I can't rate the weather, which is windy and blustery and not a good day to be on the lake,…read moreunfortunately. We camped for 2 nights on the east side in space 54 with only a few others nearby a few sites away. It's just what we needed to decompress after the College World Series in Omaha. Beautiful scenery and views! We had planned on renting kayaks and getting out on the lake, but with 26 mph winds, intermittent rain and clouds, it just wasn't happening. There is nobody at either entrance for camping or state park permits so it's a self pay kiosk. It looks like you can also pay for the firewood and just take it from the side, but not sure. We didn't take any due to the weather. I am wondering though, to rent a kayak is says to do so at the front gate, so there is nobody there and wondering how quickly someone would answer the phone number listed to call. Didn't find a camp store either which we had seen online and doubt it would be open if there was either being a week day and very few people at the park. We did drive 6 miles into the cute town of Canistota where you can still pump gas and then go in and pay afterwards. Nice people in the store. Overall, impressed with the cleanliness of all facilities. The restrooms were spotless and even free from creepy crawly bugs in the showers that we find at other campgrounds. Speaking of bugs, there is a multitude of little flies that bite that we were fighting off. Bug repellent didn't seem to "bug" them at all and they were so abundant we had to head indoors. Our poor pups were scratching and nipping as these things covered their fur. That is however, the only negative thing we could find here. If ever in the area again, we wouldn't hesitate to stay again!

Love Lake Vermilion State Park. You have alot of camping sites to choose from. They open a new…read moresection not long ago because everyone lives camping there. You can either camp on 2 different sides of the lake. They have a very good dump station to empty your tanks or fill up with fresh water. All the rangers are so nice.

This is a beautiful park nestled in a nice neighborhood of homes…read more The park has tons of walking space and is ideal for pets. It also has beautiful, well kept tennis courts and a basketball half-court which is also always clean. One of the highlights of my trips to Sioux Falls includes walking through McKennan park with my dog and playing tennis. The courts are impeccably clean and are never fully occupied. The basketball half-court is also nice, but if someone's using the court, waiting for your turn can be a frequent issue. On a beautiful day, spending time in McKennan park can't be beat.

Great park! Lots of space, covered picnic area, bathrooms, tennis courts, splash pad for kids…read more Covered picnic area is available to rent to guarantee space for parties/events.

I cannot for the life of me understand why they are calling this a Japanese garden. This is a small…read morestretch of grass and paving stones near some water. If this city wanted to call it a park, that would be passable, but it's actually insulting and frustrating that they are calling this a Japanese garden. I was able to find what I think is a Japanese maple and they had a bridge that looks like they tried to style it in a Japanese style over an empty bed of rocks that was possibly intended as a koi pond once upon a time, but as it stands, there is nothing Japanese about this location. It's really confusing. For anyone who's not clear, putting a stone lantern from Pier One next to a walkway does not make it a Japanese garden. To add insult to injury, they had the sprinklers going full blast at noon with only one pathway in and out. We got soaked, as did many other people who seemed like locals that were just trying to walk on their lunch break. I was hoping to stop here and feel a little more Zen but I left wet and annoyed.

Beautiful! You would never know you're in a big city. It was peaceful and a great spot to have a…read morepicnic and a walk.

This park is full of history and legend, combined with the beauty of the gulch and stream...!…read more The highlight of the park...! The legend of Jesse James's leap across the chasm to evade a posse! You can now walk across a bridge that spans the gap which brings this jump into perspective. The steep, quartzite walls, and rushing water make it easy to understand the legend's persistence. The feat's impossibility adds intrigue to the natural landscape! The park also features hiking trails with views of the river, wildflowers, and prairie grasses. A narrow path has been etched into the landscape by Split Rock Creek! A two-tiered waterfall creates a symphony of rushing water amidst the terrain. The path offers various viewing points of the rock formations and stream. The park offers discoveries, including the historical marker about Jesse James, the waterfall, and multiple rock formations. Devil's Gulch offers an adventure for those who appreciate local lore and natural beauty!

I went for the first time yesterday with my man and our Frenchie, "Bobo" after work and let me just…read moresay, it was a beautiful day. Meeting families enjoying the weather and the trails was a highlight as well. Get out there and enjoy!!!

Nice park with plenty to do. The USS South Dakota is a good place to start with kids to check out…read morethe memorial. There are several fields for softball and baseball. Thats good and bad. If you come here just to play in the park it can be difficult to find a place to park!. Its a short walk to the Great Plains Zoo.

Righteous park. Upper section has spread-out meadow with playground equipment and tons of room for…read morepicnicking. Killer view of northern Sioux Falls from ridge/overlook. Native burial mounds dot the upper ridge section, making it clear that humankind has long enjoyed this spot. Lower section spills down toward the zoo, with more picnic spots. In between the two, the adventuresome kid will find some trails along a steep ridge.

I'm visiting from out of state with my sister and 3.5 year old nephew. As you can imagine, ten days…read morein a small town (we're staying in Crooks) with a child is... challenging sometimes. We discovered the playground at Jacobson Plaza within the first two days here and thank goodness, because it is fantastic. There are three different play structures and even smaller play areas for even younger children. From what a local resident told me, it only opened within the last year, and you can tell. Everything is in great shape and is obviously up to every safety code. There are three of those little zip line tracks as well which, let me tell you, are fun for everyone- kids and adults. It's really cool to watch everyone play together. On the other side of a fence is the Falls, next to it is a splash pad and next to that is a Grill- all within the same safe, spacious parking lot. So when you're done playing and are hungry, check out the grill, and then across the street get some cotton candy at The Candy Cloud Factory. Your kid will love it here, and there's plenty of seats with awnings for parents (and aunts!)

Stand up paddle board, SUP class 101 was great! Cassandra explained everything great and was easy…read moreto follow along with. Felt very comfortable getting in the water with the prep we had on land. Learning where to stand and some visuals on the center of the board were very helpful. Can't believe we were able to make it around the lake our first time out! Highly recommend, I feel confident maneuvering around and turning with their techniques, thanks a bunch! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to try SUP :)

Moving from the dry desert landscape of Phoenix to Sioux Falls has been one of the biggest…read moreenvironmental changes my husband and I have ever experienced. And honestly? We still haven't gotten over just how wonderfully green everything is here. One of the places that truly helped us appreciate the quieter beauty of Sioux Falls was the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum and East Sioux Falls Historic Site. My husband and I have visited arboretums, gardens, and historical parks all across the country and in several parts of the world, so we naturally gravitated toward this peaceful little corner of the city. What makes this place especially interesting is that it isn't simply an arboretum. The grounds are deeply tied to the early history of Sioux Falls itself. The site preserves portions of the original East Sioux Falls settlement, which once thrived around the pink quartzite quarries that helped build many historic structures throughout the region. Walking through the area, you can still see remnants of old foundations and learn about the workers and families who once lived there during the late 1800s quarry boom. There is something quietly haunting and beautiful about that combination of history and nature intertwined together. The arboretum itself is peaceful and restorative. Walking paths wind through lush greenery, flowers, native plants, trees, and small water features, all accompanied by the soft sounds of nearby water and the Big Sioux River flowing close by. The atmosphere feels uniquely serene, especially during the warmer months when everything is in bloom. Coming from Arizona, where much of the landscape around Phoenix is brown, rocky, and dry, the sheer amount of green here honestly still feels therapeutic to me. Sometimes just seeing so much life growing around us feels like relief for tired eyes. And the quietness. That may actually be my favorite part. The gentle sound of the river, birds moving through the trees, and the peaceful stillness make it easy to lose track of time while walking together. My husband and I have returned here many times simply because it helps us slow down and breathe for awhile. It may not be one of the massive famous arboretums we've visited elsewhere, but there is something deeply calming and historically meaningful about this place that keeps drawing us back again and again.