Visiting Sioux Falls, South Dakota

A week ago today, we got back from our 9 day adventure in the West.  I got to thinking today, "Jen, you really must blog about everything you did out there as it was so much fun!"  But when I think about everything we saw and did, I can't even fathom how long of a blog post that would be, so I've decided to break our trip up into bits and pieces.  Some posts may be about one place or one town and all we took in there.  Other posts may be about the beautiful things we saw including the terrain in the West.  Whatever my heart feels like writing about, I'll tackle that topic and for today, it's Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In June 2010, we stopped briefly in Sioux Falls to take in the Great Plains Zoo on our way to Rapid City. The boys really enjoyed the zoo despite the very rainy weather we had the day we visited.  We had planned on taking in some other sites that day, but the weather deterred us.  That was not the case this year!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a HUGE lover of waterfalls, so a visit to Falls Park was a MUST on my list of things to do on our trip.  When I saw the falls, they took my breath away!  They were so majestic and beautiful and I'm so glad that we stopped!

Entrance to Falls Park

The Observation Tower

Beautiful buffalo statue

View from the Observation Tower

Right down next to the falls

The boys and me

After walking around the falls, we decided to take in another Sioux Falls attraction and that was the Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove.  What a neat place!  The first stop we made was to the Marine Cove. There were lots of gorgeous fish in aquariums, but the big appeal to the boys were the touch pools.  They were allowed to touch sharks, sting rays and a variety of other marine life.  It was a great experience for them!

The boys at the Pacific touch pool

A sea cucumber and a starfish

Anemones

Sting rays

Brock going to touch the shark

 A clownfish

Hey, how did they get in there?!

After finishing seeing the Marine Cove, there was a door that led to the Butterfly Garden and oh, what a beautiful place that was.  Green and lush vegetation everywhere and butterflies and birds flying from plant to plant or dish of food.  It was so pretty!

Beautiful!

Butterflies feasting on fruit

Jake looking at a butterfly

The boys checking out this blue beauty

So pretty on the flowers

We really enjoyed our afternoon spent in Sioux Falls!  After visiting the Butterfly House and Marine Cove, we had a picnic in the park right next door before venturing on to Oacama where we spent the night.  I definitely recommend a stop in Sioux Falls if you get the chance.  Of all the places we took in during our vacation, Jake stated that the Butterfly House and Marine Cove were his absolute favorites.