The second night of my trip to Montana I stayed in Sioux Falls. The biggest city in the state, with a population of almost 165,000, it had a small town vibe to me with great sites, local businesses and friendly people. I had chosen to stay there for a night simply because it made sense to break up my 33 hour drive, so when I first looked up images of the place I was surprised to see beautiful sets of waterfalls right in the middle of the city. Most of the images were from the summer when visitors and local alike stroll around, climb the rocks, sit out at Falls Overlook Café and enjoy the rushing water. I was still optimistic of the views I’d see in the winter. VISIT FALLS PARK I was right. Water was still rushing but a good deal of it was frozen and frozen waterfalls have a magical kind of magnificence. You can climb up the 50 foot tower at the visitor’s center for a panoramic view or climb the Sioux quartzite alongside the falls and get as close as you’d like. Across a small bridge you can see the ruins of the Queen Bee Mill. It opened in 1881 with the capitalistic idea that farmers could avoid the cost of shipping wheat. At the time it was one of the most advanced mills in America and cost $500,000 to construct. Unfortunately the mill closed in 2 years due to shortage of water and wheat. People tried to recreate something on the land with their entrepreneurial spirit but in 1956 it burned down leaving the remains in the photo above. It was cold but the Falls were an incredible site. If I had made my trip a couple weeks earlier I could have experienced its Winter Wonderland with an enchanting display of lights all over the park making for a spectacular view. MOSEY DOWN PHILLIPS AVE In downtown Sioux Falls there are super cool shops to check out! Every town comes with awesome local businesses but I was impressed with how many I found with truly unique items and art. I first walked in to a shop with gifts, clothing, flowers and FUDGE. The sign said free samples…I couldn’t resist and so I tried their butterfingers. It was delicious. I ended up buying long socks with cute buttons to go with my brown boots. A couple doors down I went in to another store called Unglued. I found matchless jewelry. Some were simple studs with unpolished stones on them, others were big and exotic. A couple doors down I stumbled in to Rehfeld’s Art and Framing. Inside there were paintings, photographs, blown glass and jewelry. I knew I couldn’t afford near to anything inside but I had to take the card because…maybe one day. I was truly impressed. There were many more places that caught my eye, boutiques and treat shops. There weren’t chains and there weren’t stores selling “local items” that you’ve already seen in Asheville and Venice Beach. It can be hard to find one of a kind items today. DINE AT A MOM AND POP RESTAURANT My couchsurfing host recommended these places and M.B. Haskett was a perfect fit. There were plenty of people like me there; by themselves, reading a book or a newspaper, I felt comfortable. They were serving breakfast so I ordered their savory crepe made of ham, spinach and gruyere. You can add an egg to it which I did but I don’t recommend. It was a great lunch to get me ready for the rest of my day! For my coffee for the road my host recommended Coffea Roasterie. Globally sourced, in house roasted, and with local art lining the walls. Finding a new coffee shop is always exciting. It was good coffee and I wished I’d splurged and got a treat, or had a moment to sit and relax, read, people watch. NOTE THE FABULOUS SCULPTURES Every 10 feet in Sioux Falls there seemed to be an unbelievable sculpture. There are a bunch in Falls Park, I saw a bunch as I strolled Phillips Ave and the town has a sculpture walk to help you see more. From abstract art to kids playing soccer, to Humpty Dumty sitting on a wall. They are definitely worth a second glance. CHECK OUT THE WORLD'S ONLY CORN PALACE About an hour outside of town, it is closer to Sioux Falls than any other big town and worth the quick exit from the highway. Located in Mitchell the “palace” is filled with murals made of corn. In the summer there are tours with “a-maize-ing” facts and the “palace” also holds games and events in the center stadium.
What do you like to do in Sioux Falls?
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