Destination 4
Sioux Falls, SD
The View
We had modest expectations for our time in Sioux Falls for two reasons: (1) we would be there on the Fourth of July, and, as a result, many restaurants, museums and other activities were closed; and (2) Sioux Falls was experiencing a significant heat wave.
Because of the weather, we made our visit to Falls Park on the Big Sioux River early in the morning. This large and well-designed park, in the middle of town, was a lovely surprise. We enjoyed exploring the falls and the ruins of the historic Queen Bee Mill, and took a riverside walking path into historic downtown Sioux Falls, where residents were preparing for their Fourth of July parade.
The Arc of Dreams over-the-river sculpture, the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse and the signage for the Sioux Steel Company were particularly interesting (and I assume there was more, but the temperature was rising, and we headed back to our hotel to address laundry and get some rest).
A Great Sioux Falls Breakfast
We loved our breakfast at the Hy-Vee Kitchen, within the Hy-Vee supermarket near our roadside hotel. I cannot over-emphasize how satisfying were the biscuits and gravy (a half order is more than sufficient), with tater tots, an enormous cinnamon roll and fresh-squeezed orange juice, for less than $10 per person.
An Off-the-Interstate Surprise
Our 4-hour drive from Winona, MN to Sioux Falls held a welcome surprise in Austin, MN, where we visited the free and fun Spam Museum (sponsored by Hormel Foods, headquartered there). I especially enjoyed the interactive exhibits highlighting the popularity of Spam around the world, and the life-saving role of Spam for the Allies during WWII.
We then had a great BBQ lunch at Piggy Blue's BBQ ("Where you can eat a pig or eat like a pig!"). Needless to say, Piggy's menu included Spam, but I stuck with the smoked turkey and fried okra, which were both great.
