If you’re still looking for a great family road trip this summer, mark your calendars for the Turner County Fair, held each August in Parker, South Dakota.  Combine free admission with fun exhibits, great food and a solid set of carnival rides, and you have the winning formula that makes for one of the best county fairs in the Midwest.

Arrive at the fair around noon, and head straight for the picnic grounds for lunch.  You’ll find a large aluminum building that houses the primary food vendors at the fair.  The pork sandwiches from the state’s Pork Producers are solid, but the Indian tacos sold at the Freeman Academy stand might be the best choice.  All food is reasonably priced, and you can even expect to find a bottle of pop for $1.50 or less.  After lunch, don’t miss the homemade ice cream from the Salem Mennonite Youth.

Spend the afternoon perusing the craft booths, take the kids through through Old McDonald’s petting zoo — and grab pics with the goats, bunnies and even camels.  There’s a small village on the south side of the fair with a general store selling root beer, a shop displaying antique clothing, a barn filled with old machinery, and an old church site.  If you have some extra time, buy a few tickets and have some fun at the carnival portion of the fair.

Finally, no trip to the Turner County Fair is complete without trying the chislic, grilled lamb kabobs topped with a good bit of seasoning salt.  These tasty treats make your day at the fair complete, and certainly will hit the spot if you’re when you’re getting hungry for dinner.  The chislic stand is located a few yards north of the food court building in a standalone area; it opens daily during the fair at 4:00 p.m.

The 2010 Turner County Fair runs August 16 to August 19; for full details, check out the fair website.

If you’re looking for a quick meal or late-night snack, there are few better options than a locally-owned drive-in restaurant.  While not as prominent as they once were, you can still find some of these gems in the Midwest, including Willert’s Tastee Treet Drive-In in Yankton, South Dakota.  Located just outside the city’s downtown district, it’s a community staple that’s been in business for over 60 years.

The signature item on their small menu is the Tastee beef sandwich: a seasoned loose-meat hamburger sandwich topped with your choice of condiments.  If you’re eating at Tastee Treet for the first time, there’s no better deal than the special, which features a Tastee beef sandwich, order of French fries, and a malt, shake or root beer float for only five dollars.

The menu also includes a handful of sandwiches, hot dogs, standard fried sides, ice cream creations and beverages.  Their hand-breaded corn dog is also worth trying, especially if you stop by Tastee Treet on Thursdays, when it’s specially priced at a dollar.  The bottom line, though, is that you won’t go wrong any day of the week you stop at Tastee Treet; it’s open year-round and well worth a stop if you’re in the area.

Tastee Treat
413 West 4th Street
Yankton, SD 57078
(605) 665-7512

Last weekend, I spent a few days in Yankton, South Dakota, a relatively small but growing and progressive city along the Missouri River in the southeastern part of the state.  Any trip to Yankton requires a stop at my favorite area lunch destination, Muggsy’s Sub Gallery.  Muggsy’s is a rare locally-owned sandwich shop that’s been a staple in the community for over 20 years.

You can’t go wrong with anything on Muggsy’s menu, but there are a few favorites you may want to consider if it’s your first visit.  Made with real crab and served on a delicious homemade sub roll, the seafood sub bests any sub produced by the chain restaurants — order it with swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and salt and pepper.  Their hot cheese-steak sub is likely their most popular sub and has the distinction of being named one of the nation’s top sandwiches by Maxim magazine.

Beyond subs, you’ll find a few fried options, including chicken strips, fish and shrimp.  On Mondays and Thursdays, you can order their tasty lasagna, made with five cheeses and served with from-scratch meatballs and breadsticks.

If you’re in a hurry, you can call ahead with your order, though I’d recommend eating in.  You’ll likely enjoy a pleasant conversation with the owners, who are often making the food behind the counter, and it’s fun to peruse the memorabilia and photos throughout the restaurant.   As you enter Muggsy’s, be sure to check out the “Door-of-Fame” to read the names of celebrities and politicians who have visited Muggy’s, like NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw and South Dakota senators Tim Johnson and John Thune.

Muggy’s is open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 to 3:30.

Muggsy’s Sub Gallery
821 Broadway Avenue
Yankton, South Dakota 57078
(605) 665-2241

Fascinating old local photos adorn the walls, while an orange and blue soda fountain graphic remains at the top of a front window, a remnant of the Rexall drug store that used to occupy the dining room.  The drug store was one of two historic downtown buildings which were restored and connected to create The Buckaroo, a top-notch dining destination in Hudson, South Dakota.

One-half lounge, one-half steakhouse, The Buckaroo combines a relaxing atmosphere with a delicious menu including chicken, steak, burgers, and more.  My wife enjoyed a peppered steak topped with melted blue cheese, an entree not seen at many small-town restaurants.  I opted for their juicy “Iowan” burger, which featured cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce and a couple perfectly-prepared slices of bacon.

It’s always a treat to find creative, well-prepared dishes in small town restaurants like The Buckaroo. Twenty miles off I-29, and less than an hour from Sioux Falls, it’s is well worth a stop if you’re in the area.

The Buckaroo
317 Wheelock Street
Hudson, South Dakota 57034
(605) 984-2832
Official Website

Nestled in the basement of an historic hotel in Wakonda, South Dakota, is The Pit, a small bar famous for its homemade pizza.  Served each Tuesday night, it’s simple to place your order: choose a size (small or large), a crust (thin or thick), and which of the four meats and four vegetables you want for toppings.

We sampled three pizzas during our visit and were impressed with them all.  The crust was fresh and had a true homemade taste not found at the large pizza chains.  The toppings were plentiful and tasty, with the ham and salami pizza receiving especially high marks.

As a final note, The Pit is a bar and also the first place we’ve profiled without a non-smoking section. Thus, you may wish to pickup your pizza to go and may do so by calling The Pit any Tuesday night.

The Pit
101 Ohio Street
Wakonda, South Dakota 57073
(605) 267-2551

Drawn in by the neon lights and bright red exterior, I decided to make a stop at the original B & G Milky Way in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  As I made my way to the walk-up order window, I noticed the writing on the side wall advertising their strawberry ice cream; they claimed it was the best in town.

They were right.  In fact, I’d say the strawberry cone was the best soft-serve ice cream treat I had ever eaten.  Featuring pieces of real strawberries, I was blown away by the unbelievable taste – and I couldn’t wait to drive back to Sioux Falls to have some more.

The next day, Amanda and I made the trip with some friends, and our night concluded with a stop at the Milky Way restaurant.

My banana split was ridiculously good, with perfect proportions of ice cream, banana slices, strawberries, sauces and whipped cream; Amanda’s hand-dipped turtle treat brought together ice cream, pecans and caramel in a chocolate coating. Our friends enjoyed their treats, too, giving thumbs up to the Peanut Fudge Parfait and Reeces Pieces Avalanche.

While the ice cream is delicious, the original B & G Milky Way has only walk-up windows for ordering and outdoor seating is virtually non-existent.  We sat under the sign near the street, but saw many patrons taking their treats on the road or enjoying them in their cars.  Nonetheless, you won’t want to miss stopping at this seasonal ice cream shop if you’re anywhere near Sioux Falls.

B & G Milky Way
2410 West 12th Street
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
(605) 338-9501
Additional Sioux Falls area locations

If you’re in search of an enjoyable night at the movies, look no further than the Lund Theatre in Viborg, South Dakota.  Ever since Amanda and I drove by (and photographed) the historic theatre last winter, we have wanted to see a movie there.  Last weekend, when Get Smart was in town, we finally had a chance to make a visit.

From the neon marquee to the pleasant lobby to the old-fashioned seats, the single-screen theatre had a nostalgic feel that is truly welcome in today’s world of multiplex cinemas.  Beyond the atmosphere, the concessions were top-notch while the picture and sound quality were great, considering the theatre’s age.

Adult admission is just $5, while students and seniors can enjoy the movies for even less.  Concessions are cheap too, as a box of their deliciously-prepared popcorn and a bottled soda totaled a mere $2.50.

The Lund Theatre has showings on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday nights at 7:30.  To find out the current movie, you can call their movie line at 605.766.1200.

R-Pizza is easy to overlook with its plain sign and simple exterior.  In fact, Amanda and I had driven or walked past it numerous times, when going to the bank, post office, or one of the other downtown dining destinations in Vermillion, South Dakota.  When we finally made a point to stop and eat there, we were treated to one of the best meals we’ve had so far this year.

There are a lot of things done right at R-Pizza.  The sauce and dough are made from scratch, while their fresh ingredients are purchased locally whenever possible.  The thin-crust pizza we ordered was cooked perfectly, featuring correct proportions of sauce, cheeses, and toppings.  Prices are reasonable, the dining room was well-appointed, and delivery is available if you don’t want to cook or leave the house.

If you’re giving R-Pizza a try, look first to their listing of specialty topping combinations.  The barbque chicken and bacon cheeseburger pizzas were top notch, and we’d suspect the more ordinary specials (ala meat supreme and veggie supreme) are great to.  We’ll definitely be going working our way through the R-Pizza menu this summer.

Continuing the theme of the last two entries, I wanted to write about one more destination in southeastern South Dakota that’s worthy of mention on this blog: the West Mall 7 Theatres, located in the Western Mall in Sioux Falls.

Unlike most of the destinations I’ve written about to this point, the theatre isn’t full of charm or character.  It’s located in the dingiest portion of the mostly-remodeled mall, and almost every aspect of the theatre has seen better days: the carpet needs replaced, the concession counter shows its age, and chairs ocassionally seem on the verge of collapsing when you sit in them.

Nonetheless, if you’re in the Sioux Falls area, a trip to the West Mall 7 is recommended for individuals and families looking for economical entertainment.  Tickets are only $3 for any show, any day, and concession food is also competitively priced.  It’s also easier to find a parking space and get tickets than it is at the larger first-run theatres in the city.  There’s even an excellent website where you can quickly print a page that includes titles, showtimes and descriptions.

After reading an article about Centerville, South Dakota, in South Dakota Magazine, we decided to take some time to visit. In fact, Amanda and I have traveled there each of the last three weekends. The community, located about 40 miles southwest of Sioux Falls, features a nice downtown area considering its population of around 1,000 people. In addition to a bakery, market, museum, and variety store, there’s a pretty good restaurant called The Old Street Cafe.

The interior is clean, featuring tablecloths with a country decor and a mix of clever signs and historical pictures on the walls. The menu is varied, though fairly typical for a small-town cafe. The burgers were consistently tasty and juicy. The fries were hot and crispy. The grilled cheese, however, brought mixed results: once good, once terrible.

The most noteworthy item on the menu is definitely the fried green beans. Few restaurants serve them, but they’re unbelievably tasty: whole green beans that have been dipped in batter and deep-fat fried until golden brown. I’d suggest you order them as an appetizer and they’ll tide you over while you wait for your entrees.

So, if you’re driving up Interstate 29, take the Highway 46 exit and swing over to Centerville for a good lunch or dinner at a reasonable price. The food is good, people are friendly and the overall experience is a notch above what you may expect from an ordinary small town cafe.