Going places: Much more than corn in Mitchell

Twin Citians know Mitchell, S.D., about halfway to the Black Hills, as a place to fill up with gas and see the Corn Palace. Yet Mitchell is a friendly, inexpensive small city with history, several worthy museums, a few unique shops, and a picturesque rural landscape. That and a charming, affordable B&B-on-a-farm make it a worthy place to hang your hat for a couple of days.

Corny tourist stop

Each year workers nail hundreds of thousands of ears of colored corn and thousands of bushels of grain to the city's civic arena to create the murals of the Corn Palace, the undeniable centerpiece of Mitchell (www.cornpalace.com; 1-605-996-6223). The 2009 theme, scheduled to be completed in October, is "America's Destinations." It's kitschy, but worth checking out. Inside, photographs of the previous Palace incarnations date back to 1892, and more corn murals await. Free guided tours are available.

Other main-street attractions

A Western-themed enclave of touristy shops surrounds a grassy picnic area downtown. Just south of that is Jackpot Gamblin', a saloon-styled family-friendly "casino" (which in South Dakota can mean a gas station with a video slot machine) with bar, restaurant and a museum decked out like an old saloon (www.atthejackpot.com; 1-605-996-9366).

The Prairie Breeze Gallery features pieces created by South Dakota artists (www. prairiebreezegallery.com; 1-605-996-5402). Promise the kids that if they're good they can go across the street to pet the ferrets at Ed's Pet World (www.edspetworld.net; 1-605-996-9747).

From art to archaeology

Also at DWU is the McGovern Legacy Museum, a small but well executed homage to Mitchell's native son, Sen. George McGovern (www.mcgoverncenter.org; 1-605-995-2935).

At the Prehistoric Indian Village, visitors can see an active archaeological excavation (protected by a permanent 10,000-square-foot domed structure), and literally sift through artifacts unearthed there (www.mitchellindian village.org; 1-605-996-5473). A small interpretive center and museum houses relics and re-creations of the village as it was 1,000 years ago.

The turn-of-the-20th-century quartzite beauty known as the Carnegie Resource Center once housed the public library and later the Oscar Howe Gallery (a mural by the artist still decorates the domed lobby). Now, it is home to the local historical and genealogical societies, where visitors can scour research records or view changing exhibits and a room dedicated to Corn Palace memorabilia.

Don't miss

At Klock Werks, a working custom motorcycle shop, visitors can watch award-winning choppers being built. (www.kustomcycles.com; 1-605-996-3700) A few of their creations are on display.

While there are no four-star restaurants, you won't go hungry in Mitchell. Options include steakhouses, chain restaurants, sports bar-like eateries, and some decent, inexpensive, homey food joints like Main Street's Italiano Donn's or Café Teresa, where you can grab a gourmet sandwich (www.cafe-teresa.com; 1-605-990-2233).

You can choose from many motels and mid-priced hotels, or stay at one of several campgrounds (including a city-owned site right on Lake Mitchell: 1-605-995-8457). Better yet, take the family down to der Rumbolz platz Country Bed, Breakfast, Hunting & Horse Camp (www.bbonline.com/sd/rumbolz/index.html; 1-605-227-4385). The B&B is about 10 miles south of the Wal-Mart and Cabela's, past beautiful rural landscapes of golden-topped grain, subtly shaded crops and cylindrical hay bales. You'll be welcomed by folks who enjoy sharing their working farmstead with visitors. ("I'm the mother of 10 children from eight different fathers," Ila Rumbolz boasts, only later explaining that in addition to her two biological kids they adopted two and hosted six exchange students.) Once you're good and relaxed, then you can head for the Hills.