South Dakota Vacation Guide - 2025 South Dakota Vacation Guide
GLACIAL LAKES & PRAIRIES REGION
2025-12-15 13:52:55
Take the back roads to Your next great vacation
History resonates across the gentle hills of northeastern South Dakota. Get to know our story at places like Nicollet Tower & Interpretive Center, west of Sisseton, Laura Ingalls Wilder in De Smet, the Mellette House in Watertown, or the Pickler Mansion in Faulkton.
Pursue your favorite outdoor pastime on our many glacial lakes, or on a pheasant hunting trip of a lifetime. Travel with family to Splash Central Waterpark in Huron, Storybook Land in Aberdeen, the Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown, or the Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings.
Family fun awaits you at one of our many great events including Cookin‘ on Kampeska in Watertown, the Storybook Land Festival in Aberdeen, or the South Dakota State Fair in Huron. Check our website for our 2025 event calendar and request our 2025 Glacial Lakes Travel Guide today.
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Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Association
PO Box 244, Watertown SD 57201 | 800-244-8860
SDGlacialLakes.com | #SDGlacialLakes
TAKE THE BACK ROADS
GLACIAL LAKES & PRAIRIES REGION OF NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA
FUN FACTS
✦ Our region is home to many STATE SYMBOLS including the State Flower: Pasqueflower, State Insect: Honeybee, State Sport: Rodeo, and the State Dessert: Kuchen. Walleye is our State Fish, and the Ringneck Pheasant is our State Bird.
✦ Many SOUTH DAKOTA STATE PARKS have fishing equipment available to check out for free.
✦ Visit SOUTH DAKOTA’S ONLY 110 FT. ELEVATOR MURAL in Faulkton by Internationally known artist Guido van Helten. While in Faulkton, tour the HISTORIC PICKLER MANSION – the Home of South Dakota’s 1st US Congressman John Pickler.
✦ The NICOLLET TOWER AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER west of Sisseton, honors Joseph N. Nicollet, the French mapmaker who explored the Coteau des Prairies in the 1830’s. From the tower you can see the spectacular view of the Continental Divide, the Coteau des Prairies and the ancient glacial valley.
✦ FORT SISSETON near Britton, South Dakota, was established in 1864. As Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, it was designated as a State Historical Park in 1959. Fort Sisseton is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
✦ Go back in time July 10th-13th during the 3RD ANNUAL VINTAGE CAMPER RALLY at County Line Campground in Summit. Jam to the oldies Friday and Saturday. Just one of many great events in our region.
✦ Visit the REDLIN ART CENTER in Watertown where over 160 original oil paintings of world famous artist Terry Redlin are on display. Open year-round and free admission.
✦ Visit our great attractions including LAURA INGALLS WILDER in De Smet, STORYBOOK LAND AND THE LAND OF OZ in Aberdeen, and the BRAMBLE PARK ZOO in Watertown. In Brookings, you’ll find the CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF SOUTH DAKOTA, the SOUTH DAKOTA ART MUSEUM, and the SOUTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM.
TOP 10 EVENTS
2025 GLACIAL LAKES & PRAIRIES EVENTS, FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
1 JUNE 5-8
WHEEL JAM
SD State Fairgrounds Huron
2 JUNE 6-8
FORT SISSETON HISTORICAL FESTIVAL
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park Lake City
3 JUNE 20-21
FARLEY FEST
Lake Farley Park Milbank
4 JUNE 27-28
BUCKHORN RODEO
Rodeo Grounds Britton
5 JULY 4-6
158TH SISSETON WAHPETON ANNUAL WACIPI (POWWOW)
Ceremonial Grounds Agency Village, Sisseton
6 JULY 11-13 JULY 18-20 JULY 25-27
LAURA INGALLS WILDER PAGEANT
Pageant Grounds De Smet
7 JULY 12-13
BROOKINGS SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL
Pioneer Park Brookings
8 AUGUST 9-10
TWIN BROOKS THRESHING SHOW
Twin Brooks
9 AUGUST 11-17
BROWN COUNTY FAIR
Brown County Fairgrounds Aberdeen
10 SEPTEMBER 6
46TH ANNUAL VINTIQUES CAR SHOW
Downtown Watertown
Great Events for Everyone
Plan a trip around these fun-filled events and more! Follow us on Facebook and check out our website for event posters and schedules.
GLACIAL LAKES WALLEYE
Home to some of the best fishing in the Upper Midwest
By Jason Mitchell PL
Northeastern South Dakota features a vast rolling prairie terrain referred to as the Prairie Coteau. Formed by glaciers, the landscape is hallmarked with staggering numbers of wetlands, marshes and lakes.
What I love about this area in particular is the variety. There are large renown fisheries like Bitter Lake and Waubay Lake that have been on the radar of walleye anglers and ice anglers for several decades. Every time I visit this part of the world, however, there is a new hot lake it seems. The region boasts some tremendous walleye fishing and is also really renowned for ice fishing jumbo perch but there is more. The quality of panfish like crappie and bluegill in some lakes would shock many anglers. The smallmouth bass fishing is also top tier. I have friends that drive all the way to Watertown or Webster, South Dakota every year from places like Arkansas and Missouri just to target smallmouth bass. They can’t believe how great the bass fishing is.
Check SDGlacialLakes.com for weekly fishing reports.
PLAN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRIP
to Northeastern South Dakota
By Sara Broers, Travel Writer/Blogger at Travel With Sara
This past year has been a year of traveling with my grandchildren. I recently traveled to South Dakota with my five-year-old granddaughter. We stopped at the South Dakota Welcome Center when we entered the state. We were greeted by several smiles from the people working behind the counter, showing travelers how to travel through the state. We spent three days exploring the Glacial Lakes and Prairies and made memories of a lifetime. This multi-generational trip with my granddaughter showed me that some of the best memories are made when “simple” is the focus. Each of these attractions offers an opportunity to slow down and connect. I challenge you to take that multi-generational trip and make those memories now.
BRAMBLE PARK ZOO Watertown is home to the Bramble Park Zoo. This incredible zoo is family-friendly, as it is small and knows how to play big. You will find black bears, prairie dogs, pheasants, armadillos, coyotes, and more. Several animals were at a height that my five-year-old granddaughter could view them. I loved how this zoo was laid out; it was always easy to see where my granddaughter was.
Tip: The zoo is open year-round, excluding major holidays.
Family Attractions
Take the back roads for an affordable family road trip. Experience great events, museums, fun attractions, and so much more!
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