We drove for hours and hours, through a flat landscape that felt like the furthest point from civilisation. Just a long straight road, a speed limit of 80 mph (129 km/h), and our four wheels. It seemed like the asphalt would never end.
The disappearing sun threw a dancing pattern of gold, amber, and violet across the sky as it bid farewell. Night was encroaching.
In the distance, a blurry mirage peeked over the horizon.
Soon, I realised the mirage was real. And a glittering city lifted out of the apparent nothingness. Getting closer, it was much larger than I expected. This sea of lights was Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota, and our next destination for things to do with kids on our USA road trip.
Best Place To Stay in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
While in Sioux Falls, we stayed at a newly opened hotel located at the southern end of the city, TownePlace Suites South. It was close enough to manoeuvre around the city easily and far enough away to be spacious and quiet. The fully equipped kitchen and dining table in our suite made it feel more like home than a hotel room.
Highly recommend for your South Dakota family getaway and all the family activities in Sioux Falls.
The 1 Thing You Must Do With Kids in Sioux Falls
If you are fortunate enough to be in South Dakota during December (or around Valentine’s Day), then you are in luck. It doesn’t happen every day, but if you time your trip right and make an advanced booking, you can see something rare and beautiful.
Sioux Falls invited us to take a “Twilight Flight” at a scenic winery north of the centre of Sioux Falls. During winter, the city lights up especially bright with a “Winter Wonderland” at Falls Park, and the best way to see it is from above.
Strawbale Winery is a short drive north of the centre of Sioux Falls. They promised heavy appetizers with the flight, and we found sufficient food for a decent dinner. Arrive early and indulge in meatballs, chicken wings, kielbasa, pasta, cheese and crackers, and so much more. Pair it with a wine tasting to really top it off. I tried beautiful flavoured wines like Sweet Pear and Blackcurrant, but my favourite was the Sweet Cranberry.
The helicopter flights are scheduled in advance, so when it is your turn, a friendly team member will come and get you. You can fit three people onto a flight, so I sacrificed my position for my kids (Mia and Caius), who had never been in a helicopter before. I figured it wasn’t much of a sacrifice with the beautiful, warm winery, delicious food, and sweet wine to keep me company.
We carefully made our way through the mud to a patch of grass where the helicopter waited. I watched Mia and Caius load into the helicopter. They both had their noses firmly pressed against the back-seat windows the entire journey while the door was off so they could better capture the views.
The Christmas lights at Falls Park were the highlight, but the entire town was just as beautiful. Before I knew it, the helicopter was landing again, and Mia and Caius jumped out with beaming smiles splashed on their faces.
More food awaited. The kids were all a-twitter about their journey. And despite being on their very first helicopter ride, they were quickly distracted by the assortment of indulgent home-made desserts – cakes, chocolates, blackcurrant cheesecake shots, oh my! The food was fit for a fine-dining restaurant.
Twilight Flights sell out fast, so if you’re looking for something special during your trip to South Dakota, then book early. This is the perfect introduction to Sioux Falls with kids.
Note: Unfortunately, Strawbale Winery is permanently closed. The owners, Don and Susie South, retired from their day-to-day operations in 2022, but continue to manage wholesale production.
6 More Things To Do In Sioux Falls With Kids
So, what other Sioux Falls things to do for your family getaway? Here’s our six favourite Sioux Falls things to do with kids, family attractions in South Dakota.
1. Falls Park & River Greenway
Falls Park winds along the city’s namesake river, covering 123 acres in the heart of the city. The famous falls send an average of 7,400 gallons of water over a 100-foot drop every second.
The park was perfect for a scooter ride (or walk) to admire the falls. I watched Mia explore the walkways and Caius scramble carefully over the rocky pink quartzite. The observation tower gave us panoramic views of the whole park.
Rug up if you’re visiting in winter because it can get pretty chilly, but regardless, it still makes for a beautiful stroll.
Location: 131 E Falls Park Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Price: Free entry
2. The Outdoor Campus
One of the kids’ favourites. This joint project between South Dakota’s Department of Game, Fish and Parks and the City of Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation offers amazing family activities in Sioux Falls. In the summer, you can enjoy an outdoor museum which includes a 3,000-gallon aquarium, two miles of walking trails, and classes like fishing and archery.
Since the weather was cooler when we visited, we spent our time indoors in their play area filled with camping equipment, kayaks, and hands-on educational displays.
Mia and Caius spent a good couple of hours enjoying outdoor life – and we even joined a camping cooking class where they made “Sunshine In A Cloud” (graham crackers, whipped cream, and peaches), which was absolutely fun.
Location: 4500 S Oxbow Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Price: Free entry
3. Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences
Inside this re-purposed school, built from rose quartzite, is an extensive science centre, arts centre, and theatre.
We spent the majority of our time in the Kirby Science Discovery Center, which offers over 100 interactive exhibits across three floors, providing hours of educational fun for the kids. They especially loved the interactive science shows.
Set aside at least three hours because your ticket also includes a movie at the giant dome screen theatre.
Location: 301 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Price: Adults $15.50 USD, Youth (3–17) $10.50 USD, Under 2 Free (as of 2025)
4. Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History
We’ve been to plenty of zoos around the world, and the Great Plains Zoo really stood out, especially considering the size of the city. The zoo houses over 1,000 animals from anteaters to zebras across 45 acres.
Our favourite display was the indoor viewing area for primates. Those monkeys were hilarious! Another indoor part offered a “vanishing species” display – a great spot to warm up on a cold or rainy day.
Mia and Caius absolutely loved the carousel and seeing rhinos up close. Good for kids.
Location: 805 S Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Price: Adults $15.50 USD, Youth (2–12) $11.50 USD, Under 2 Free (as of 2025)
5. Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove
For us Australians who grew up on the beach, we can often take marine life for granted. For South Dakota’s children who are nowhere near the ocean, this place is a special treat.
While it isn’t the largest aquarium we’ve been to, the butterfly house features 800 brightly coloured butterflies flying freely within a lush tropical conservatory. Mia was mesmerised by the display, and Caius loved the cocoon exhibits where he learned about the caterpillar lifecycle.
The Marine Cove section has an impressive window into sea life – impressive for a landlocked state.
A neat feature of this facility is the Reading Room where all ages are invited to grab a book and get comfy. In addition to the wide array of books, the colourful room contains several animal exhibits and a free screening of an animated children’s DVD created in-house.
Location: 4320 S Oxbow Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Price: Adults $14.50 USD, Youth (3–12) $11.50 USD, Under 3 Free (as of 2025)
6. Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry
If you’re exploring Sioux Falls with kids and want something completely different, Badlands Pawn, Gold & Jewelry is a quirky stop that’s part attraction, part reality show spectacle. This enormous black warehouse spans 70,000 square feet and is packed with unusual sights: a fully functioning rock radio station, a TV network, a tattoo shop, a deli, and even a gun shop with a firing range.
Each week, the store hosts live concerts that attract world-class rockers, adding to the lively, one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
As you walk in, you’ll notice warning signs reminding you that filming may be happening for the TV show, so enjoy the characters, the radio antics, and the eclectic merchandise. But the real showstopper – and what makes this a memorable thing to do in Sioux Falls with kids- is the $1 million gold bar displayed behind bulletproof glass. It’s the only place in the U.S. where you’ll see this much gold in one spot. Perfect for a fun family selfie and a story to tell the kids later!
Location: 622 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Price: Free entry
Explore With Erin Wrap Up: Things To Do In Sioux Falls With Kids
We spent an afternoon wandering downtown Sioux Falls, exploring the sculpture walk, visiting local shops, and checking out free family-friendly events.
Even if you just grab a snack and stroll the vibrant downtown, you’ll soak up a great family atmosphere. Keep an eye on the city’s calendar for free concerts and events like “Mondays at McKennan” during the summer.
We only spent three days doing activities in Sioux Falls on our mother-of-all-road-trips because of a tight driving schedule. But we could have easily stayed longer.
If you’re taking a family road trip to South Dakota, then make sure you save a few days for things to do with kids in Sioux Falls.
While we missed the summer water activities, bike trails, splash pads, mini golf, and outdoor activities, we consider ourselves lucky to have been there in December. Don’t stress if you end up doing family activities in South Dakota during winter, that Twilight Flight might just be the highlight of your vacation.
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