Ever been on your way somewhere when you see something on the map, so you make a detour? That happens to us quite a bit, lol. Sometimes those unplanned stops make the trip even better!

This is what happened when Joe was checking the map on our way Out West. Neither of us have ever been to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After Joe mentioned it, I looked it up and we decided to make a stop. We were so glad we did!

Driving through Sioux Falls led us to Falls Park. The park is free to enter, and has a tower you can climb, too. This picturesque place was absolutely delightful! We walked along the paved path to multiple viewing platforms, each one with a unique angle to appreciate the beauty of the falls.

The sound of the water crashing onto the rocks below was incredible! According to https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/sioux-falls/falls-park, “An average of 7,400 gallons of water drops 100 feet over the course of the Falls each second.” There was a storm the night before, so the water was really raging and was very impressive.

At one of the viewing platforms, we met Jodi and her daughter Anna. They were super friendly, as were the other people we met while we were strolling through the park. It really is one of the friendliest places we’ve been to.

Although we opted to not view the falls from the tower, here is a view of the tower from the falls.

While wandering around, we found a gorgeous statue. The statue of the buffalo was amazing and it made us curious about the history of Sioux Falls. “Around 14,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Glacier exposed this ancient rock. As it melted, the flowing water carved its way down, creating the beautiful waterfalls we know today. Archaeological findings, like stone tools, suggest that ancient tribes began to use the surrounding area as a gathering place thousands of years ago.” (https://www.explorethefalls.org/parks-paths/falls-park/park-history)

In 1856, European settlers saw the promise of this area because of the river. Not only would it provide power and be beneficial for industries, but it would also be an excellent area for trade and commerce for the fur traders. This began a series of ups and downs for the land of Sioux Falls, and eventually the mill in the area closed. Currently the area is a robust community and the park is an example of a remarkable comeback.

We truly enjoyed the brief time we spent there and wanted to share this lovely place. If you’re in the area and would like an admission-free place to enjoy and bring the family, or are driving through the area and would like a relaxing place to stretch your legs, we highly recommend a stop to visit the beautiful Sioux Falls.

If you would like to see our full YouTube vlog, including videos of the falls, please either click the photo below or the link here: A Sweet Surprise: Falls Park, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

We hope you enjoyed traveling along with us!

If you’d like to keep exploring, you can find more family travel adventures here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TravelingwiththeTrapps
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@travelingwiththetrapps

We’ve also shared videos on our YouTube channel to complement this post and bring the experience to life.

Thanks so much for traveling with us, and stay tuned for more adventures with Traveling with the Trapps.

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