Siouxland Families

Who doesn't love FREE fun? I sure do, and I'm excited to share with you some of the great ideas I've found for free fun in Siouxland. This post is going to exclusively share free fun in Siouxland outside of Sioux City itself, and I'll be sure to update as I find new attractions that should have a place on this list. Check out  my guide to free fun in Sioux City, Iowa to find even more ideas for free Siouxland fun.   Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve North Sioux City, SD Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is a day-use South Dakota State Park with free entrance, beautiful trails, historic buildings you can go in, farm animals to visit, and an imaginative playground. And kids love the visitors center, with tons of play space including a toy boat they can climb in, and a pioneer cabin play area with tons of toy food. My kids could spend hours there (and have!) We really are so lucky to have this in Siouxland.  For more information, check out my full guide t...

 I love Scooter's Coffee, and I love St. Patrick's Day, so when I heard that Scooter's came out with two new drink flavors to celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2025, I couldn't resist trying them. So, I took my kids to Scooter's after school one day to check out the new Lucky Charm lattes and the Lil Leprechaun smoothies. Here's what we thought: Scooter's Lucky Charms drinks Scooter's new Lucky Charms flavored drinks include marshmallow and vanilla flavors and are topped with colorful Lucky Charms marshmallows. You can choose from a hot or iced latte, a blended drink, or a cold foam.  I tried the Lucky Charms Latte, but subbed in almond milk, and I thought it had good flavor and a good level of sweetness. I could definitely taste the marshmallow and vanilla flavors but also espresso. You can't see the marshmallows in the hot cup unless you take off the lid though, so if you mainly want the Lucky Charms drinks for the cute marshmallow themin...

Avast mateys! Ye be invited to the social event of the season: The Sioux City Art Center is hosting Pirates' Picnic for kids on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, from 11am to 12:30pm, and I'm so excited! In 2023, the art center tested out the concept of hosting a kids' event re-using the decor from their elaborate fundraising gala the night before with an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party, and it was a huge success, tickets sold out and attendees had a blast. And this year they are bringing it back, with a "Pirates' Picnic" to go with the Neverland theme for their fundraising gala (which is on Friday night.) So, here's what parents, grandparents, etc. should know about the Pirates' Picnic at the Sioux City Art Center: graphic courtesy of the Sioux City Art Center Where is the Sioux City Art Center's Pirate Picnic? The Sioux City Art Center's 20...

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 February, you might also be interested in my posts on Valentine's Day fun in Siouxland ,  indoor play in Sioux City ,  indoor play in Sioux Falls , and  Snow Sports in Siouxland .  I hope this event list inspires you to go make some happy memories with your family this month! *now updated with events in February 2025* Recommended Reads for February  Mirabel's Missing Valentines by Janet Lawler (picture book) Keys to the Kingdom: An Illustrated Timeline of the Kansas City Chiefs by David Smale (nonfiction photo book) A Great and Good Man: Rare, Firsthand Accounts and Observations of Abraham Lincoln  by Jonathan White and William Griffing (adult non-fiction) Sat 2/1 National Dark Chocolate Day , celebrate with a...

Kansas City is one of my favorite family trip destinations, and each time we visit, I've been trying to show my kids more of the amazing fun, history, culture, and adventure in KC. My family has lived in the Kansas City area since at least the 1880s and I lived in a KC suburb as a teen, so it's kind of my hometown, but it's also a big city several hours away from where we live now. I feel like this gives us kind of a unique perspective as sort-of-locals, sort-of-visitors to Kansas City. Every time we go, besides enjoying the wonderful company of family and friends, we find something new to enjoy. And I'd love to share more of that with you. So, here's my guide to visiting Kansas City with kids, and I'll keep updating it as I myself discover more of KC myself! Must-See Fun for Kids in Kansas City The National World War I Museum the world's largest collection of artifacts from World War I is right in the heart of Kansas City, and it's a must-se...