Siouxland Families

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....

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 ...

It's apple season! Whether you like them sweet or tart, baked into a pie or freshly sliced, apples are one of the quintessential fall flavors. And there's just something extra special about picking your own apples. Luckily, there are several lovely places near Sioux City and Siouxland where you can do just that. So, here's my guide to where to pick apples within 2 hours of Sioux City:  Apple Orchards in Sioux City Autumn Grove Apple Orchard 1658 180th Street, Sioux City, IA Currently Autumn Grove Apple Orchard is the only you-pick apple orchard I am aware of within Sioux City itself. There is no admission charge to Autumn Grove Apple Orchard, and the apples are sold by volume, so just buy your bag and pick what you want as long as it fits! Their opening day for 2025 is Sunday, September 7th from noon to 4pm but they stated they may not be open every Sunday (basically, it depends on the weather and which trees are ready which days,) so watch their Facebook page for updates! ...

Wondering what you really need in a diaper bag? I can't promise all the answers, but as a mom of four kids from toddler to teen, I've been carrying around a diaper bag for more than a decade and a half. And while my system isn't perfect, I have gotten pretty good at packing a combo of items that lets us have fun just about anywhere. I'm all about NOT gatekeeping what I've learned over the years, so let's take a peek into my diaper bag together. I hope it's helpful if you're a pregnant mom contemplating what to register for, a new mom trying to decide which gear to actually bring with you, or an experienced mom who's already got a good system but also on the lookout for fun new things to add (that's me, always, so please leave a comment and let me know what great things you have in your diaper bag too so I can try them out!) I also just updated my Amazon Affiliate storefront so you can easily find (affiliate link:)  my diaper-bag must-haves  all i...