Local Family’s Top Picks
My name is Amber, and I have two boys, ages 8 and 12. We have lived in Sioux Falls for the past three years and have really fallen in love with the city. While there are still some things on our list that we want to do, we have gotten to explore many different places around the area, and we have had some amazing experiences in the three short years that we have been here.
Our Top Four Activites
1. Parks/Pools
When the weather is nice, we love nothing more than to get outside and relax at some of the city parks, especially if there’s a pool! A few of our favorites are Terrace Park, Laurel Oak Park, and McKennan Park. We love Terrace and Laurel Oak for their pools, and we love McKennan for the incredible scenery and spacious area.
2. Levitt at the Falls
During the summer months we really enjoy listening to live music downtown at Levitt at the Falls. There’s a variety of music genres being played, so my kids appreciated hearing music that appealed to all ages. And best of all, the concerts are free!
3. Country Apple Orchard
My kids love going to the Country Apple Orchard during the fall to pick apples and pumpkins. We especially enjoy their annual festivals like the Apple Festival, Harvest Festival, and Pumpkin Festival. There truly is something for all ages at those events.
4. Washington Pavilion
A great rainy-day activity for us is spending a few hours at the Washington Pavilion. My kids love exploring the Kirby Science Discovery Center where they can let out their inner scientist. A really cool experience that we all enjoy is watching a movie in the Wells Fargo CineDome.
Our Top Four Restaurants
1. Papa Woody's
What kid doesn’t love pizza?! Papa Woody’s, located at Jones Seed Co., is always a favorite for our family because the wood fired pizza is fresh and delicious! They have a big menu of specialty pizzas, so there are plenty of options for all the picky eaters out there.
2. The Barrel House
The Barrel House offers a relaxed atmosphere that adults will enjoy while keeping kids satisfied. We have never been disappointed with our meal there. A few of our favorites are their Cheese Head Burger and their Pickle Fries.
3. OverTime
OverTime is a restaurant gem on the east side of Sioux Falls. It’s not always talked about, but we’re okay with that because they serve up some great food! Their wings are irresistible, and their menu offers a wide variety of options for the kids to choose from.
4. Johnny Carino's
While this isn’t a local restaurant to Sioux Falls, Johnny Carino’s has become one of our favorite restaurants in the city. We all love Italian food, so no one in our family is upset when we eat there. You can’t go wrong with their Lasagna or their Spicy Shrimp and Chicken.
