17 Reasons Why South Dakota Is America’s Most Underrated State

Much more than just Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, SoDak is the most scenic, mesmerizing, and dare we say, cosmopolitan place you know nothing about.

That's what a couple of writers for Thrillist Travel said about South Dakota. They put together a list of 17 reasons why South Dakota is easily America's most underrated state.

I've lived in South Dakota most of life, except for a seven year stint when I moved to Minnesota to go to college and work. I couldn't wait to get back to South Dakota. It was home. When I saw this list I thought, "That's exactly what I would say about South Dakota." If you live in South Dakota and you're a proud resident, you'll enjoy these observations.

Here are a few reasons from the list:

• Sturgis makes Burning Man look like a weekly book club - The small quaint town of Sturgis becomes a motorcycle haven yearly.
• The local sports teams are good...and people actually go - 11,000 fans went to the Stampede home opener, which was more than the NHL's Florida Panthers drew to their game the same night.
• Scenic drives - Take a cruise down Needles Highway.
• Big cock country - Every fall, thousands of hunters come to South Dakota to shoot pheasants.

To see the rest of the list, click here.