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Weirdest Tourist Traps Even the Locals Love in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa

I don't know if everyone will agree with the writers at Thrillist Travel, about which tourist attractions are the weirdest in the tri-state area.

I mean there are so many strange things to see when you travel. From giant pheasants and fish to giant balls of twine, there's no shortage of kooky, kitsch in the tri-state area.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Never Buy These 10 Items At Minnesota, Iowa, Or South Dakota Dollar Stores

Folks in Minnesota, Iowa, And South Dakota know the value of a dollar.

Buying the cheapest item isn't always the best idea. Reader's Digest put out a list that will make you think twice about what you purchase on the cheap.

You should probably Never Buy These 10 Items At Minnesota, Iowa, Or South Dakota Dollar Stores...

Gallery Credit: Getty Thinkstock

The South Dakota "touristy trap" pick may be undeniable

I don't know if everyone will agree with the writers at Thrillist Travel, about which tourist attractions are the weirdest in the tri-state area.

I mean there are so many strange things to see when you travel. From giant pheasants and fish to giant balls of twine, there's no shortage of kooky, kitsch, in the tri-state area.

According to the traveling writers at Thrillist, the strangest roadside attraction in South Dakota is. . .Wall Drug.

Its sheer size was enough for them to name it that, but wait they had more, (mostly positive) stuff to say.

It's a city-sized paragon of Western kitsch.- -Thrillist

They noted that even if you wanted to miss it, you couldn't because you would probably need gas anyway and its outlandish size would draw you in.

An actual drug store, where you can get a prescription filled and also see a gigantic animatronic dinosaur or cowboy band, peruse Native American art, eat an open-face turkey sandwich, play in a shooting gallery, or snap a photo with a jackalope.- -Thrillist

All of this being said- -they loved it.

Google street view and Canva

In Iowa, the choice may not seem so obvious.

They went with the Riverside, Iowa, Voyage Home Riverside History Center.

It is better known as the future birthplace of Star Trek 's Captain James Tiberius Kirk!

While they first claimed the Starship Enterprise captain in 1985, the museum didn't open its doors until 2008- -Thrillist

Trekkies have made this a must-stop location for Star Trek collectibles of all kinds and of course the Star Trek Festival every summer.

The globally celebrated captain's date of birth (March 22, 2228) is engraved on a monument behind the hair salon at the museum building. And of course, this Star Trek-esque sort of sculpture is located out front.

Google Street view and Canva

Finally, when it comes to Minnesota's, they have the Green Giant or the World's Biggest Paul Bunyan statue, a giant ball of twine - - so it was kind of surprising that they chose the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota.

But as a lifelong lover of Spam, to me, it is a triumph for the little tin can of mystery meat!

Within its walls, you'll find out the history of SPAM, including its massive cultural cache in island diasporas. You will be tempted to buy an ironic T-shirt or register as a SPAMbassador. --Thrillist

Google Street View and Canva

Source: Thrillist Travel

Source: Weirdest Tourist Traps Even the Locals Love in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa