Looking for a short family getaway for young kids? The trip down to Sioux Falls, South Dakota is worth the drive!
Approximately a 3.5-hour drive, it can be done in one day. But, we chose to stay one night to give our kids an opportunity to swim at a hotel.
With the focus being the zoo in Sioux Falls as the destination, we added some additional fun adventures along the way.
Sioux Falls, SD
Children’s Museum of South Dakota
To break up the trip, we stopped in Brookings, SD to explore the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. At only $11.50 per person (ages 1 and up) the cost is well worth it for the hours of fun young children will have. The museum notes the exhibits are designed for children 0-10. And our 4-year-old and 6-year-old seemed like the perfect age for all of the
exhibits.
There’s so much to explore! From shopping at the grocery store, to preparing meals in the restaurant, to learning about space, there’s something for everyone. Some of our favorite exhibits included:
- Life-size mama T. Rex
- Climbing among the clouds
- Art studio
- KidStreet
Splash! was by far the favorite exhibit or us. My kids spent the most time here, designing their own water features and playing with the different tools to move the balls around to drop down the funnels and into the water.
There was even more water fun to enjoy outside. With a large shallow water area to play, our kids enjoyed walking through the water and splash pad. (Be sure to bring extra clothes to change into after all the water activities.)
If you’re hungry, they have a café to enjoy meals and snacks. We opted for delicious ice cream. With full stomachs full, we got back on the road heading for our final destination.
Sioux Falls: Fun for Parents
Once arriving in Sioux Falls and before heading to the hotel, we planned some fun for mom and dad. We visited Look’s Marketplace. We greatly enjoyed our time there with so many things to explore.
Look’s Marketplace includes a butcher shop, bakery, deli, restaurant, and brewery all under one roof. We tried new drinks from the brewery while we waited for our food to arrive from the restaurant.
This brewery is a great place to bring kids. With its wide open dining area, kids can be playful without disrupting others. And you can bring in your games from the car ride to play at the table. To top it all off, the food was delicious!
After our meal, we enjoyed touring the shops and picking out some delicious artisanal products to enjoy as snacks later at the hotel. We will be returning to this unique place again.
Time for Swimming
With any trip, swimming is a must for our children. When asking for recommendations regarding hotels with pools and water features for children, Ramada by Wyndham Sioux Falls Airport came up a few times.
A water slide, pirate ship, hot tub and multiple swimming areas, the kid’s dreams were coming true. Parents can also enjoy themed drinks from the bar in the pool area. Additionally, the kids enjoyed playing games in the arcade the next morning before we headed back out.
Another recommended hotel is the Best Western Plus Ramkota.
Brunch
Before heading to the zoo, we looked for a local place to enjoy a fulfilling meal. For brunch, we stopped at the All Day Café. It was the perfect family brunch spot with a bit of an elevated feel compared to a chain restaurant. The food was fresh and delicious. In fact, it was some of the best breakfast food I’ve ever had.
If you’re looking to enjoy an adult beverage with your delicious food, they’ve got you covered there too. And they’re located within walking distance to SCHEELS if you’re looking to do some shopping or to take a ride on the ferris wheel.
Great Plains Zoo
The trip wouldn’t be complete without an afternoon at the zoo. This zoo includes rhinos, monkeys, flamingos, bears and much more. Additionally, the Great Plains Zoo has a great splash pad for kids to enjoy in the hot weather. Sadly, it was closed the day we visited but it sure looked fun. Our family favorites included:
- Riding on the carousel
- Seeing a rhino
- Watching the variety of monkeys play
- Feeding the goats
We packed a lot into our 2-day, 1-night trip and the kids had a blast. Life long memories were made and we plan to visit Sioux Falls again to see more attractions!
More Ideas for a Long Weekend
If you have more time to spend in Sioux Falls, here are some other must-do activities!
Butterfly House & Aquarium + Sertoma Park
Washington Pavilion (featuring art and science exhibits, a planetarium, and more!)
Midco Aquatic Center
Wild Water West (open during summer only)
Sculpture Walk Downtown
Falls Park (best during warmer months)
Looking for more fun in South Dakota? Check out Storybook Land in Aberdeen!
