5 South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota Spots on ‘Best of Midwest’ List

There is no shortage of top-notch places in the Tri-State (South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota) area to stay, play, eat, and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones, but a quintet of local establishments have been elevated to elite status with their inclusion on the Midwest Living list of of the Best of the Midwest 2024 Award Winners.

Tri-State entities are recognized in four different categories:

• Lodging
• Family
• Food & Drink
• Outdoors

In the Lodging category, Deadwood Mountain Grand in South Dakota's Black Hills is an award winner.

This 98-room luxury hotel is connected to the historic Homestake Mine Slime Plant, which has been refurbished to house Deadwood’s only large-scale event center and casino.

OTHER LODGING WINNERS

• The St. Regis - Chicago
• The Ozarker Lodge - Branson
• Hocking Hills Lodge - Logan, Ohio
• The Junto - Columbus, Ohio
• St. James Social - Bayfield, Wisconsin
• The Olive Ann Hotel - Grand Forks

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In the Family category, Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo is an award winner.

The 1.25-mile accessible trail rises to 32 feet above ground and offers fresh perspectives on habitats and animals.

OTHER FAMILY WINNERS

• Sobela Ocean Aquarium - Kansas City
• St. Louis City SC - St. Louis
• Kiewit Luminarium - Omaha

Iowa and Minnesota each have winners in the Food & Drink category.

Oak Park in Des Moines offers a prairie-style dining room with a menu that includes caviar, prime meats, and an extensive wine list.

Gai Noi in Minneapolis features Southeast Asian dishes like green papaya salad and red curry peanut noodles.

OTHER FOOD & DRINK WINNERS

• Vine Street Brewing Company - Kansas City
• Wild Child - Shawnee, Kansas
• Book Tower - Detroit
• Anelya - Chicago
• The Wolf on Broadway - Milwaukee

In the Outdoors category, Cedar + Stone Floating Sauna in Duluth is an award winner.

It was one of America's first public floating saunas, with seating for up to ten people on top of a 36-foot barge in Duluth Harbor Basin.

OTHER OUTDOORS WINNERS

• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks - Southern Ohio
• Lehigh Portland State Park - Iola, Kansas