A Millennial Destination Hotspot in the Midwest

Taking your vacation time and actually traveling provides you with benefits both in and out of the workplace. When you travel you have the opportunity to learn about a people and culture different than your own, making you a better-rounded individual. You have the opportunity to try new things and sample new flavors, and of course flood your Twitter and Instagram feeds with all your new experiences. As an employee you become more productive, have a positive attitude, and your relationships improve. There’s a reason the US Travel Association created an entire campaign to encourage Americans to take their time off!

As I’ve traveled throughout the United States I’ve always been entertained by the varied reactions I receive when I tell people I’m from South Dakota. To answer the questions that just popped into your head when you read the words South Dakota: No, we don’t live in tipis (although we have a beautiful Native American culture); yes, we have running water, electricity and cell phone towers; North Dakota and South Dakota are two very different states; South Dakota is “the one with Mount Rushmore.”

Alright, now that we’ve moved past that, let’s talk about all the reasons South Dakota – Rapid City especially, should be your next vacation destination.

Sure, it’s not a beach in Cancun or an exotic, European adventure, but what Rapid City has going for it is its affordability factor. As a millennial you’re probably paying off those student loans and adjusting to a life of bill-paying. That shouldn’t be a reason to not treat yourself to a vacation somewhere you’ve never been before. If you’re looking up plane tickets, you’re probably calling me a liar right about now, but hear me out. It is a bit more expensive to fly in to the Rapid City Regional Airport, but once you’re here things are drastically different. Depending on the time of year, you can get a hotel room for less than $80 a night – and those are the nice hotels!

Rapid City has an amazing wining and dining scene that is continuing to see growth. Restaurants are serving fresh, farm-to-table menu items. Red or white, dry or sweet, whatever your preference you’re bound to find a bottle of wine you’ll love at one of the local wineries. Award-winning, local, craft breweries always have the taps ready for you to come sample. On top of fantastic flavors, local businesses are always treating patrons to live music from local artists, making it easy to sit back, relax and enjoy. One of the newest additions is a basement bar full of the classic arcade games of your childhood. I dare you to beat my score on Tetris! While you’re downtown be sure to stroll through Art Alley – it’s the perfect, colorful addition to your Instagram feed.

Wanting to get away from the city life? Rapid City offers amazing opportunities for outdoor adventure! A 45 minute drive to the east will find you exploring the Mars-like landscape of Badlands National Park. Or, head 20 minutes to the West and you’ll have access to some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the United States. While you’re at it, you can cross seeing Mount Rushmore off your bucket list and see Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest mountain carving currently in progress.

This barely touches the surface of everything Rapid City, South Dakota has to offer. It is the perfect destination for any millennial that wants to visit a city that is still to be discovered by the masses. Grab a friend, significant other, or even go at it alone – the opportunities for adventure and flavors are endless!