Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota may be "just" a day use park, but don't let that fool you. This South Dakota state park offers 15,000 acres of beauty and adventure in any season, with well-maintained trails, a cute playground, live animals, historical buildings, archery facilities, and an adorable visitors center.
It's easy to see why Adams Homestead is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. And it's FREE to visit! Here's what you might want to know about Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve before visiting (or before visiting again if you haven't been in a while!)
What is Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve?
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is a 1500-acre park in North Sioux City,
South Dakota, on the peninsula between the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. The
land was once part of the homestead of Stephen Searls Adams, whose
granddaughters Mary and Maud Adams gifted the land to the state of South Dakota
in the 1980's.
Sonny's Acres is a working farm, allowing community members of all ages to
learn about animals in a hands-on environment! Some of the animals at
Sonny's Acres include the namesake donkey, ducks, geese, turkeys, and more!
Where is Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve?
The entrance to Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is at 272 Westshore
Drive, McCook Lake, South Dakota, just about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Sioux
City. There is ample free parking in the lot at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.
The Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Visitors Center
The Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Visitors Center is a great place to
start your trip, or to play for hours on a day when you're seeking refuge from the weather. Inside the center, you'll find educational exhibits
highlighting the history of Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve and the natural wonders of the area. Kids will love the fishing boat play area, a giant bird nest building area, the kids' library, and the homestead play area!
This is
also the place to go for a modern restroom (there are vault toilets
elsewhere in the park), to grab a trail map, request a golf cart for
visitors who need mobility assistance, and chat with staff.
Historic Buildings at Adams Homestead
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is home to a number of historical
buildings, which visitors can admire from the exterior anytime the park is open, and which are open to visitors to enjoy inside during special events. They're also open for field trips!
The historical buildings on the Homestead grounds include:
- Lamont Country School
- Shay/Adams House
- Stavenger Lutheran Church
- Brusseau Cabin
Outdoor fun at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve has about 10 miles of crushed limestone
trails for hiking all year and cross-country skiing in winter, and the
preserve is known for excellent bird-watching. According to their website,
the grounds are home to more than 100 species of birds!
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve recently updated their playground to
make it safer, more fun, and more reflective of their dedication to
conservation. The resulting playground is adorable and definitely a kid favorite.
There is also an outdoor archery range, available by reservation and
occasionally home to archery instruction programs including ones for families and kids
Sonny's Acres
Events at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve frequently hosts events, including free
historical and science-based educational events for kids, festivals like
Christmas at the Homestead, and community events like cross-country races
and charity 5k runs.
What to bring when visiting Adams Homestead with Kids
Based on our experience, I recommend bringing:
- Seasonally appropriate walking clothing (hiking boots not necessary)
- Sunscreen, hats, and water as there are a lot of sunny portions of the trails
- Diapering supplies, including a changing mat or blanket, as there are not changing tables available along the trails.
- Benadryl if your family has insect sting allergies--one of our kids actually got stung by a little bee when we stopped at the Missouri River overlook! Luckily she didn't have a serious allergic reaction, but we really should've had some Benadryl on hand in case she had!
- Bikes and bike trailers if you have them: the trails at Adams are wide and mostly flat and just generally a wonderful place to ride bikes! We saw several families having a blast with their kids on bikes while we were there walking.
- Carriers or jogging strollers: the limestone trails could definitely accommodate a jogging stroller, but might be a bit rocky for some standard strollers. The trails are long, so if you plan to go very far with little legs, you will likely want to bring your preferred means of transporting them once they tire out!
For more information
To find out even more about Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, visit
their official website
from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, or connect with
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve on Facebook.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for joining in the conversation! We can't wait to hear what you have to say. Some comments are moderated, so it may take some time for your comment to appear on the site. We encourage lively discussion, but will delete comments that are hostile, hateful, spammy, or rude.