Southern Hills Diner is the epitome of a small mom-and-pop place you will never, ever find anywhere else.

It's a quaint, quiet little spot in the country that's well worth the effort to reach.

The menu is incredible, and the servings are HUGE.

There's an excellent variety, too,

We're not sure what the best part is, so we'll just go with all of it.

You can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

...you definitely don't want to miss a thing.

Hill City is an absolutely jaw-dropping place all year 'round.

Honestly, the town itself is very postcard-esque and picture-perfect, with an awe-inspiring Black Hills location.

The town itself is always friendly, and there seems to be something going on all the time - especially in the autumn.

Things really kick off in late September, when the town has its very own annual Oktoberfest Express - an autumn train ride like no other.

You'll find one-of-a-kind places to grab a bite to eat and to hang your head.

For the nature lovers, there is so much to do and see that you'll definitely want to spend more than just one day here.

You'll definitely have to come out and experience it at least once - you might just never want to leave.

For more than a decade now, this awesome family farm in South Dakota has been hosting one of the greatest pumpkin patches in the country, among other things.

You'll find pumpkins, gourds, and squashes available as decoration options.

The biggest draw is, however, the wonderfully enormous pumpkin patch, which features a seemingly endless field of pumpkins in a wide array of shapes and sizes.

Kids will love the pumpkins, the maze, and all the other fun stuff meant just for them.

Admission is wonderfully affordable, at just $15 per person (13 and up).

You can pick as many pumpkins as you'd like; just keep in mind that they're sold individually and based on weight.

...maybe even this one.

Let's be real: Winter in South Dakota can be downright brutal... but we're tough, and we can handle it.

So what exactly counts as "normal" in terms of a South Dakota winter?

The Almanac predicts there will likely be a few winter storm events, maybe even a blizzard - but we've pretty much come to expect that.

Driving probably isn't one of them, but hey, be careful and head outdoors anyway.

South Dakota is an awesome place for some excellent winter hikes, as well.

No matter what you choose to do, there's something incredibly magical about winter in South Dakota... and the Farmers Almanac says it ought to be an average one.

By playing with the slider above, you can see Great Smoky Mountains' predictions for autumn color in South Dakota (and everywhere else, too).

By September 18, most of the northern half of the state is starting to see something changing.

Come early October, the whole state should have some sort of autumn blaze going on.

The end of October brings with it the end of autumn - not calendar-wise, but by then, most of our fall color will be on the ground.

So, where are all the best places to witness these colors up front and center? There are lots of options!

This is a wonderful time to bust out the sweaters and go hiking.

Hermosa is a sleepy little town that hasn't changed a whole heck of a lot since its establishment in 1886.

Hermosa means "beautiful" in Spanish, and it most certainly lives up to its name.

Tour the town and check out some of the oldest buildings that are still standing, like the Hermosa Bank on Main Street.

Hermosa is also home to one of our all-time favorite mom-and-pop shops, Farmhouse Vintage & Design.

Once you've had your fill of the in-town attractions and shops, you can take your pick from a long list of amazing nearby attractions.

Other excellent nearby attractions include Badlands National Park, the Mammoth Site, Hot Springs, and so much more.

That's easily one of my favorite things about this town - it's located close to seemingly everything.

The Oahe Dam is a very large, earthen dam located on the Missouri River.

The Missouri River has been very important to South Dakota and the surrounding regions for centuries.

What creates the reservoir is the dam, itself, which provides electricity for most of the north-central US.

Construction of the dam began in 1948 after being okayed following the Flood Control Act of 1944.

The Visitor's Center is really fascinating, with lots of educational information and some pretty cool brochures.

The dam itself is 245 feet high, and its spillway has a width of 456 feet.

From the outside, this little mom-and-pop place doesn't necessarily look like much...

When you walk in, you're immediately greeted by a few things.

This is Winner Bakery & Deli, an incredible must-visit for anyone with even a slight interest in baked goodies.

If you sort through the hundreds of rave reviews, you'll recognize a few patterns.

Hungry for something more? No worries - Winner Bakery & Deli serves up awesome dishes for lunch and breakfast, too.

One thing's for certain: Winner Bakery & Deli is easily the best bakery in South Dakota...

I'm pretty sure I've never written about a restaurant whose name is more appropriate.

It's a no-muss, no-fuss sort of spot with a great menu and the friendliest faces in the Dakotas.

...or at least for every meal a couple times a week. You know, whatever we're able to do.

What the spot lacks in "pizazz" or "atmosphere" it more than makes up for with its wholesomeness, and the meals you can choose from are all pure perfection crafted with nothing but love.

The portion sizes are enormous - about as huge as the smiles on the faces of the kind, friendly staff you'll be greeted with.

...and be sure to leave room for a cinnamon and/or caramel rolls larger than the plates they're served on.

Meet the Canada thistle, which is a funny name because it is in no way native to Canada.

When I say it's a complicated foe that's difficult to effectively rid oneself of, you might think it's hyperbole - but no, seriously, it's THAT difficult to deal with.

You've probably seen this weed so many times that you don't even really notice it anymore.

It's not just incredibly tough to get rid of; you also MUST get rid of it, because it's incredibly poisonous.

Following that, without medical intervention, things only get worse.

So, how DO you get rid of it?