2/24/2025
PIERRE, S.D. – Television personality and host Samantha Brown has officially added South Dakota to her list of “Places to Love,” with a South Dakota episode released February 23.
The Black Hills of South Dakota stars in a 30-minute episode in season eight of Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love” on PBS, available to watch for free online now at PBS.org and within the PBS app. SDPB will air the episode on Saturday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m. CT.
“Now that I’ve been to this destination, I fully understand why it’s nicknamed ‘the land of infinite variety,” stated Brown in anticipation of the episode’s release.
Travel South Dakota collaborated with several Black Hills businesses and attractions for the episode, including Palmer Gulch KOA, Wall Drug Store, Mount Moriah Cemetery, Historic Deadwood, Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post, and Badlands National Park.
The episode trailer teased scenes from South Dakota, including scenic drives on Needles Highway and wildlife education in Custer State Park, an interview with the Chief Mountain Officer in front of Crazy Horse Memorial, and a tour of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. The newly released episode captures meaningful stories about Lakota culture through music and dance with Starr Chief Eagle, words from cowboy musicians Paul Larson and Chet Murray at Palmer Gulch, and stories of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane’s infamous escapades in Deadwood. The full-length episode and featured itinerary showcasing South Dakota businesses and attractions is available to view on the “Places to Love” website.
Named the highest-rated travel show on PBS in 2023, Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love” has been airing on PBS broadcast, digital, and social channels since 2018. Within each episode, Samantha seeks out the little-known spots where brand-new travel experiences are discovered. Whether it’s food & drink, art & design, culture or adventure, each episode leaves viewers with a well-curated list of experiences focused on how to visit a destination — and how to belong to it.
“We are eager and excited to showcase locations in the Black Hills to a national audience,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “Samantha’s genuine passion and meaningful connection to South Dakota’s incredible people and places is authentically captured in this episode, and we know we’ve gained an ambassador for The Mount Rushmore State.”
Nearly 350 PBS stations across the country in markets including Boston, Mass.; New York City, N.Y.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Seattle, Wash.; Denver, Colo.; Houston, Texas and dozens of others will broadcast the episode over the next two weeks.
“Places to Love” reaches an estimated 69 million through broadcast and an additional 900,000 across Brown’s social media platforms
The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.
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Media Notes:
For downloadable image assets, please click here, credited to “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love.”
Season 8 episode trailer available to view here. The full-length episode is available to view here.
CONTACT
Katlyn Svendsen, Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director
Travel South Dakota
Email: [email protected]