On my cross-country drive, this was a good area to stop in and I stumbled across Stone State Park…read moreand its adorable camping cabins. The cabins have to be booked for 2 nights so I had to book it the day-of. I barely made it in time to check in but I did - many thanks to the ranger for being patient! I recommend bringing cash if you try to same-day stay. The place was really adorable and cozy! There's an AC unit, a dehumidifier, a microwave, and a decent sized minifridge, along with a small table, bunk beds, and a futon. I was happy to be on a bed and just used my sleeping bag for sheets. As for the park, it has beautiful hills and sweeping views. I didn't take a longer hike but would absolutely not hesitate to stop by, for camping or hiking.

Great hiking trails! Saw a toad on the hike with friends! Beautiful scenery, gorgeous views at the…read morehighest points! Fun activities for the kids. Great place to just hangout & enjoy nature. There is a small gift shop inside the nature center building. Make sure to bring a hiking stick for the long hiking & rough paths too!

This park holds a ton of memories for me. My family would venture here often when I was a child. I…read moreremember having larger family gatherings here from time to time. It's very well maintained and has a few 'indoor' restroom options. There's a very long main loop around the lake that is about 3mi and VERY hilly. I know there's hiking path and such as well. A few small paths exist. It's a lot of fun on bikes and quite kid friendly. Two large playground areas and a couple fishing docks. Also plenty of parking. The dog park is newer and very nice. Can be very busy, tho. It's so clean. I'm proud of SIoux City and surrounding citizens for keeping this place so nice. Totally free; no entrance fee. Can kayak on the lake, but it's too small for boats. Maybe a paddle boat. I'm sure the shelters can be reserved but I don't have information on that. A couple water fountains are available. Don't forget sun screen!!

This nearly 3 mile walk around the lake is really beautiful. Moderate hills and dog friendly with…read moreadjacent dog park. Highly recommended.

Wanting to get our dogs away from the fireworks over the 4th of July weekend, we booked a 2-bedroom…read morecabin a year in advance (holiday weekends sell out really quickly!!). We ended up in Wood Duck in the area of cabins not too far from the entrance and park headquarters office. Some fireworks could still be heard in the distance from Ponca but nothing on the scale of what it was like back home. The best place would have been the cabins further away in the Scout Hill Loop but those were already taken at the time I booked. Still, we were very happy with our cabin. The two bedrooms were on either end of the cabin with the kitchen, living room, dining area, and bathroom in the middle. Either end had a door and a small deck. I would advise to bring your own camp chairs to sit outside. Pots, pans, coffee maker, dish soap, shampoo, bar soap, silverware and utensils were provided but I'm glad we brought our own scrubbie, paper towels, conditioner, and plastic cups. The AC in the cabin worked great for anyone wondering. Our girls are old so we didn't do much hiking but rather stayed on the paved areas and drove thru the park several times making stops at scenic places along the way. I spent some time visiting the beautiful Resource and Education Center and attended a "Critter Corner" event designed mostly for kids but I enjoyed it, too. The knowledgeable young park staff showed various animal pelts, skulls, antlers, horns, and a few resident turtles and snakes. The Center also had some books, puzzles, souvenirs, snacks, t-shirts, and other items for sale. There's a convenience store, small grocery and couple restaurants in nearby Ponca in case you forgot anything or wanted to get a pizza. I also visited the Aquatic Center one hot afternoon. It was a real nice heated zero entry pool with a diving board and 100 foot water slide. We really enjoyed our stay and already plan to return for a long weekend in the fall.

Had my daughter's graduation in one of the cabins and rented cabins for out of town guest for both…read moredaughters graduation. They could not have been more appreciative of the park and cabins. They still talk about how much they loved staying there

A beautiful tribute to those who lost their loved ones in this horrific tragedy at the Sioux City,…read moreIA Gateway Airport. It's the small things like this that make me feel better about the Siouxland community as a hole. Nothing else to say...

What a great not-so-little trail located in the heart of Westfield, Iowa! I had the pleasure of…read moretaking a stroll here the day after Thanksgiving as part of the #optoutside effort with my partner, whose folks live in the area. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, I can't recommend this trail enough. Five Ridge Prairie features beautiful landscapes, and each ridge overlooks the rolling hills of the western side of the state. Even in fall, when things are much less green, and certainly not blooming, we really enjoyed this hike. It's a workout, too! Those ridges are no joke.

One of those "what is that?" place you should stop by if you have time. Built by local residents to…read morehonor the memory and burial location of a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, it's also the first National Park Historical Landmark. The views are terrific. Expect to take at least 15 minutes here - longer of the weather is favorable and you want to savor the river views from bluff top.

We drove down to Sioux City just to spend the day looking around and seeing what we might discover,…read moreand the Sergeant Floyd Monument seemed like one of those places worth seeking out. It was a little more difficult to find than I expected, but eventually we made our way up to the bluff. The history here is actually quite remarkable. Sergeant Charles Floyd was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die during the journey. He became ill as the expedition traveled up the Missouri River in 1804 and died near what is now Sioux City. He was buried on a high bluff overlooking the river and surrounding countryside. More than a century later, the enormous sandstone obelisk that stands here today was built over his final resting place. Knowing that history gives the monument considerably more meaning once you're standing in front of it. And the setting really is impressive. From high on the bluff there are wonderful views across the Missouri River valley, and it isn't difficult to imagine why this location would have been chosen as Floyd's resting place. Standing there looking out across the river, there was definitely a sense of awe in knowing that members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition stood in this same general area more than two centuries ago. Unfortunately, there was also a little disappointment. For a site with this much historical significance, I expected the surrounding area to feel more carefully preserved and maintained. It wasn't terrible by any means, but parts of the grounds seemed a little tired and could have used more attention. The monument itself deserves surroundings that feel every bit as cared for as the history it preserves. That contrast was probably what stayed with me most. You have this towering monument honoring a young man whose story is permanently tied to one of the most famous expeditions in American history, sitting high above one of the country's great rivers. There should be something almost solemn about the experience. And there is. I just wish the site itself rose a little more fully to the occasion. Still, I'm glad we went. The history is fascinating, the monument is impressive once you're standing beneath it, and the view over the Missouri alone makes it worth spending a little time here if you're exploring Sioux City. It's one of those places where what happened here is ultimately more impressive than the attraction surrounding it.