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Your South Dakota Adventure Begins Here The Southeast region welcomes you with natural beauty, homespun charm, rural and Native American heritage. OUTDOOR PLEASURES With more than 175 natural and man-made lakes and three major rivers gracing Southeast South Dakota, every day can be a new adventure. Public and private recreational facilities range from fully outfitted, up-scale complexes to charming rustic hideaways. The Missouri River serves as a historical and cultural centerpiece of the region as well as an outdoor recreation mecca. Part of the “Wild and Scenic River” system, 98 miles of the Missouri is designated as the Missouri National Recreational River and offers canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hunting, camping and more. Surrounded by picturesque bluffs, rolling hills and wooded wildlife areas, the ‘Mighty Mo’ is the major North American migratory waterfowl flyway, making it a favorite destination for bird lovers. For more information about what birds to look for and the best spots to find them, get the Southeast South Dakota Birding Trail map. Find it on the Birdwatching page at www.southeastsouthdakota.com or call 1-888-353-7382. Adams Nature Preserve kicks off your adventure as you enter the state at our southeast border near North Sioux City, with trails and a century old homestead. Lewis & Clark Recreation Area, west of Yankton, is one of South Dakota’s top attractions complete with campgrounds, hiking, biking and horse trails, swimming beaches, marina, Lewis & Clark Resort & Lodge, and much more. Falls Park, in Sioux Falls, the state’s largest city and urban mecca, has a five-story observation tower from which you can observe the majestic falls of the Big Sioux River as well as the city skyline. Six viewing areas, walkways and picnic areas, a restaurant, as well as the historical Horse Barn which is now home to the Stockyards Ag Experience, and Queen Bee Mill ruins, make Falls Park a must see. Palisades State Park, located nearby at Garretson, offers several trails that twist and turn through Sioux quartzite formations along scenic Split Rock Creek. The rock climbing enthusiast can make the climb to the top of towering quartzite spires. Good Earth State Park, dedicated in 2013, is South Dakota’s newest state park. Located just east of Sioux Falls, this National Historic Landmark is the largest Oneota native cultural site discovered to date in the upper Midwest. It features miles of trails through prairie, woodland and river bottom with three scenic viewing decks and a Visitor Center. Visit Spirit Mound, near Vermillion, and stand where Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery stood 200 years ago. There are very few places where a person can stand today and know that Lewis and Clark stood in the same exact location. Spirit Mound is one of those few special sites. Take the trail to the summit to view 300 acres of native grass prairie and wildflowers. Entrance is free. The avid golfer will find top rated courses in Sioux Falls and other communities. Springfield’s 9-hole course, situated high atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River is #1 in South Dakota. For winter fun, Great Bear Recreation Area at Sioux Falls offers downhill skiing and tubing. You’ll also find cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails throughout the region. Or try your hand at ice fishing. There may be ice on the lakes, but the fish are still biting. ATTRACTIONS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Nearly every town in Southeast South Dakota offers a museum or collection of interest. Recent renovations at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls feature a “Fortress of the Bears” exhibit with a window for guests to watch the bears up close. Heartland Country Corn Maze in Harrisburg promises fun for all ages. Kids can make music, build, climb, dance and discover their inner artist at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings. Explore 40 antique-filled buildings and relive the days of an active turn of the century main street, then ride a very rare 100 year old steam powered carousel at Prairie Village in Madison. Visit DeSmet and tour two original homes and the homestead that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about in her book The Long Winter. The Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home offers a glimpse into the historic past of Yankton. Observe a live archeological dig in progress at Mitchell's Prehistoric Indian Village. Find butterflies flying freely year round, coral reefs, anemones, seahorses and more at the Sioux Falls Butterfly House & Aquarium. Then go next door to The Outdoor Campus for free outdoor adventure. Thunder Road Family Fun Park in Sioux Falls has a new year-round facility with bowling, indoor laser tag, 7D theater, restaurant and more. Get a thrill at Wild Water West’s newest waterslide, Tornado Alley, a 55-foot tube with a funnel in the middle, or catch one of the weekly shows at the Greatest Show on H20 featuring amazing water stunts, both in Sioux Falls. For more fun on the water, you’ll also find waterparks in Huron and Yankton. Don’t miss the world’s only Corn Palace in Mitchell, decorated annually with new murals made from thousands of bushels of corn, grains and native grasses. It features color changing light-up domes, an observation deck and fun activities for kids. Experience the rich heritage of the area at unique events and ethnic festivals. Enjoy an authentic German meal at Freeman’s Schmeckfest or sample a homemade kolache and enter a polka dance-off at Tabor’s Czech Days. Be a “Dane for a Day” and enjoy aebleskiver for breakfast at Viborg’s Danish Days or celebrate the longest day with a Swedish smörgåsbord and Scandinavian programs at Dalesburg’s Midsommar Festival, near Vermillion. Eat your fill of “South Dakota’s state dessert” at the Kuchen Festival in Delmont or chow down on the “state nosh” at the South Dakota Chislic Festival in Freeman. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant in DeSmet brings Laura’s world-famous books to life before your eyes. Rodeos and bull bashes at Madison, Mitchell, Scotland, Springfield, Wessington Springs and Yankton offer authentic western entertainment. Old-time threshing festivals at Madison, Menno, Delmont and Brandon show you how it was done in the ‘good ol’ days’. Immerse yourself in Native American culture at a powwow. County fairs are a great family outing. The Turner County Fair in Parker is South Dakota’s oldest county fair while the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux Falls is the state’s largest fair. More events on page 214 or visit www.southeastsouthdakota.com. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE ARTS In addition to its wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities, Southeast South Dakota provides a wide array of cultural and entertainment facilities. As the region’s largest city, Sioux Falls offers a wide variety of historical museums, art galleries and theaters. Take in world-class entertainment including music, dance, opera and Broadway hits. The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival, held during June in Vermillion, features a professional Shakespeare performance at a classic outdoor theater, new each year. Levitt at the Falls, a new outdoor music venue in Sioux Falls, is one of only eight permanent Levitt venues in the nation. In downtown Sioux Falls, ride the trolley system, designed after streetcars that operated in the early 1900s. Watch for Trolley Stop banners throughout the downtown as well as at Falls Park. Take the trolley from Falls Park to the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science which houses a visual arts center, a hands-on science center, a performing arts center and the Wells Fargo CineDome with a 60-foot domed screen. Stop along the way at the Old Courthouse Museum, a grand 1800s quartzite courthouse with three floors of exhibits. Tour the Pettigrew Home and Museum, the beautifully restored 1889 home of South Dakota’s first senator, R.F. Pettigrew. The Center for Western Studies also offers a variety of history and art exhibits. Discover outstanding works of art by Native American and other regional artists at the Dakota Discovery Museum and Carnegie Resource Center in Mitchell, Center for Western Studies and Washington Pavilion’s Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings and museums/galleries throughout the area. Explore natural and cultural history at museums in Freeman, Madison, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls. These museums have preserved artifacts that showcase the rich Native American and pioneering history of this region. Mark your calendars for area arts and music events such as the Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival and the Sioux River Folk Festival at Newton Hills State Park, both in August, and the Sidewalk Arts Festival in Sioux Falls each September. Downtown Sioux Falls, Yankton and Vermillion have original sculptures and murals on public display to enjoy throughout the year. New in 2019, the massive Arc of Dreams sculpture spans the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls. Porter Sculpture Park, located along I-90 at the Montrose exit, is a unique roadside attraction full of sculptures that are both whimsical and surreal, all made by one artist out of metal “junk”, some as tall as 60 feet and weighing 40 tons. Check ahead for up to date info as you plan your trip. SHOPPING, DINING AND LODGING Sioux Falls offers an exceptional shopping and dining experience. Discover treasures at unique specialty shops in the historic downtown as well as dining options that include everything from international flavors to home cooking and fine dining. Sidewalk cafés, pubs and coffee shops offer a fresh air dining experience. At the "O" So Good Restaurant in nearby Garretson, you’ll savor and smell the aromas of Southern and Midwest culinary foods that Omar, the owner, is famous for. They create memories that are brought back by a single bite or just the smell of what's cooking in their open kitchen layout. JoDean’s Steakhouse in Yankton provides the experience of a heritage museum along with it’s famous buffets. There’s hardly a better treasure hunt than you’ll find at antique stores throughout the region. Communities that offer first-rate antique shopping include Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Yankton. If you’re visiting Palisades State Park be sure to stop in at the Treasure Chest in Garretson for new and used items, antiques and gourmet SD foods. For locally produced flavors, Stensland Family Farms serves up over 20 flavors of freshly churned ice cream treats at three locations in Sioux Falls, as well as at the Falls Overlook Café at Falls Park. The Dimock Cheese Store, near Mitchell on Hwy. 37, makes and sells a wide range of hand-crafted artisan cheese products in a variety of flavors, with locally sourced milk. Regionally famous, Dimock customers even include the café at Mount Rushmore National Memorial! Local wineries which grow their own grapes and make their wine on the premises offer tours, wine tasting and special events throughout the year. If your taste is for craft beer, you’ll find a burgeoning craft beer scene with breweries and brewpubs throughout the region. Valiant Vineyards, the oldest winery in South Dakota, also has a bed & breakfast on the scenic bluffs of the Missouri as well as a distillery. Find a list of wineries, breweries, brewpubs and distilleries on the Eastern South Dakota Wine, Brew & Spirits Trail on page 215. Southeast South Dakota's lodging choices include everything from a B&B overlooking the Missouri River to a cozy rustic lodge, to the upscale boutique Hotel Phillips with all the amenities. Lodges at Palisades State Park, Newton Hills State Park and Lewis & Clark Resort offer all the comforts of home along with easy access to outdoor recreational opportunities. Go “glamping” in a yurt at Cogan House RV Park, near Springfield, or spend a romantic weekend in a 1910 Queen Anne Victorian at Steever House B&B, in rural Lennox. Visit www.southeastsouthdakota.com for more info to plan your next adventure
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