If you’re in the mood to relive your glory days, don’t hold back. These nostalgic sites are ones that will have you reminiscing. These are 11 perfect places to go in South Dakota that will take you way back:
- Go roller skating.
Skate City / Facebook Many of us remember Carousel Skate from those elementary and middle school field trips and birthday parties. Any skating rink should do the trick for taking you way, way back. Be sure to pick up some trinkets at the gift shop and some sugary snacks for optimal nostalgia.
- Visit Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo.
Belinda Rose Korndorffer / Facebook With over 275 cars, 60 tractors and 60 motorcycles, there could not be a better place to relive the glory days. This Murdo attraction will have you and your whole family reminiscing.
- Visit an antique store.
Geof Wilson / Flickr When you need a taste of the way life used to be, or simply to be reminded how old you really are, visit an antique store. You are sure to see some of your childhood favorites now being sold as “vintage.”
- Go bowling.
Empire Bowl and Lounge / Facebook Bowling is the perfect nostalgic outing. It’s one of those pastimes you often forget as you get older and yet everyone enjoys it.
- Road trip to Wall Drug.
Seth Morabito / Facebook You likely visited Wall Drug on a summer family vacation. Now is your chance to travel back to Wall Drug and reminisce about that trip. Lucky for you, not much has changed in this charming small town.
- Eat at The Diner in downtown Sioux Falls.
The Phillips Avenue Diner / Facebook For the complete nostalgic dining experience, visit the Phillip Avenue Diner in downtown Sioux Falls. The building is straight out of the olden days with a shiny metal exterior and breakfast bar and booths to boot.
- Attend the South Dakota State Fair.
South Dakota State Fair / Facebook Funnel cakes, slides and ferris wheels. What could be more nostalgic than the South Dakota State Fair in Huron?
- Visit Laura Ingalls Homestead in De Smet.
Patricia Pro / Facebook Reminisce about visiting Laura Ingalls Homestead as a child and bring your own kids to experience the prairie brought to life in the 1880s. Nostalgia on so many levels, you can’t help but want to visit this adorable attraction.
- Go to a drive-in movie.
The Winner Drive-In Theatre / Facebook There aren’t many drive-in theaters left in South Dakota. One of the few, pictured here, is located in Winner. Take your kids out and let them experience movies the way they should be.
- Go to an antique tractor show.
James Valley Threshers For all the farmers out there, its always good to appreciate where you came from. The James Valley Threshing show allows you to do just that. Relive the work your parents and grandparents put in to get you to where you are now.
- Stop by an old fashion soda fountain.
Edgar’s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain / Facebook There is nothing better than an old fashion soda fountain to get your nostalgic game on point. This one, Edgar’s, is located in Elk Point. (Note: as of September 2020, Edgar’s is permanently closed).
Are you feeling nostalgic after reading this list? What other nostalgic places would you visit to take you back to the good ol’ days?
Skate City / Facebook
Many of us remember Carousel Skate from those elementary and middle school field trips and birthday parties. Any skating rink should do the trick for taking you way, way back. Be sure to pick up some trinkets at the gift shop and some sugary snacks for optimal nostalgia.
Belinda Rose Korndorffer / Facebook
With over 275 cars, 60 tractors and 60 motorcycles, there could not be a better place to relive the glory days. This Murdo attraction will have you and your whole family reminiscing.
Geof Wilson / Flickr
When you need a taste of the way life used to be, or simply to be reminded how old you really are, visit an antique store. You are sure to see some of your childhood favorites now being sold as “vintage.”
Empire Bowl and Lounge / Facebook
Bowling is the perfect nostalgic outing. It’s one of those pastimes you often forget as you get older and yet everyone enjoys it.
Seth Morabito / Facebook
You likely visited Wall Drug on a summer family vacation. Now is your chance to travel back to Wall Drug and reminisce about that trip. Lucky for you, not much has changed in this charming small town.
The Phillips Avenue Diner / Facebook
For the complete nostalgic dining experience, visit the Phillip Avenue Diner in downtown Sioux Falls. The building is straight out of the olden days with a shiny metal exterior and breakfast bar and booths to boot.
South Dakota State Fair / Facebook
Funnel cakes, slides and ferris wheels. What could be more nostalgic than the South Dakota State Fair in Huron?
Patricia Pro / Facebook
Reminisce about visiting Laura Ingalls Homestead as a child and bring your own kids to experience the prairie brought to life in the 1880s. Nostalgia on so many levels, you can’t help but want to visit this adorable attraction.
The Winner Drive-In Theatre / Facebook
There aren’t many drive-in theaters left in South Dakota. One of the few, pictured here, is located in Winner. Take your kids out and let them experience movies the way they should be.
James Valley Threshers
For all the farmers out there, its always good to appreciate where you came from. The James Valley Threshing show allows you to do just that. Relive the work your parents and grandparents put in to get you to where you are now.
Edgar’s Old Fashioned Soda Fountain / Facebook
There is nothing better than an old fashion soda fountain to get your nostalgic game on point. This one, Edgar’s, is located in Elk Point. (Note: as of September 2020, Edgar’s is permanently closed).
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