I cannot for the life of me understand why they are calling this a Japanese garden. This is a small…read morestretch of grass and paving stones near some water. If this city wanted to call it a park, that would be passable, but it's actually insulting and frustrating that they are calling this a Japanese garden. I was able to find what I think is a Japanese maple and they had a bridge that looks like they tried to style it in a Japanese style over an empty bed of rocks that was possibly intended as a koi pond once upon a time, but as it stands, there is nothing Japanese about this location. It's really confusing. For anyone who's not clear, putting a stone lantern from Pier One next to a walkway does not make it a Japanese garden. To add insult to injury, they had the sprinklers going full blast at noon with only one pathway in and out. We got soaked, as did many other people who seemed like locals that were just trying to walk on their lunch break. I was hoping to stop here and feel a little more Zen but I left wet and annoyed.

Beautiful! You would never know you're in a big city. It was peaceful and a great spot to have a…read morepicnic and a walk.

Moving from the dry desert landscape of Phoenix to Sioux Falls has been one of the biggest…read moreenvironmental changes my husband and I have ever experienced. And honestly? We still haven't gotten over just how wonderfully green everything is here. One of the places that truly helped us appreciate the quieter beauty of Sioux Falls was the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum and East Sioux Falls Historic Site. My husband and I have visited arboretums, gardens, and historical parks all across the country and in several parts of the world, so we naturally gravitated toward this peaceful little corner of the city. What makes this place especially interesting is that it isn't simply an arboretum. The grounds are deeply tied to the early history of Sioux Falls itself. The site preserves portions of the original East Sioux Falls settlement, which once thrived around the pink quartzite quarries that helped build many historic structures throughout the region. Walking through the area, you can still see remnants of old foundations and learn about the workers and families who once lived there during the late 1800s quarry boom. There is something quietly haunting and beautiful about that combination of history and nature intertwined together. The arboretum itself is peaceful and restorative. Walking paths wind through lush greenery, flowers, native plants, trees, and small water features, all accompanied by the soft sounds of nearby water and the Big Sioux River flowing close by. The atmosphere feels uniquely serene, especially during the warmer months when everything is in bloom. Coming from Arizona, where much of the landscape around Phoenix is brown, rocky, and dry, the sheer amount of green here honestly still feels therapeutic to me. Sometimes just seeing so much life growing around us feels like relief for tired eyes. And the quietness. That may actually be my favorite part. The gentle sound of the river, birds moving through the trees, and the peaceful stillness make it easy to lose track of time while walking together. My husband and I have returned here many times simply because it helps us slow down and breathe for awhile. It may not be one of the massive famous arboretums we've visited elsewhere, but there is something deeply calming and historically meaningful about this place that keeps drawing us back again and again.

I can't rate the weather, which is windy and blustery and not a good day to be on the lake,…read moreunfortunately. We camped for 2 nights on the east side in space 54 with only a few others nearby a few sites away. It's just what we needed to decompress after the College World Series in Omaha. Beautiful scenery and views! We had planned on renting kayaks and getting out on the lake, but with 26 mph winds, intermittent rain and clouds, it just wasn't happening. There is nobody at either entrance for camping or state park permits so it's a self pay kiosk. It looks like you can also pay for the firewood and just take it from the side, but not sure. We didn't take any due to the weather. I am wondering though, to rent a kayak is says to do so at the front gate, so there is nobody there and wondering how quickly someone would answer the phone number listed to call. Didn't find a camp store either which we had seen online and doubt it would be open if there was either being a week day and very few people at the park. We did drive 6 miles into the cute town of Canistota where you can still pump gas and then go in and pay afterwards. Nice people in the store. Overall, impressed with the cleanliness of all facilities. The restrooms were spotless and even free from creepy crawly bugs in the showers that we find at other campgrounds. Speaking of bugs, there is a multitude of little flies that bite that we were fighting off. Bug repellent didn't seem to "bug" them at all and they were so abundant we had to head indoors. Our poor pups were scratching and nipping as these things covered their fur. That is however, the only negative thing we could find here. If ever in the area again, we wouldn't hesitate to stay again!

Love Lake Vermilion State Park. You have alot of camping sites to choose from. They open a new…read moresection not long ago because everyone lives camping there. You can either camp on 2 different sides of the lake. They have a very good dump station to empty your tanks or fill up with fresh water. All the rangers are so nice.

South Dakota strikes again Porter Sculpture Park was an absolute highlight -- and getting to meet…read moreartist Wayne Porter to ask questions about his work was icing on the cake. A must see!

Perhaps one of the greatest roadside stops on the highways of America! Not only is it a glimpse…read moreinto the mind of the creator, it is a fun way to spend the afternoon! The $10 admission was well worth it to us, some of the things we've paid way more to see can't come close to what we saw along the path in the grassy plains of South Dakota! The massive steel sculptures and creations capture your imagination and take you on a journey. Some are downright creepy, some are extremely bizarre and some are weirdly interesting! Many of the poetry boards that compliment the sculptures will leave you scratching your head and a few will leave you with a smile on your face! The photo opportunities are endless and the grassy path through the sculptures is a nice nature walk. Pets are welcome to come along, our little one had a ball climbing on the colorful creations, he thought they were there for him! A definite must stop on the Highway 90 in South Dakota, I/ mean, what else is there to do?!

This is a beautiful park nestled in a nice neighborhood of homes…read more The park has tons of walking space and is ideal for pets. It also has beautiful, well kept tennis courts and a basketball half-court which is also always clean. One of the highlights of my trips to Sioux Falls includes walking through McKennan park with my dog and playing tennis. The courts are impeccably clean and are never fully occupied. The basketball half-court is also nice, but if someone's using the court, waiting for your turn can be a frequent issue. On a beautiful day, spending time in McKennan park can't be beat.

Great park! Lots of space, covered picnic area, bathrooms, tennis courts, splash pad for kids…read more Covered picnic area is available to rent to guarantee space for parties/events.

This is an 18 hole par 3 course. The holes are mostly around 100 yards, so an experienced golfer…read morewill play this only with their irons. That makes this course great for children, beginners or anyone looking for a walkable course. We just use walking carts here but people do rent gas carts. On a weekend it was twenty bucks for 18 holes. This course is enjoyable for what it is. If you are looking to make long drives, go to a different course. I would recommend this for great family fun.

This is an 18 hole par 3 course. Many holes under 100 yards, many around 100 yards, and a few over…read more140. This is a GreatLife course, and you can tell that they have made some upgrades. Kudos to them. Tip: ask the pro shop to tell you what hole was once rated as a top 18 hole in the state of South Dakota. It is one of the back 9 holes (I think), and it is about 70 yards... good luck on that tiny, two tiered green. Tip: Carts are available. It is very flat and easily walked, but why spoil a nice round of golf with a walk?

Catfish Bay is a wonderful local attraction! We thoroughly enjoyed the show and the generations of…read moreskiers performing. From very young to a little over the hill, they all were having so much fun performing and showing what they could do. The first half of the show was meant as a demonstration and instructional type show with the announcer explaining what they were doing and what the technical terms were. It gave some of the newer skiers an opportunity to perform and get used to the nerves! He also provided background on a lot of the performers and it's amazing how many have gone on to win awards throughout the world, all starting at Catfish Bay! It's a small little lake but they're doing amazing things on the water! The corny little skits by "Norm" as filler had the kiddos laughing hysterically!! Very enjoyable evening and the special 4th of July fireworks after the show were phenomenal!!

Came by to watch the practice Tuesday evening since we want be around for the show Friday. Talented…read moregroup of young ladies and gentlemen! We met owner Jim, chatted briefly. Nice guy. He told us to get out of car and go watch from bleachers. We had our labs with us. They were fascinated with all the action. Bet it's a great show Friday. Will definitely go see it when I'm back in the area. Would be great for families.

It'll be fun, they said. It's awesome, they said. Truth was further than what was described on the…read morepages of Facebook and on the photos from Ultrasignup. I wanted to run in South Dakota for my 2nd round - 50 states marathon quest, but wanted to patronize other races and places in the state I'm targeting instead of repeating the one I already done. New experiences define us and discovery helps broaden our horizons. With that said, I decided to sign up for The Blood Run @ The Good Earth Farm in Lennox, South Dakota on Labor Day weekend 2023. The only problem with test was that this year the temperature stayed high to the point where it was maxed out at 100°F as the high temperature of the day. Needless to say that it's tempered my experience here just a little bit, but I may go with that and ended up racking up mileage I needed during the evening and early morning hours of the event, which my headlamp purchased on Amazon a month prior to race day, was priceless. The prices for the 24 hour race was substantial, which I think was around $150. The race also has a 36 hour, 12 hour, six hour, and three hour grace in conjunction with my race: the 24 hour. Upon arrival to The Good Earth Farm, my friend and I set up along the course with a pop up tent and I quickly changed into my gear in the near 100 degree temps, thinking it wasn't that bad. After a 1.5 mile loop in that heat, I ended up having to sit in the shade to cool off and drank a lot of water. I had to wait till sunset before things got cooler. Once that happened, I grabbed my headlamp and off I went with a friend. I carried my headlamp with me along the course until nightfall. It didn't really get dark until after 8pm, which was when the fun really started. The overall experience here at the 2023 Blood Run @ The Good Earth Farm in Lennox, South Dakota was interesting and fun at the same time. We didn't expect that the temperatures would linger past Labor Day Weekend, but we had to make do with what Mother Nature gave us. The course was essentially a 1.5 mile loop around farmland with farm animals locked in their pens. You really don't smell anything when doing the loops, which was good for me. They have a fully loaded aid station after coming thru every loop. Along with cold water, electrolyte drinks, and many other foods and snacks you'd find in a spread for ultra marathon events. At night was fun since you get to see people wear head lamps. It was freaky at first like some aliens was walking around, but if you get familiar with night running and ultra distances, these are definitely a familiar occurrence especially at night and early morning when you need light to see in the darkness. There was a crew of enthusiastic volunteers who kept track of our laps as we came thru the check point. I got to know them as the event wore on. The event was awesome for what it is. Short loops so you don't think you're going too far, but at the same time, it's a way for race officials to come save you if something were to happen and they can get to you quicker. Running a race on farmland is different but a mile is a mile no matter how you measure it. New running friends and old running friends. It's all good here in Lennox, South Dakota. Definitely recommend this one if you are an endurance junkie, trying for your first ultra distance, and / or like me, running your 50 states marathon or half marathon and need South Dakota for your collection. The Blood Run is sanctioned at The Good Earth Farm in Lennox, South Dakota. I've been told its an animal rescue farm, where the owners stage the annual ultra endurance event, since they are former runners. Registration is held online months before the event, as obviously accept major credit cards for online registration. These kinds of races aren't cheap, since they provide enough support and aid for the duration of the event - up to 36 hours depending on which event you sign up for. I guess I lucked out this year since the temperatures soared into the upper 90's, touching 100 degrees during the still summer time highs during Labor Day weekend. Hopefully in subsequent years, the temps won't be as severe as it was in 2023. As far as parking, come here early enough to secure parking. You're likely will be camping out early enough to ensure you'll be able to start on time. It helps to have a friend drive you around like how I did, but you're best to drive since you'll be in rural South Dakota anyway. For the most part though, the enjoyment of the course during the night time was nice, dipping down into the low 60's and windy although I had to watch where I was going and be wary of anything that popped up in front of me. Thankfully nothing happened in South Dakota. It's a great ultra to dip your toes in. It's in South Dakota and your closest commercial airport would be in Sioux Falls. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+