Sara Ann O'Sullivan

Anytime I travel, I always get excited for the food. Food often lets you get a sneak peek into the culture around you. When I first met my boyfriend, who comes from a different culture, I learned a little bit about who he was through his cooking. He cooked with care and with an understanding of the flavors from his background. I thought it was pretty amazing how he could work with spices that had been handed down to him by his family.

So anytime I travel, I make it a point to try the local spots or the historical ones. South Dakota was a bit different since I was traveling with my dad and sister. They’re okay with hitting up fast food places when they’re tired instead of trying new ones. That’s not bad, but I’m always the one saying, Wait, let’s support the local places. We tried local coffee, ramen, bison burgers, and a few other things. I learned that South Dakota doesn’t flavor things the way Florida does, and I didn’t love the fish up there as much as I do in my home state. Which, logically, makes sense—they’re landlocked, and we’re not.

But by far the coolest place we stopped at was the oldest continuously running restaurant in South Dakota: Legends Steakhouse. It’s housed in the Franklin Hotel, which opened in 1903, and history stalks its walls. Many honored Old West legends ate or stayed there, from Buffalo Bill to Theodore Roosevelt. It was brought back into the spotlight in the 2000s, thanks to the revival of legalized gaming in 1989. The Silverado casino complex acquired and restored the hotel, and by 2005, a major renovation had transformed the ballroom into the elegant Legends Steakhouse you see today.

I had a yummy omelet and black coffee, and it was the perfect way to start the day. The hashbrowns were cooked to perfection. I think breakfast is often similar wherever you go in the United States, but there’s something special about a well-made one. Eating here also felt grand, like you could look around and spot two famous people dining right beside you. The place is supposed to be haunted, so who knows—maybe I was eating with some famous guests.

So here’s your sign to check out the fun or historic restaurants in your city or state. You never know what you’ll find—or what stories you’ll add to the places along the way. As always, thank you for being on this adventure with me.