Boise State quarterback will continue his college career with the Miners. Nelson was the No. 2 QB at Boise State this season after transferring from USC following his freshman season in 2023.

Through two seasons of college football, Nelson has played in four games. He threw three passes in one game at USC and was 12-of-17 for 128 yards and a pick in three games at Boise State. He’ll have three more years of eligibility remaining.

When he signed with USC, Nelson was the No. 4 pro style QB in the class of 2023 and the No. 14 player in the country.

Dequan Finn is heading back to the MAC.

The former Toledo star is transferring to Miami (Ohio) after spending the 2024 season at Baylor. Finn was the 2023 MAC player of the year with the Rockets as he was 201-of-317 passing for 2,657 yards and 22 TDs along with 563 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

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However, he played in just three games at Baylor in 2024 as Sawyer Robertson emerged as the team’s starting quarterback during the season. In limited playing time at Baylor, Finn was 23-of-43 passing for 307 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed 21 times for 66 yards and two scores.

Finn will be in his seventh season of college football in 2025. He has an extra season of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic and also played in just three games in 2019 and reportedly applied for a medical waiver for the 2025 season.

After leaving Penn State ahead of the College Football Playoff, Beau Pribula has found his new home.

Pribula is set to transfer to Missouri, according to multiple reports on Sunday night. Pribula served as Drew Allar’s backup quarterback this season at Penn State, though Pribula announced that he was going to transfer away before the Nittany Lions’ blowout win over SMU in the first round of the playoffs. Allar announced he will return to Penn State next season, too.

Pribula will have two years of eligibility remaining at Missouri, where he’ll likely replace Brady Cook. Pribula, a former four-star recruit, went 26-of-35 for 275 yards with five touchdowns and an interception this season. He had 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 38 carries, too. Missouri also has Drew Pyne, who backed up Cook this past season, on its roster.

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The Tigers went 9-3 this season, the fifth under coach Eli Drinkwitz. They will wrap up their season against Iowa in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

Michigan was looking for a veteran quarterback who might provide a one-year bridge to five-star recruit Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines found one with Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who has one more year of eligibility.

As a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, Keene threw for 5,868 yards and 42 touchdowns, completing 68.7% of his passes. He is also familiar with Michigan’s new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, whom he played under at UCF in 2022.

Michigan’s QB play has major room for improvement after the 2024 season. The Wolverines ranked near the worst in the nation in passing offense, averaging 133.6 yards per game and 5.5 yards per attempt.

Davis Warren threw for 1,126 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games, while Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle also started games last season. Orji has entered the transfer portal while Tuttle retired from football due to injury. Warren has a fifth year of eligibility remaining and could return. Redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis will also be in the QB mix with Underwood and Keene.

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After a huge season at Cal, Fernando Mendoza is headed to the Big Ten.

Mendoza committed to play at Indiana next season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Mendoza, who was one of the top quarterbacks available in the portal this offseason, threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns at Cal. His younger brother is a freshman quarterback at Indiana, too.

The Hoosiers are coming off of their best season in school history. They won a program high 11 games and reached the College Football Playoff, though they fell to Notre Dame in the opening round. Kurtis Rourke led the Hoosiers in his final college season, and he racked up 3,042 yards with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Former Texas and Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy is heading west.

Murphy committed to Oregon State on Thursday according to multiple reports. He joins the Beavers after one season in Durham following his transfer from Texas.

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Murphy was 254-of-421 passing for 2,933 yards and 26 TDs with 12 interceptions in 2024. He spent the 2023 season as Texas’ No. 2 quarterback and started in Quinn Ewers’ absence when Ewers suffered a shoulder injury. However, due to the timing of the transfer portal, he left the Longhorns before the College Football Playoff.

Murphy will have two seasons of eligibility with the Beavers. Oregon State went 5-7 in 2024 as three different quarterbacks played in at least five games.

After Murphy entered the transfer portal at the end of the season, Duke moved quickly to secure a commitment from Tulane’s Darian Mensah.

One of the most productive QBs in college football during the 2023 season is heading to Colorado.

Liberty’s Kaidon Salter committed to Colorado on Wednesday for his final season of eligibility. Salter had 44 total touchdowns in 2023 as Liberty went undefeated and won Conference USA before losing to Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. Salter returned to Liberty for the 2024 season after he briefly entered the portal following the Fiesta Bowl loss.

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Former Maryland QB Billy Edwards said Monday that he was heading to Wisconsin. Edwards was 273-of-420 passing for 2,881 yards and 15 TDs with nine interceptions over 11 games in 2024. He also rushed for 148 yards and five touchdowns. Edwards appeared in 15 games over his first two seasons at Maryland before becoming the team’s primary QB in 2024.

Wisconsin is undergoing an overhaul at the QB position as the team made a coordinator change at the end of the season. QBs Braedyn Locke and Tyler Van Dyke have entered the transfer portal already. Locke was the team’s starter for most of the season after Van Dyke suffered a torn ACL against Alabama.

Washington State QB John Mateer was one of the most dynamic players in college football in 2024. He’ll be playing at a new school in 2025.

Mateer is entering the portal after leading college football with 44 total TDs. He threw for 29 scores and rushed for 15 others as he had at least one passing TD and one rushing TD in 10 of Washington State’s 12 games.

The Nittany Lions will have a new backup behind Drew Allar for the College Football Playoff.

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No. 2 QB Beau Pribula announced Sunday that he was entering the transfer portal ahead of the postseason. Pribula lamented the timing of his announcement because of college football’s calendar, and his sentiments were backed up by coach James Franklin, who said he supported his QB’s decision to find a new school.

Pribula’s decision to transfer came a day before Allar announced he will return to Penn State for the 2025 season.

Pribula saw significant playing time in 2024 behind Allar. He was 26-of-35 passing for 275 yards and five TDs and rushed 38 times for 242 yards and four scores while appearing in all 13 of PSU’s games.

The Louisville Cardinals will likely have a one-year transfer starting at quarterback for a second straight season.

Former USC QB Miller Moss committed to the Cardinals on Saturday. Moss was USC’s starter for much of the season in 2024 before he was replaced by Jayden Maiava. Moss was 233-of-362 passing for 2,555 yards with 18 TDs and nine interceptions across nine games.

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The Cardinals and coach Jeff Brohm got an up-close look at what Moss can do in the Holiday Bowl at the end of the 2023 season. With Caleb Williams opting out for the NFL Draft, Moss started the game and was 23-of-33 for 372 yards and six TDs.

Tyler Shough spent the 2024 season as Louisville’s starter after stints at Oregon and Texas Tech. In his seventh season of college football, Shough has completed 63% of his passes and thrown for 23 TDs and just six interceptions.

Auburn added a second starting QB in less than a week on Monday when Stanford’s Ashton Daniels committed to the Tigers. In 11 games in 2024, Daniels was 170-of-271 passing for 1,700 yards and 10 TDs with 12 interceptions. He also was the Cardinal’s leading rusher with 148 carries for 669 yards and three TDs.

Daniels has appeared in 33 games over his Stanford career and is 366-of-602 passing for 3,986 yards. His commitment came days after former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold committed to Auburn. The Tigers will have a new starter in 2025 after Payton Thorne is out of eligibility and Hank Brown transferred to Iowa.

Dual-threat QB Devon Dampier is heading to Utah.

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The Utes got a commitment from Dampier on Dec. 11 after the Utes hired former New Mexico offensive coordinator Jason Beck to call plays.

Dampier thrived under Beck in 2024 as one of the most underrated players in college football. Dampier was 226-of-390 passing for 2,768 yards and 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed 155 times for 1,166 yards and 19 scores. He was the only player to rush for over 1,000 yards while throwing for over 2,500 yards this season.

Dampier is set to be the presumptive starter for the Utes as they attempt to rebound from a poor 2024. QB Isaac Wilson was the team’s primary starter after Cam Rising’s multiple injuries. Wilson was briefly in the transfer portal before recommitting to Utah.

After an ignominious end to his Boston College career, Thomas Castellanos is heading to Florida State.

The former BC QB entered the transfer portal at the end of the season after he lost his starting job in November. Through eight games in 2024, Castellanos threw for 1,366 yards and 18 TDs.

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But Castellanos’ season was effectively over after Grayson James replaced him in a win over Syracuse. Castellanos stepped away from the team after BC coach Bill O’Brien announced that James would remain the team’s primary QB and announced he was heading into the portal a short time later.

Conner Weigman decided to stay in Texas after transferring from Texas A&M.

The former Aggies starter committed to Houston after putting his name in the portal. Weigman was the team’s starting quarterback but lost his job to Marcel Reed during the Aggies’ comeback win over LSU.

A former four-star recruit, Weigman has dealt with injuries during each of the past two seasons. He missed time in 2024 because of a shoulder injury and played in just four games in 2023 before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Duke effectively made an early transfer portal QB trade once the 2024 season ended.

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Starter Maalik Murphy entered the portal after one season with the Blue Devils. Just days after Murphy said he was transferring, Duke added former Tulane QB Darian Mensah.

Mensah was one of the top-rated QBs in the portal since he announced he was leaving Tulane two days after the AAC title game. He threw for over 2,723 yards and 22 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2024.





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Ex-S. Dakota St. QB Gronowski commits to Iowa

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Ex-S. Dakota St. QB Gronowski commits to Iowa


After showing signs of life on offense in 2024, Iowa is making moves to carry that momentum into 2025.

Former South Dakota State star quarterback Mark Gronowski has committed to Iowa, he told ESPN on Tuesday.

Gronowski, who made an official visit to Iowa on Jan. 3, also strongly considered the NFL, as he had already been issued an invite to the NFL scouting combine, sources told ESPN.

He is the top remaining quarterback in ESPN’s transfer portal rankings, the No. 4 overall quarterback and No. 19 overall player. He’s the most experienced and accomplished quarterback available in this cycle.

“It’s a great coaching staff,” Gronowski told ESPN of the Hawkeyes. “With Coach [Tim] Lester being there and being in the NFL last year and bringing an NFL offense to Iowa, it’s a great opportunity to develop as a player, learn an NFL offense and win a lot of games.”

He comes from a dominant career at South Dakota State, where he tied the FCS all-time mark with 49 wins as a starting quarterback and won two national titles.

Gronowski brings dual-threat capability to the Hawkeyes, as he’s thrown for 10,330 yards and 93 touchdowns and ran for 1,767 yards and 37 touchdowns.

“The culture at Iowa reminds me a lot of the classic Midwest culture I grew up in,” Gronowski said. “It’s a family atmosphere, and all the coaches are welcoming. It’s a similar situation to where I’ve been. It’s a big part of why I ended up going there.”

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Iowa finished 129th out of 130 teams in scoring offense in 2023, averaging 15.4 points per game. The Hawkeyes improved this season under Lester, averaging 27.7 points per game to rise to No. 72 in the rankings.

Lester worked for the Green Bay Packers prior to coming to Iowa and brought with him the NFL offense run by Matt LaFleur that’s derived from Kyle Shanahan’s tree.

That appealed to Gronowski.

“It’s the Shanahan system that they are running there,” Gronowski said. “That’s what a lot of NFL teams are running. My goal throughout the process of transferring was getting in a situation to become the best player and be the best potential prospect for the NFL.”

There’s still plenty of work to go in Iowa’s passing game after they averaged 131.6 yards per game through the air this season — fifth worst in college football.

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41st annual Dakota Farm Show begins

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41st annual Dakota Farm Show begins


VERMILLION, S.D. (KTIV) – 2025 is here, and farmers are flocking to Vermillion, South Dakota, for the 41st annual Dakota Farm Show.

Over 230 vendors are on site inside the Dakota Dome in Vermillion. Products ranged from tractors and tools to fencing for livestock, and holding tanks. This year, 40 new vendors are on hand to display their products from several Midwest states including Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

The show isn’t limited to display. In fact, attendees can go to seminars to learn about the latest practices in the industry. Organizers say the Dakota Farm Show grows every year.

“A lot of these companies have been with us for a long time so they can talk about an era when I wasn’t around but a lot of newer companies coming in with new products that didn’t exist 40 years ago. It’s a nice annual event to get together at the Dakota Dome is always great, they’ve made a lot of improvements to make this a comfortable space to host a show such as this,” said John Riles, Vice President of Midwest Shows.

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One of the big innovations in farming technology is the use of drones. Mark Quall, with Dakota Ag Solutions, said in the last five years drones have burst onto the ag scene and improved a lot within the business, serving multiple uses for farmers.

“Farming is all about efficiency and cutting your costs as much as you can. So these systems replace a lot of systems that you normally use multiple applications for. Whether it be hiring for an airplane to come out or having someone plant your cover crop for you this will do all the pesticides, fungicides, and the cover crops for you,” said Quall.

The Dakota Farm Show continues Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It ends Thursday, Jan. 9 with hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.



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