Day 1
Arrive in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city. Tour the Great Plains Zoo, the Old Courthouse and Pettigrew Museums, the Outdoor Campus, Butterfly House & Aquarium, Washington Pavilion’s Kirby Science Center and the Wells Fargo CineDome Theater. Still up for more activity? You’ll find top-notch shopping opportunities around every corner. If you like antiques, take a side trip to downtown Canton for a few hours of antiquing. Head back to town and stop by Falls Park and see the city’s namesake – the falls of the Big Sioux River. Evening options include a movie at the historic State Theater, ice cream from Parlour Ice Cream House, a performance at the Washington Pavilion or dinner at some of the places featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Day 2
Begin the day with a tour of Palisades State Park and Devil’s Gulch near Garretson, where outlaw Jesse James reportedly hid from his pursuers. Head northwest to visit Madison’s Prairie Village, home to more than 40 original turn-of-the-century buildings. Next stop is Mitchell, home of the World’s Only Corn Palace. Other attractions in Mitchell include the Prehistoric Indian Village and Archeodome, Dakota Discovery Museum and a retail store that brings the outdoors inside.
Day 3
Visit Yankton, Dakota Territory’s first capital, and Vermillion, home of the University of South Dakota. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were among the first white visitors to this area. Today, the lake at Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton offers a multitude of water recreation opportunities, including fishing, sailing and swimming. The Historic Yankton Tour takes visitors to well-preserved sites ranging from stately gems of architecture to fascinating museums. Vermillion is best known for two outstanding museums. The W.H. Over Museum showcases South Dakota’s natural history and cultural heritage. More than 13,500 rare musical instruments make the National Music Museum a world class experience.
