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Southeast Region

In southeastern South Dakota, you’ll find 175 fishing lakes ranging in size from two to 29,000 acres. You’ll also find bustling cities, quiet country escapes, fine arts and culture, family attractions and abundance of outdoor adventures. Here every landmark tells a story and every event captures the spirit of the people.

Things To Do | Events | More Information

Things To Do

Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, near North Sioux City
Spanning 1,500 acres along the Missouri River, this restored homestead and nature preserve provides visitors with a glimpse back in time. Ten miles of walking trails wind around the river providing optimum wildlife viewing.

Admission: Free

Phone: 605-232-0873

Devil’s Gulch and Split Rock Park, Garretson
Stand on the footbridge spanning the gap that the outlaw Jesse James jumped as he was being chased by lawmen. Primitive camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking and picnicking are just some of the activities to enjoy at Split Rock Park.

Admission: Free

Phone: 605-594-6721

Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum, Sioux Falls
The Great Plains Zoo features more than 500 animals from around the world and an interactive children’s zoo. The Delbridge Museum of Natural History features an impressive collection of mounted animals from five continents.

Admission: $6.80 + tax/age 13-59 – $6 + tax/age 60+ – $3.80 + tax/age 3-12

Phone: 605-367-8313

Falls Park and the Falls of the Big Sioux River, Sioux Falls
Surrounding the city’s namesake, Falls Park is a great family destination for spending time outdoors, experiencing the falls, viewing the city from the top of the observation tower and exploring the Horse Barn Arts Center.

Admission: Free

Phone: 605-367-7430

Freeman Heritage Hall Museum and Archives, Freeman
The Heritage Hall Museum has more than 20,000 artifacts and displays depicting the heritage of the South Dakotans. The collection includes pioneer, native wildlife, Civil War, WWI, and WWII firearms.

Admission: $4/adult – $2/grades 1-12 – free for preschoolers

Phone: 605-925-4237

Historic Prairie Village, Madison
Located two miles west of Madison, Prairie Village has more than 40 antique-filled buildings taking you back to the turn of the century main street. Prairie Village also offers train rides, a gift shop and camping sites.

Admission: $5/age 13+ – $2/age 6-12

Phone: 800-693-3644

Lewis and Clark Visitors Center, Yankton
The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center is located atop Calumet Bluff just downstream from the Gavins Point Dam. Exhibits display the journey of Lewis and Clark, as well as the geology and the early navigation of the Missouri River.

Admission: Free

Phone: 402-667-2546

Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Yankton
Located just six miles west of Yankton, the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area provides sandy beaches, swimming areas and boat dock. This expansive lake area also has food vending, a marina and camping. (Separate camping fees apply.)

Admission: $5/day/vehicle or $23/year for a park entrance license

Phone: 605-668-2985

Missouri National Recreational River, Yankton to Nebraska border
This national park stretches for 100 miles along the South Dakota-Nebraska border. This section of the river has never been dammed or channeled, so it’s the same free-flowing water that explorers Lewis and Clark encountered during their exploration in 1804.

Admission: Free

Phone: 402-667-2550

National Music Museum, Vermillion
More than 10,000 rare instruments are on display at this shrine to music. Located on the campus of the University of South Dakota.

Admission: Free (suggested donation: $7/adult and $3/student)

Phone: 605-677-5306

The Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls
Part of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, the Outdoor Campus allows you to experience nature in the heart of the city as you wander along wooded trails, through native prairie grasses and along the shores of the Big Sioux River.

Admission: Free

Phone: 605-362-2777

Oyate Trail, southern South Dakota
The Oyate Trail (pronounced “oh-ya-tae”) is a scenic 395-mile “road of nations” taking you through 23 towns and three reservations on its journey to the Black Hills. Historic and cultural stops allow visitors to follow the ancestry of both Native Americans and the first Europeans to South Dakota.

Phone: 800-658-3079

Palisades State Park, near Garretson
Located just two miles south of Garretson, you’ll find colorful quartzite pinnacles and 50-foot vertical cliffs that line Split Rock River. The area is great for canoeing, rock climbing, camping and more. The park includes five camping cabins and 35 camp sites. (Separate camping fees apply.)

Admission: $5/day/vehicle or $23/year for a park entrance license

Phone: 605-594-3824

Prehistoric Indian Village and Archeodome, Mitchell
The Prehistoric Indian Village is a six-acre archeological site that takes visitors back 1,000 years to experience life on the Great Plains. The Thomsen Center Archeodome covers the open archaeology dig and provides visitors year-round access.

Admission: $6/age 19-59 – $5/age 60+ – $4/age 6-18 – free for children 5 and under

Phone: 605-996-5473

Sertoma Butterfly House, Sioux Falls
This unique family attraction takes you deep into the tropics to view thousands of butterflies from all over the world.

Admission: $6/age 19-59 – $4.50/age 60+ – $4/age 4-18 – free for children 3 and under

Phone: 605-334-9466

Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, Sioux Falls
Get a hands-on learning experience as you fly the space shuttle, dig up a dinosaur or touch a tornado on three floors of adventure in the Kirby Science Discovery Center. Browse the art galleries filled with fine art, sculpture and works from around the world in the Visual Arts Center. Enjoy popcorn and a movie on the giant screen of the Wells Fargo CineDome.

Admission: varies by activity, some are free

Phone: 877-927-4728

World’s Only Corn Palace, Mitchell
The first Corn Palace, called “The Corn Belt Exposition,” was constructed in 1892 as a way to showcase the fertility of South Dakota’s soil. Today, the Corn Palace not only celebrates the state’s agricultural heritage through its grain and grass murals, but it also serves as a multi-use center for the community and region.

Admission: Free

Phone: 866-273-2676

Events

June 19-21, 2008
Czech Days, Tabor
Celebrate Czech heritage at Tabor’s 60th annual Czech Days, one of the longest-running Czech festivals in the United States. You can enjoy authentic Czech food, traditional music and dancing, kolace baking demonstrations, a parade and more.

Admission: Free

Phone: 888-353-7382

July 17-20, 2008
Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, Mitchell
This family-friendly event is filled with several rodeo performances, a chili cook-off, a rodeo parade and much more.

Admission: $12/age 13+ – $5/age 4-12 – free for children 3 and under

Phone: 605-996-3662

July 11-19, 2008
Summer in the City, Sioux Falls
A series of summer events in Sioux Falls including Hot Harley Nights, Hot Summer Nites and JazzFest. These family-friendly events all include music, food and fun.

Admission: $40 – Hot Harley Nights, Free – Hot Summer Nites, Free – JazzFest,

Phone: 800-333-2072 (Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Aug. 9, 2008
Quilts & Vines, Strawbale Winery, Renner
Stroll through more than 300 quilts draped over and around the Strawbale vineyard. Sample some of the Strawbale wines, if you wish, and enjoy some outside entertainment. The event benefits Project Linus.

Admission: $8 in advance, $10 at the gate

Phone: 605-543-5071

Aug. 20-24, 2008
Corn Palace Festival, Mitchell
This annual festival features nightly concerts and a big midway carnival every day. Performers scheduled for 2008 include Lorrie Morgan, Jason Aldean, Corbin Bleu and Rick Springfield.

Admission: varies per concert

Phone: 605-995-8427

Sept. 13, 2008
Rockin’ RibFest, Yankton
Head to Yankton for this end-of-the-summer event held in Historic Downtown. Activities throughout the day include live music from area bands, kids activities, amateur rib cooking contest and other entertainment.

Admission: Free

Phone: 605-260-3003

March 27-28 and April 3-4, 2009
Schmeckfest, Freeman
This annual celebration of ethnic foods, arts and crafts, and traditions of the German and Russian immigrants who settled the area. Also included is a full stage musical theater production (the “Sound of Music” was performed in 2008).

Admission: varies

Phone: 605-925-4542

More Information

Vacation Packages in the southeast region.

More events all across the state.

Request a free 2008-09 South Dakota Vacation Guide.

Contact the Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association in Yankton.

Web site: www.southeastsouthdakota.com

Phone: 888-353-7382

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The information provided is just a sampling of the countless activities and attractions available in South Dakota. This is a demonstration of the affordability of the state. The South Dakota Office of Tourism does not guarantee pricing. Rates and availability may vary.