Nearly every occasion with best friends starts with a night out and a great meal. Forget the usual chain of suspects and try something new. Sake Sushi & Hibachi is the perfect place for shareables. Order a little of this and a little of that and don’t forget a bottle of sake for the table! Bonus points if you suggest it’s someone’s special day and surprise them with a colorful mascot and musical sing-a-long. After dinner, grab a fancy cocktail or ice-cold brew in downtown. Our selection of bars and clubs features everything from casual to club-like to medieval to sporty. To put it this way, every Spice Girl would find her favorite place in downtown Brookings. Karaoke night anyone? Check out the list of pubs here.

Kick off the second day of your best friend adventure by browsing the racks in Downtown Brookings and beyond. The many shopping districts in Brookings offer a wide range of styles, prices and homemade mementos. Also, make a stop on campus and check out the gift shops at the South Dakota Agricultural Museum and the South Dakota Art Museum; truly one-of-a-kind gems and South Dakota merchandise.

For lunch, pick something fresh and local. Our many restaurant entrepreneurs share their best dishes using locally sourced ingredients from area farmers. After a night of cocktails and juicy gossip, a guilt-free lunch might be just the ticket. Craft, Aqua Fresh and Cottonwood Bistro are a few suggestions for tasty meals, served with a side of good conscience.

But first, coffee and breakfast. End your weekend with pancakes the size of your face and an omelette with everything but the kitchen sink. Cook’s Kitchen is the perfect place for rolling out of bed feeling starved and needing caffeine. If breakfast is too early, no problem. When you and the crew decide to make it a day, swing by Kool Beans Coffee and Roasterie for a well-crafted latte and a homemade scone on your way to McCrory Gardens. The 25 acres of formal gardens and 45 acres of arboretum will do wonders for your mind, body and soul. Plus, the surroundings are perfect for #nofilter snaps or an impromptu yoga session, no mat needed. Relax and recharge for your next road trip and start making plans to visit Brookings again, we’ve got more up our sleeve.