Day Trip: Sioux Falls Day One (sample)
Day Trip: Sioux Falls Day Two (sample)
Hub N' Spoke from Sioux Falls (sample)
Hub N' Spoke from Sioux Falls: Additional Attractions (sample)
Plan your tour to include one of our spectacular events! Visit www.siouxfallsevents.com for more detailed event information. The following is a sample of one of many day trips available in Sioux Falls.
9:00-10:30am
Begin your tour at the city's namesake The Falls of the Big Sioux River at Falls Park. Known to the Lakota Sioux as "Laughing Waters", the Big Sioux River winds throughout the city culminating in the center of Sioux Falls. Enjoy the views of the beautiful triple waterfalls from three different lookout platforms. Be sure to stop in the Visitor Information Center at Falls Park, which has a 5-story observation tower and gift shop. Preview local and regional art at the Horse Barn Arts Center built in the late 1800's then drop into the Overlook Cafe' to enjoy delicious food. You can even relax outside on the deck looking over the Falls.
10:45-11:30am
Spend time at Prairie Star Gallery-Timeless Indian Art in Downtown Sioux Falls. Features include an extensive collection of Plains Indian art and hand-crafted reproductions. Learn about Indian customs, culture, and traditions from a knowledgeable staff while melodic flutes and softly beating drums play in the background.
11:45am-2:00pm
Make your way to one of Sioux Falls' finest restaurants, Minerva's for lunch. Minerva's has a fantastic all-you-can-eat soup, salad and sandwich bar each day, or you may order off of the menu. On the way to Minerva's, stroll historic Phillips Ave. and enjoy the charm of locally owned unique shops, SculptureWalk, entertainment, and events.
2:15-4:15pm
Arrive at the restored 1800 quartzite Old Courthouse Museum, home to three floors of information on the region's history. For groups 20 and larger, we suggest dropping off half of your group at the Old Courthouse Museum, and the other half at the Pettigrew Home & Museum where they can tour the home of South Dakota's first Senator. Guided tours of the house are available for groups. Together, these two museums make up the "Siouxland Heritage Museums". After one hour, have the groups switch locations, which are conveniently located a few blocks apart.
4:30-5:15pm
While you are in one of Sioux Falls' historical districts visit St. Joseph's Cathedral. The 1916-1919 Romanesque and French Renaissance structure is one of South Dakota's largest cathedrals (please call ahead to schedule a guided tour).
5:30pm
Check into your hotel.
7:00pm
Have dinner at one of Sioux Falls' dynamic restaurants! Your options are endless with over 500 restaurants throughout the community!
9:00-10:30pm
End your evening by attending the free, nightly Sound & Light Show at Falls Park. Listen to a historical narrative about the establishment and growth of Sioux Falls. The FREE show takes place each evening one half-hour past sundown (between approximately 9:30pm and 9:45pm - Memorial Day through Labor Day). The show runs approximately 45 minutes in length.
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9:00-9:45am
Start your day by visiting McKennan Park located in one of Sioux Falls' historical districts. Pull up to Pillars of the Nation - sculpted from rocks from every state in the nation. Take a group picture within the beautiful Sunken Gardens filled with bright, colorful flowers (seasonal).
10:00-11:00am
Head to the U.S.S. South Dakota Battleship Memorial Museum. The museum highlights the most decorated battleship of World War II. The vessel fought in every major battle in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945.
11:00am-Noon
The next stop is at The Outdoor Campus to experience the area's nature. When tour planners call ahead, they can set up a class specifically for their group, touching on topics such as Dutch-oven cooking, butterflies, or nature hikes. Or visit nearby Sertoma Butterfly House and walk amongest 800 butterflies from around the world.
Noon-1:00pm
Break for lunch at Bracco, a new restaurant found only in Sioux Falls! Enjoy a menu featuring Asian, Creole, and American while dining on the Veranda Patio. Enjoying the atmosphere, you might want to schedule more than 1 hour.
2:00-4:00pm
Head downtown to the Washington Pavilion of Arts & Science. This former high school is constructed of Pink Quartzite Rock, quarried in Sioux Falls (tours of the quarry are available, call for details). The Washington Pavilion is a cultural, educational & entertainment center that houses four areas:
1. CineDome Theater: Large format theater showing adventure films every hour.
2. Visual Arts Center: Seven art galleries of national, regional and South Dakota art.
3. Performing Arts Center: Broadway tours, musicals, dance and more.
4. Science Discover Center: Over 80 hands-on science exhibits.
NEW 4:30-7:00pm
Make your way to Strawbale Winery for wine tasting in a building constructed of strawbales! Enjoy wine tasting and
learn all about the process of producing South Dakota wine from locally grown grapes and fruits. Ask them to make arrangements for a catered meal!
7:00pm
Head back to your hotel or enjoy the endless selections of bars and restaurants for a night cap.
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South Dakota Wine Trail
Within a radius of 60 miles around Sioux Falls you can explore a variety of traditional home-grown South Dakota wines. Begin your wine tasting in a "house of straw" located on a South Dakota acreage and insulated for a prairie-style wine cellar in an atmosphere of country farm living. Move on to a "family farm winery" and an old style barn while enjoying the flavor of dandelion wine. If you decide to travel a bit further head south to get acquainted with "resort style" wine tasting in South Dakota's first established winery. Along the northern route of Sioux Falls discover a "rural and tranquil" wine tasting atmosphere that began from a homemade wine kit. Experience wine tasting South Dakota style from an assortment of wines made from products produced by local growers, from dry to sweet, red to white, grape, fruit, and honey.
State Parks
Newton Hills State Park
(Southeast of Sioux Falls - 20 Minutes)
Created by glaciers this 948-acre state park south of Sioux Falls features modern campgrounds, new log-style camping cabins, wooded picnic sites, trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and an observation tower. Artifacts and burial mounds found near the park indicate that a Woodland Indian Culture inhabited this region between 300 B.C. and 900 A.D. Interpretative programs are offered to visitors during the summer months.
Palisades State Park
(Northeast of Sioux Falls - 20 Minutes)
Jessie James, one of the most notorious outlaws in history, still lives on in South Dakota's historic Palisades State Park. Walk amongst magnificent rock formations creating a natural paradise for picnicking, hiking, fishing, canoeing, and rock climbing.
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Devil's Gulch at Split Rock Creek
(Garretson, SD - Northeast of Sioux Falls - 20 Minutes)
Imagine a persistent posse chasing the outlaw and no where to go, so he turns his horse and jumps, leaving the bewildered posse behind. Devil's Gulch is the area where the legend of 1876 is reported to have taken place. Visitors can cross the chasm themselves via the bridge. Below Devil's Gulch is the Split Rock River, that runs along red Sioux Quartzite cliffs, wildlife, flowers, and the legendary Jesse James cave. Visitors can purchase tickets for a Jesse James Pontoon Ride for a relaxing adventure.
Christmas in the Attic
(Garretson, SD - Northeast of Sioux Falls - 20 Minutes)
Located in an old hatchery building, you can peruse 5,400 square feet of Christmas shopping in the area's finest year-round Christmas store. While you are here enjoy an old-fashioned ice cream soda made from real homemade ice cream and soda fountain.
Dell Rapids
(Dell Rapids, SD - North of Sioux Falls - 15 Minutes)
Known for "The Dells", the beautiful quartzite rock formations left from glaciers. Many buildings are listed on the National Register of Historical Buildings. The entire main street has been designed as a historical district.
Olde Towne Dinner Theatre
(Worthing, SD - South of Sioux Falls - 15 Minutes)
Established in 1982, enjoy entertaining theatre, and gourmet-quality meals in a rural South Dakota theatre setting.
Heartland County Corn Maze
(2.5 miles Southeast of Harrisburg, SD - South of Sioux Falls - 10 Minutes)
Enjoy a walk through a life-size Maze carved out of towering corn stalks. Scattered throughout the many passageways of the Maze are ten checkpoints with questions about local history, agriculture and local geography. The Maze offers a fun outing with a twist of education. Find the hidden checkpoint and receive a free treat from the concession barn.
Country Apple Orchard
(Harrisburg, SD - South of Sioux Falls - 5 Minutes)
The orchard was established 1984 on 78 acres, contains 6,000 trees with thirteen varieties of apples and 7 acres of pumpkins. Enjoy the orchard during annual Apple, Harvest, and Pumpkin Festivals. Pony rides, train rides and gift shop area are also available on-site.
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