Siouxland Families

On a recent trip to Kansas City, I had the opportunity to visit a new restaurant, The Ranch KC, and I was so impressed I wanted to share about it with all of you! My former hometown of Kansas City is one of my favorite travel destinations, not just because I love seeing my family and friends there, but also because there are great places to play, shop, eat, and explore. And The Ranch KC is definitely going on my list of great little places to eat in the KC area for future trips too! The Ranch KC is at its heart a barbeque restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of kid-friendly options, so I definitely recommend it as a great way to get some KC BBQ, especially if you're visiting the area with kids.  Where is The Ranch KC? The Ranch KC is located at 17207 S US Hwy 71 in Belton, MO, in a small strip mall just a few minutes south of Kansas City itself. There is a plenty of free parking in their parking lot.  Food at The Ranch KC The food a...

Every month I bring you the best things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland, from storytimes and crafts to music festivals, streaming concerts, and holidays from silly to serious. This month, some highlights include Thanksgiving and Siouxland Christmas events like the Holiday Lights Parade and Christmas at the Homestead. It's also a great month to go for a fall hike at Stone Park  or other Siouxland parks.  I hope this event list helps you find your kind of fall fun and go make some happy memories. *This post is updated annually. 2025 update currently in progress!* Midwesty books to read in November:   Rooster by Kevin Lovegreen (early elementary chapter book) and  Company by Amy Thielen (cookbook) Navigation: Click on any of these section links to go directly to things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland in: Siouxland events November 1st through 8th, 2025 Siouxland events November 9th through 15th...

The best hot dogs in Siouxland come from a historic, family-owned diner named after another Midwest city: Milwaukee Wiener House. For more than a century, Milwaukee Wiener House has been serving up delicious hot dogs in downtown Sioux City. I'm a huge fan of this local treasure and included it in my book 100 Things to do in Sioux City & Siouxland Before You Die because it truly is a must-visit. Whether you're a local or a visitor to Siouxland, stop by Milwaukee Wiener House sometime for vintage charm and great food. Here's my full guide to Milwaukee Wiener House: Where is Milwaukee Wiener House? Milwaukee Wiener House is located at 301 Douglas Street in downtown Sioux City. There is free parking in their lot, which is connected to the Hard Rock Casino parking lots, and there is additional street parking nearby and throughout downtown, including metered street parking and a limited amount of free parking at the Sioux City Art Center....

Every month I bring you the best things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland, from storytimes and crafts to music festivals, streaming concerts, and holidays from silly to serious. This month, some of the highlights include Fall Fest and Halloween . It's also a great month to go for a hike at a local state park or to visit our local pumpkin patches !  I hope this event list inspires you to go make some happy memories with your family this month. *2025 update currently in progress!* Jump to a Week in September 2025 October 1st through 4th October 5th through 11th October 12th through 18th October 19th through 25th October 26th through 31st Recommended reads for October:   Spooky Lakes  by Geo Rutherford  (nonfiction for tweens) True North Cabin Cookbook Vol.2  by Stephanie Hansen (cozy cookbook) Stompie the Zombie by Margery Cuyler (only-slighty-spooky picture book)

Huck and Loona is an adorable picture book, with dreamy colors and a great Northwoods lake vacation aesthetic, and I got a review copy from Beaming Books so I could check it out and help spread the word about it. Here's what you should know about Huck and Loona: Who wrote and published Huck and Loona? Huck and Loona is written by Emily Kilgore, a Minnesota-based author, teacher, and mom with three other picture books out so far:  the Iheards , The Christmas Book Flood , and the Whatifs . You can learn more about Kilgore and her works on  her author website .  It's illustrated by Florence Weiser, a French artist living in Belgium who has illustrated dozens of books in French, English, and German. You can see more of her art on her website . Huck and Loona is published by Beaming Books  . Our review of Huck and Loona Huck and Loona is a 32-page picture book recommended by the publisher for ages 3-8. When I read it with my kids, that seemed accurate as both...

I was sent a surprise review copy of Humpty's Great Fall as part of the Amazon Publishing Creator Program, which was so fun. But even more fun than just getting a cute new book I hadn't been expecting was how much my kids loved it. Humpty's Great Fall is a fully illustrated, 40-page picture book all about everyone's favorite nursery-rhyme egg enjoying autumnal fun. Here's my full review of why Humpty's Great Fall is a kids' must-read for autumn 2025. Who created Humpty's Great Fall ? Humpty's Great Fall is written by Amy Moore, who is also known for her picture book The Bakers Dozen (Sleeping Bear Press, 2025). You can follow Moore on Instagram as @theDailyBookmark . Humpty's Great Fall is illustrated by Josh Cleland, an artist and illustrator of more than a dozen books including Tad , The Gnome in My Garden , and Banana Hunt  plus titles for Usborne, Highlights, and other big names in publishing. You can follow Cleland an...

Every month I bring you the best things to do in Sioux City and Siouxland, from storytimes and crafts to music festivals, streaming concerts, and holidays from silly to serious. This month, some of the highlights include Art Splash and the openings of local sunflower farms, apple orchards , and pumpkin patches ! I hope this event list inspires you to go make some happy memories with your family this month!  *now updated with 2025 events!* Jump to a Week in September 2025 September 1 - September 6 September 7 - September 13 September 14 - September 20 September 21 - September 27 September 28 - September 30 Suggested reads for September: Humpty's Great Fall  (picture book.) Full review coming soon! Epic Athletes: Caitlin Clark  (kids nonfiction biography.) Full review coming soon!  Some of my fall vibe faves for this September: From pumpkin earrings and sunflower dresses to comfy matching boots and fleeces, head to ...