Named after a cascading waterfall in the heart of town, Sioux Falls is a scenic city in South Dakota. As the state’s biggest city, it has developed a lively culture that includes enjoying the city’s abundance of nature but also its art scene and history.
The wonderful news for travelers is that this has all been created for residents without the influx of tourists. This allows you to experience several authentic things to do in Sioux Falls with ease and without running into a series of tourist traps. Sioux Falls is a family friendly city that has layers of romance, thanks to its opulent cathedral and performing arts community.
Seemingly large yet small, it’s easy to get around town and there’s no better way to do that than to make hearty use of its bike trails.
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12. Terrace Park
The beautiful Terrace Park is arguably the most tranquil part of Sioux Falls. The park is along the city’s bike trail and is one of the best stops along the way. Visitors will immediately feel at ease as they wander the lush gardens, which include the majestic Japanese Garden.
After exploring the manicured garden that features towering hedges and opulent archways, make your way over to Covell Lake. This is a great spot to have a picnic as you’ll have lovely views of the water and the surrounding lawns and trees.
You can explore the lake on a kayak and even fish while you’re out there. The large park is also home to sports fields, trails and tennis courts.
11. USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial
A brief trip from the Great Plains Zoo, the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, celebrates the ship that played a prominent role throughout the Second World War.
Construction on the USS South Dakota began in 1939. But it wasn’t until 1942 that she was commissioned to the Pacific Ocean, where she led her fleet through multiple conflicts.
The memorial is open for visitors every day of the week, from May through to September. During this time, you’ll be able to get a close-up view of several parts of the iconic battleship. It was sold for scrap metal after the war, but a lot was saved and used for the memorial. This includes relics, memorabilia and an outline of the hull.
10. Great Bear Recreation Park
When the winter rolls around in Sioux Falls, there’s only one place you need to go for some fresh powder. Great Bear Recreation Park is a small but fun ski area that has been a popular wintertime attraction since the early 1960s. Back then it had merely two runs and a single rope tow.
Fast forward to the development of Great Bear’s lodge and the runs continue to grow. Today there are a dozen runs, three lifts, a magic carpet for newbies and a handle tow. Not to mention the thrilling Terrain Park.
Most travelers arrive in Sioux Falls during the warmer months. No stress, the ski runs transform into a mountain you can explore along eight miles of trail.
9. Pettigrew Home & Museum
Built in 1889 for the McMartin family, the history home reached a level of fame upon being bought by Richard Franklin, a senator. He purchased the home in 1911, before donating the house to Sioux Falls when he passed away 15 years later.
The house itself is a lovely example of late 19th century architecture, but it’s what is within the Queen Anne home that is the top attraction. Pettigrew wasn’t only the first full-term senator in South Dakota, but he was an avid traveler. He collected artifacts from all over the world that are now displayed in the restored home.
There are also galleries that focus on Sioux Falls’s natural and cultural history.
8. Old Courthouse Museum
Another striking local landmark is Sioux Falls’ Old Courthouse Museum. It plays a large role in offering a variety of options for travelers to the town who can now indulge in history as much as nature. The courthouse itself was built in the 1800s and is now home to a tri-level museum packed with permanent and temporary exhibits.
The museum focuses on both the city and surrounding history, with each exhibit playing a role in shining light on its rich past. Highlights of the museum include the over two dozen murals splashed across the hallways.
With its proximity to the Pettigrew Home and Museum, travelers should combine the two for the full picture of the story of Sioux Falls.
7. Washington Pavilion
At the forefront of Sioux Falls’ arts culture and entertainment is the Washington Pavilion. The large complex features two performing arts centers where you can enjoy a night of live music, Broadway productions and even budget-friendly recitals.
Another aspect of the Washington Pavilion is its Visual Arts Center. The eye-catching gallery has a fantastic permanent exhibit complemented by a calendar of captivating temporary shows. All up, there are seven galleries that showcase local and national artists plus work from around the globe.
To complement the gallery is the Kirby Science Discovery Center, where young and old can enjoy an interactive experience with several scientific themes like outer space and dinosaurs.
6. St. Joseph Cathedral
An eternal fixture in the skyline of Sioux Falls, the St. Joseph Cathedral, was built back in 1919. The opulent church was inspired by the many magnificent cathedrals in Europe and, after a recent renovation, has been returned to its former glory.
Surrounded by lush grounds, you can admire the beautiful facade in a peaceful environment. You’ll quickly admire the intricate details of the church, something that grows once you make your way inside. The most arresting aspect of the cathedral is the free-standing altar that was inspired by Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica.
The cathedral is open for self-guided and guided tours throughout the week.
5. Great Plains Zoo
On the west side of Sioux Falls is the Great Plains Zoo. This popular family attraction lives up to its lofty billing. The zoo is the home of over 1,000 animals, providing you with great insight into a range of species while enjoying time outdoors.
The budget-friendly zoo is open all year long. Highlights of the 1,000+ animals on-site include the Amur tigers, eastern black rhinos and snow monkeys. You’ll find zookeepers roaming the ground who will be ready to answer any questions you may have.
To take your zoo experience up a notch, sign up for one of the daily events such as the chance to get up close with some of the wildlife or feed a giraffe. For lunch, make your way to the Maasai Market Cafe.
4. Sioux Falls Bike Trail
Did you know that there are over 70 urban parks around Sioux Falls? We’ve mentioned some of them already, but you can explore the best of them on the Sioux Falls Bike Trail. The best place to start is at Falls Park, where the city’s iconic waterfall resides.
From there you can enjoy a leisurely 20-mile bike ride through town connecting with its most beautiful green spaces and views of the Big Sioux River. The trail forms a loop and with so many scenic stops along the way, from the zoo to Pasley Park, you’ll have plenty of wonderful places to rest. Just be wary that you’ll share some sections with pedestrians.
3. Butterfly House & Aquarium
Featuring over 800 butterflies who flutter around in balmy 80 degree temperatures, the Butterfly House is the perfect place to get to know this gorgeous species. The 800 butterflies hail from around the world, including South America, Asia and Africa.
The nonprofit organization offers guests the chance to learn about nature in a hands-on way. Outside of the Butterfly House is the other half of the experience, its aquarium. Here you can venture into the Shark and Stingray Touch Pool, another thrilling way to get to know the animals at the Butterfly House & Aquarium.
Visitors can sign up for several tours and programs run by the center’s naturalists. These include a behind the scenes look at running the Butterfly House and overnight camps for the young ones.
2. SculptureWalk
Taking you through Sioux Falls, the SculptureWalk is an excellent way of exploring the city while getting to know its arts culture. The walk features a steady rotation of over 50 sculptures that will have you wandering through the best parts of town.
You can explore the many sculptures on your own time or sign up for a guided tour. A self-guided experience is a lovely way to pick and choose what sculptures you want to see in person, while leaving plenty of time to make the most of Sioux Falls’ dining scene, not to mention the several downtown boutique stores and art galleries.
After ticking off the SculptureWalk, you can cast a vote for your favorite displays on their website.
1. Falls Park
The elegant waterfall that gave Sioux Falls its name is the top attraction in town. Here, the Big Sioux River falls over the craggy cliff with mighty power, tumbling down 25 feet. The falls are remnants of the last period of the Ice Age when an ice sheet broke away, dramatically transforming the surrounding geography.
Visitors can admire the falls from various viewpoints with the background of trees bursting to life in the spring and summer. Aside from the waterfall, the information center is particularly popular as it exists alongside a 5-story observation tower.
The rest of Falls Park has plenty for young and old, with the Overlook Cafe being the place for a feed, with live music every Friday. The kids can explore the playgrounds as you check out and many public arts and historic landmarks, including the Queen Bee Mill.
