Experience Midwestern Warmth and Big-City Culture in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Built along both sides of the Big Sioux River, the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, makes the most of its famous feature —the rapids rushing over rock faces in the city center. Additional natural wonders include the 34 miles of trails in nearby Falls Park, a 100-year-old Japanese garden and a butterfly house.

More good news: There’s a whole lot of good food, including delicacies from an award-winning French patisserie, and craft beer to fuel your Sioux Falls stay.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Experience the Area’s Natural Wonders

Begin your morning at All Day Café, where you’ll find one of the best brunch spreads in town. Try the breakfast nachos on waffle fries, the crispy French toast or the oysters and grits.

Eat your fill then head to the 45-acre Great Plains Zoo to see more than 1,000 animals in their habitats — including the award-winning snow monkey exhibit. Be sure to experience the Delbridge Museum of Natural History, also located at the zoo.

Next, check out the Butterfly House & Aquarium, located about 3 miles south of the zoo. Here, you’ll find yourself in a tropical conservatory filled with some 800 free-flying butterflies. There’s also a 20,000-gallon tank full of tropical fish and coral and a “Touch Pool,” for a hands-on sesh with sharks, stingrays, sea cucumbers, urchins and anemones.

For lunch, try Sanaa’s Gourmet, a popular Middle Eastern restaurant offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Then head 30 minutes northeast of Sioux Falls to Palisades State Park, where pink Sioux quartzite formations line the trails along Split Rock Creek. One of the most stunning landscapes in all of South Dakota, the park has scenic overlooks and trails with views of 50-foot vertical quartzite cliffs.

Start your evening at Rough Cut Social on 10th Street in downtown Sioux Falls, which boasts the best indoor ax-throwing experience in the Dakotas. Next, cross the Big Sioux River on the 10th Street bridge to arrive at Remedy Brewing Company in a cool warehouse space — renovated, but the brick walls and lofty, beamed ceilings give the space an industrial-chic look.

The menu is short and sweet, featuring locally sourced ingredients that pair — and sometimes include — Remedy’s beers. Start with the pretzels served with a Dimock Beer cheese spread, then follow up with a “Queen Bee Burger”(spread with black truffle garlic mayo) and housemade cookies that use “spent” grains from the brewing process.

Saturday: Explore Falls Park and Downtown Sioux Falls

Saturday’s the day to hit up the Falls Park Farmers Market for the best of the area’s produce, honey, meats, baked goods and more. Find your breakfast there, then walk one block to the beautiful Falls Park on the Big Sioux River, featuring the city’s namesake waterfalls, an observation tower, picnic tables and outdoor sculptures.

Stroll the park’s trails to learn about the area’s history and explore the Stockyards Ag Experience, housed in a 19th-century barn. You’ll also find the ruins of the Queen Bee Mill, once the center of the city’s flour industry (and the source of the Queen City nickname).

Settle in for lunch at the Falls Overlook Café, located inside a restored circa-1908 hydroelectric plant. It specializes in comfort foods like grilled cheese sandwiches, paninis and nachos. More than 34 miles of nature trails begin at Falls Park and loop around the city. Rent a bike or enjoy a walk along the Big Sioux River as it flows through scenic urban and wildlife areas.

After taking in this gorgeous greenway, it’s time to explore downtown Sioux Falls, a historic area that includes a picturesque sculpture walk — dozens of pieces of public art fill the streets — and grand old theaters. Stroll down Phillips Avenue to explore the locally grown boutiques.

Find your next page-turner at Zandbroz Variety or Full Circle Book Co-op, shop for unexpected decor at Urban Archaeology or find a new wool cap with a side of history at Mrs Murphy’s Irish Gifts. Be sure to check out schedules at the Orpheum Theater and the State Theatre to see if there are performances that strike your fancy.

For dinner, and If you’re up for a drive, consider Olde Towne Dinner Theatre — the region’s only year-round dinner theater program, located 15 minutes south of downtown. If you decide to stay in town, dine instead at the Barrel House, which pairs classic American pub food with locally crafted beers and offers extensive whiskey and bourbon menus as well.

Sunday: Visit Bakeries and Breweries

Tuck into crêpes and savory quiches at M.B. Haskett Delicatessen, a cozy deli in downtown Sioux Falls. Make it a mini food crawl and pick up a selection of unforgettable macarons at the super-chic CH Patisserie, run by pastry chef Chris Hanmer and named as one of the top two French bakeries in America.

And why stop there? While in Queen City, you really need to visit the Queen City Bakery for its intoxicating way with sugar, chocolate and berries, all of which combine to make decadent muffins, scones and cookies.

Walk it off for 40 minutes or so— sampling your sweets along the way — to arrive at the exquisite Terrace Park Japanese Gardens. More than 100 years old and on the National Historic Registry, these gardens feature a lakeside path, pagoda lanterns and wooden bridges.

Assuming nobody needs an early lunch, head for a round of golf at the nearby Elmwood Golf Course or opt for mini golf at Thunder Road Sioux Falls, a fun park that offers go-karts, thrill rides and other family-friendly attractions.

History buffs will appreciate a tour of the Pettigrew Home & Mansion, the former residence of turn-of-the-century senator Richard F. Pettigrew, and a stop by the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, an outdoor tribute to World War II’s most decorated warship (open daily from May through September).

Additional last-afternoon options include visits to your choice of craft breweries. The Severance Brewing Co. pours cheekily named brews from its handsome taproom, including the Ambidextrous Hitchhiker (a mild sour) and Monster Cookie on Nitro (an oatmeal stout). Or check out Covert Artisan Ales and the Obscure Brewing Company, two more Sioux City faves.

Round out your trip with a visit to the white-tablecloth Minervas Restaurant, a Sioux Falls fixture since 1977. Start with steak tips and spinach-artichoke dip appetizers before savoring entrées like the bacon-wrapped filet and Cajun chicken linguine.