Probably the Only Reason You Need.

Reason 5. 

We love beer. 

Do you know where that picture was taken? TARGET. That's right. It's like Little FoCo. The majority of bars have all kinds of O'dell and New Belgium beers in bottles... Several even have them on tap. It's amazing. 

Minervas

Reason 4. 

Grille 26.

Okay. Just kidding. Not Minervas. But... How about a child of Minervas? In true Sioux Falls style, they even have their own version of chislic (See: Black 'N' Bleu Bull Bites).


It's like Minerva's... But for non-snooty people. Minervas has a self-service salad bar. Not exactly the staple of elegance... yet, some people think it's the nicest place out there, and they're better than you for eating there. Oye, people are idiots. 


Anyway, this is a more down to earth version of Minervas (the picture somehow manages to make the place look not as great as it actually does in person, so don't judge by that). I actually prefer a lot of their food here, too. Since it's close to voting day, I'll compare Minervas to Republicans, and Grille 26 to Democrats. One looks like it caters to stubborn old men, the other looks like it caters to... Gay men? Whatever. You get my point.

Hockey, anyone?

Reason 3. 

Hockey.

Sure, most cities have a hockey team. But look who's coming to the Stampede game tomorrow!? That's right... the Hanson Brothers. No, no... Not those Hanson brothers. 

                                      

Not quite.

Apparently, the non-wussy Hanson Trio has not let go of the Slap Shot dream. They've dedicated their lives to keeping their memory alive from a movie that was made 5 years before I was born. The only thing I've dedicated decades of my life to are eating and sleeping. I applaud the stamina they must have. 

Hockey is lost on most people here. But, the games are still incredibly fun, and once in a while we get a little star out of our team. Okay. By once in a while, I mean... Once.  You know. That one guy (Austria! Well then, g'day, mate! Let's put another shrimp on the barbie!). Mention to a regular game attender that no one comes out of SF, you'll hear Vanek's life story. Mention it to someone who doesn't really know much about hockey, but is going to act like they do, because you're just a stupid little girl who can't possibly know anything about any sport, because girls are all wussy-sissy pants who don't know anythi.... Oops, sorry. Anyway, they'll tell you that he's ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE ENTIRE NHL, EVER!!!! 

The moral of the story: Although some people in Sioux Falls are idiots, others are clearly awesome. Lining up the Hanson brothers to come to a hockey game, AND they're giving out Hanson-style glasses? Yeah. That person is okay in my book. 

We Love Hunters.

Reason 2. 

No, really. We love hunters. 

That sign will great you as you head down the escalator at the airport, entering Pheasant Country. We don't screw around when it comes to pheasant hunting season. 

Our baseball team even changed its name to the Fighting Pheasants from the ferocious, terrifying, heartless.... Canaries. One of these is more fitting. An easy test to tell if someone is from Sioux Falls... They'll pick the wrong one.

                           

Oh, no!!! We have to play THEM!?!

Shockingly, everyone in town was infuriated when they changed the name. Most of these people hadn't been to a game a decade, and it was the first time the team was making headlines in years. I guess that the people here don't want to scare other teams away. They want to lovingly invite them in with an annoying, small, yellow pet bird.

Here's "Cagey's" mean look. ANGER!!

Anyway. Pheasant hunting is one of the only reasons many folks even know South Dakota is a state. When I tell people where I'm from, I get as many people saying, "Ah, Mt Rushmore!" as I do, "I've gone there every year since I was born to shoot birds." I realize pheasants aren't restricted to SD, but... Let's face it. Does your airport have enough pheasant hunters coming to town that they would invest in a gigantic sign to welcome them? Our pheasants are clearly better. 

"Come here, or else!!!" 

You want reasons to come to SF? I'll give you reasons.

Here's looking at YOU, Mark Davis. Every reason will be officially documented, so there can be no claims of "forgetting" the reasons to visit. 

Reason 1. 

 

We have a trolley. And it's free. 

Have I been on it? No. But... It's there. And it's adorable. Cruising the streets of Downtown Sioux Falls. And I'm pretty sure they're good at keeping any homeless people off of it.