Almost every small town in South Dakota has a pub. This is where the locals go to have a few beers and chat.

What makes a dive a dive?

A dive bar has character. Neon signs for beer bars and local memorabilia decorate the walls.

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

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

In some pubs there is nothing to eat at all except bags of chips and pickled eggs in a jar of brine on the counter.

The dives are nothing special. The walls are lined with 70s-style wooden panels and there are wobbly tables resting on a folded napkin.

And finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in the pubs are in a class of their own and could be a theme in their own right.

There are several small pubs in our area with friendly faces, cheap alcohol with a brand and even really Good Food! We use the term “diving” in the most loving sense.

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

I think most of us have at least heard of the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.” We may not be able to list them as easily as we can list McDonald's inexpensive menu items, but chances are you've heard of at least some of them, right?

Every state in the United States is known for its many natural wonders and landmarks, so I thought I would compile my own list of the “Seven Wonders of South Dakota.”

Below you will find what I consider to be the most notable landmarks, monuments and natural wonders associated with the great state of South Dakota. In compiling this list, I tried to give a little attention to both sides of the state.

You may have a few additions…

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Let's get started. The Seven Wonders of South Dakota: