This is, hand’s down, the one way that I’ve survived thousands of miles in the car. Knowing that there is some really cool roadside attraction or World’s Largest item in the near future makes those long car rides easier to handle.

I’ve put together a list of the ones I’ve visited and I’ll be adding to this list as I check the rest of the World’s Largest in the Midwest off my list.

The list is put together by state. I’ve included notes, if needed, about visiting each of the attractions. What you may need to know, best time to visit, etc.

Without further ado I give you

The World’s Largest Things in the Midwest

INDIANA

Worlds Largest Ball of Paint, Alexandria, IN

Give them a call to schedule a time to view the World’s Largest Ball of Paint. You can also inquire and see about adding another layer of paint!

ILLINOIS

Casey, Illinois – “Big Things, Small Town“

This small town in Illinois is packed full of 12 of the World’s Largest things and 19 really, really big things that don’t quite qualify as World’s Largest.

Some things you’ll find:

Worlds Largest Wind Chime
Worlds Largest Rocking Chair
Worlds Largest Key
Worlds Largest Barber Pole
Worlds Largest Mailbox
Giant Mouse Trap
Giant Wooden Coin

Be sure to click over to their website to print a map and see where everything is located. If you’re within a short drive of Casey on your next road trip it is worth the stop and/or detour!

World’s Largest & Most Intricate Corn Maze, Spring Grove

At Richardson Adventure Farm you’ll find the World’s Largest and most intricate Corn Maze with almost 10 miles of trails through 28 acres of corn.

The maze design is unique for each year. In 2019 they celebrated the 50th-anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.

If corn mazes are your jam this one is not to be missed!

MICHIGAN

World’s Tallest Ore Miner “Big John”, Iron Mountain

While you’re visiting the World’s Tallest Ore Miner step inside and take a guided tour into the mines. Big John watches over the Iron Mountain Iron Mine where you can take a step back in history and learn about this way of life.

World’s Largest Indian – Ironwood

Not too far off US-2 and well worth the short detour, you’ll find the World’s Largest Indiana at a small park. Plenty of parking is available.

World’s Largest Stormy Kromer Hat (dubbed so by me 😉 ), Ironwood

Ok, I can’t say that it’s officially the World’s Largest Stormy Kromer hat, but I’ve not heard of any others in the Midwest or U.S. for that matter. Located at the Stormy Kromer headquarters. If you visit during business hours be sure to check out the store and take home your own hat. 

World’s Largest Front Porch, Mackinac Island

Located at one of the most iconic hotels in Michigan, the Grand Hotel is home to the World’s Largest Front Porch coming in at 660′ long.

Indulge in a stay here and enjoy an afternoon sitting on the porch, sipping a cocktail and watching the freighter and boats pass through the straights. Seriously, this should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Honestly, this is just one of the many reasons to visit Mackinac Island.

Note: If you don’t want to stay you can pay a small fee to tour the grounds and then stay for a cocktail or beverage on the porch.

World’s Largest Christmas Store, Frankenmuth

Open 361 days of the year, Bronner’s is THE place to find anything and everything to do with Christmas. Ornaments galore, decor, trees, outdoor light displays.

If you are looking for something Christmas related there’s a really good possibility that they’ll have it!

MINNESOTA

World’s Largest Turkey, Frazee

The World’s Largest Turkey is located right off the highway making it a quick and easy stop. It’s on a hilltop at the entrance to Lions Park (note, there are bathrooms there if needed) which also makes a great place to have a picnic.

World’s Largest Dilly Bar, Moorehead

Great place to stop for a refreshing treat AND get a photo of the World’s Largest Dilly Bar. Right next door to Fargo and off of I-94. 

World’s Largest Northern Fish, Erskine

Well, it’s a pretty big Northern fish at a small park. Not much to write about it except to check it off our list of World’s Largest Things in the Midwest.

On a fun note, it’s been there 30-years and going strong.

MISSOURI

World’s Largest Fork, Springfield

When you’re near the World’s Largest Fork you stop and take a photo. Located in a business district. I remember it being a little challenging to find, but as you can see we finally found it.

This is also a good reminder of how far I’ve come on my weight loss/getting healthy journey. Stunning the difference a couple of years makes. 

NORTH DAKOTA

Ok, it’s not a World’s Largest, but it is pretty cool and there is only one place in the World you can see it so there’s that.

If you’re anywhere in north-central North Dakota you MUST stop by and see the Geographic Center of the United States in Lebanon.

Worlds Largest Buffalo, Jamestown

Located in Frontier Village (free admission) if it’s not too busy you’ll be able to park close by and make the short walk to the buffalo. He’s also visible from I-94!

Located in a western town style district. 

Worlds Largest Cow, New Salem

 Known as Salem Sue she is visible from the highway. You can exit the highway and drive to the top of the hill to get up close with Salem Sue, but if the weather is bad you may want to skip it as it’s a steep road to the top. 

The views, however, once you are at the top are incredible. Highly recommend taking 15 minutes and making this stop.

World’s Largest Dala Horse (maybe), Minot

It’s not an “official” designation, but it’s a 30′ tall Dala horse!

If it’s not the World’s Largest Dala Horse it just might be the largest in the U.S. 

Still worth a visit to Minot to see it. While you’re in town swing by downtown and visit one of their many murals.

World’s Largest Sandhill Crane, Steele

I love that so many of these World’s Largest are right off the highway and often time visible from the highway. Of course, I always recommend taking the extra few minutes and making the stop.

Since they are usually so close to the exit it only adds 5-10 minutes to your trip. 

You can almost drive right up to the World’s Largest Sandhill Crane. Bring a travel partner with you as there are signs on where a photographer can stand and where the other person stands to create the absolute best photo!

World’s Largest Turtle Riding a Snowmobile, Bottineau

Because when you find something as quirky as the World’s Largest Turtle Riding a Snowmobile you absolutely MUST go.

While in Bottineau be sure to grab a coffee at Rx Coffee, lunch at Metigoshe Drive-In and take a paddle around Lake Metigoshe.

World’s Largest Toothbrush, Fargo

You’ll find the Worlds Largest Toothbrush right off the highway in Fargo at a dentist office. It’s so random and because it’s right off I-94 there’s really no reason not to stop.

OHIO

World’s Largest Washboard, Logan

You’ll find plenty of parking here making it a breeze to stop and take a photo. Plus, Logan is in one of the prettiest areas of Ohio, in my opinion, located in Hocking Hills.

World’s Largest Stamp, Cleveland 

Parking can be challenging to find. My suggestion, go really early and have someone drive you by really SLOW as you take a photo out your window.

World’s Largest Outdoor Chandelier, Cleveland

After you do the slow drive by the World’s Largest Stamp drive over to the World’s Largest Outdoor Chandelier and do another slow drive past it to grab a photo.

Disclaimer: I hate city parking so I always try to find a workaround lol.

World’s Largest Candy Store in Cleveland

Life is sweet when you visit Sweeties, the World’s Largest Candy Store in Cleveland.

Check their site for current hours. Know that there is also a pretty big ice cream shop inside as well.

World’s Largest Gavel, Columbus

Located downtown, I snapped this one out the car window as we were driving past. Not always my first choice, but sometimes you just have to make do with you got.

World’s Largest Corn Field, Dublin

Fun roadside attraction in Dublin, just outside of Columbus. I’m not sure how many ears of corn are here, but it’s a fun photo op!

World’s Largest Geode, Put in Bay

There’s a lot of reasons to visit Put in Bay but being home to the World’s Largest Geode tops our list. You have to pay to take a tour of the geode and you should be able to navigate stairs. It’s definitely NOT handicap accessible, but worth the price of admission to stand inside the geode.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Worlds Largest Drugstore, Wall

If you are driving west towards Wall, SD you’ll start seeing billboards almost as soon as you enter SD (maybe even before).

I know Em and I made a game of counting the billboards on a road trip we took some years back. Of course, I’ve forgotten how many there are, but there are quite a few. 

Once in Wall, Wall Drug is just about the entire town so there is no missing it. Be sure to explore and see all there is at Wall Drugs because it does not disappoint.

WISCONSIN

World’s Largest Corkscrew (just across the state line from Michigan)

If you find yourself in Ironwood, MI visiting the World’s Largest Indian and World’s Largest Stormy Kromer hat drive west a couple of miles and visit the World’s Largest Corkscrew. 

Located on US-2, you can’t miss it.

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If you love the outdoors then this is the place for you.

Alan and I drove from Michigan to Rapid City, a trip of 1200 miles each way, and worth every mile.

Of course, the journey is part of the fun and we made a few stops along the way, but the goal was to spend as much time in the Rapid City, on the far western part of South Dakota, area as possible.

But First, A Visit To Badlands National Park

Our first stop was Badlands National Park where we took advantage of the opportunity to camp in the park. As soon as we arrived we started spotting wildlife and I was finally able to check the elusive, to me anyways, bighorn sheep, off my wildlife list.

We pitched our tent at Cedar Pass Campground. While this worked for our brief stay it’s not necessarily one I would recommend.

The location is great, but the bathrooms are wretched.

I may be ok with tent camping but bathrooms/pit toilets need to be in decent shape and these did not even come close.

That is the only downside of camping there though and if you have a self-contained RV you’ll be ok.

The Badlands are incredible and I’m glad we spent a couple of days exploring the area.

You’ll want to stop at the Prairie Dog Village just north of the park entrance on SD-240 and feed the Prairie Dogs.

Buy a bag of peanuts in the store for $1 and have a one of a kind experience.

You’ll also need to swing into Wall, SD, and visit Wall Drugs.

Free water and 5 cent coffee, a T-Rex that will scare the bejesus out of the kids, and so many photos opps you could spend half the day exploring this iconic attraction.

Packing up camp we left the Badlands and wildlife behind and headed to Rapid City.

Here, you’ll find a small-town feel with an abundance of culture and activities.

We spent our time here feeding our need to spend time in the great outdoors.

We’d only been there two days and Alan was already trying to figure out when and how we could make a return trip.

He insists on flying next time.

He’s not as big of a fan of the road trip as I am. 🙂

Here’s what we loved and what you absolutely do not want to miss on your visit to Rapid City, SD.

Visit the Outdoor Campus

This “school” won’t have you learning in the confines of a room with its four corners and walls.

For those who love that outdoors, the Outdoor Campus is for you.

Get hands-on experience in hunting, fishing and other outdoor skills.

A great thing about this campus is the classes are free!

There are more than 1.5 miles of nature trails for you to discover.

There are prairies, wetlands, and streams to explore.

There’s even a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium.

Public Art Walk

In downtown Rapid City, there’s also another great way to discover the outdoors of the concrete jungle as well as the nation’s rich history.

Along the streets and sidewalks in the city, you will find life-size bronze statues of American presidents.

So in between, shopping or eating out in the city, you get to learn about men that shaped the nation’s history and their legacy through the “City of Presidents.”

Another outdoor display in the city is the Art Alley located in between 6th and 7th streets.

Get your cameras ready for some brightly colored graffiti murals, pop art, and beautiful artworks of local, as well as visiting artists to Rapid City.

View Wildlife in Custer State Park

We spent an entire day in the area. Custer State Park is about 40 minutes south of Rapid City.

We arrived early in the morning for the best chance of spotting wildlife.

When driving in Custer State Park, instead of the traffic jam you have at home, you might encounter a “Buffalo Jam.”

The park has the largest free-roaming buffalo herds in the country so you would expect to put on your brakes or park your car while you’re surrounded by these buffalos.

Note: Every fall Custer State Park hosts a Buffalo Round-Up event that I’ve heard is fantastic and well worth attending!

Because of the diverse wildlife, this 71, 000-acre State Park and South Dakota have been in the World’s Top 10 Wildlife Destinations.

Some of the many animals that live here include bighorn sheep, antelope, deer, elk, coyote and prairie dogs.

You might also have a close encounter with some “begging” burros. They are adorable.

Drive Needles Highway

We drove the Needles Highway after exploring Custer State Park, so driving South to North. This scenic highway is an absolute must.

High granite “needles” will surround you as you cruise along 14 miles of sharp turns and even low and narrow tunnels including Iron Creek Tunnel and Needles Eye Tunnel.

There are a few turnoff points that allow you to take advantage of the views.

Visit The Presidents at Mount Rushmore

There is plenty of easy parking, thanks to a nice parking ramp, at this National Monument making it an easy walk from the car to the entrance.

The viewing platform is great for a first look at this massive work of art celebrating our founding fathers.

For a closer look take the presidential path to the left of the platform for a different view and a nice walk around the park.

On your way out be sure to stop and buy some ice cream at the concessions and enjoy at one of the many outdoor dining tables.

We bought one small and split it, it’s a nice treat on a hot day.

Explore Wind Cave National Park

Go underground and explore the beautiful formations in Wind Cave National Park, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world.

Aside from stalactites and stalagmites, you will see some honeycomb-like formations called box work, cave popcorn (not to be eaten, of course), and other beautiful features in the cave.

Tours can take about 30 minutes to four hours, depending on the tour you select.

You can go on the easy walking tours or the strenuous ones that include some crawling through some of the low-ceiling parts of the cave.

Drive UTVs in Spearfish Canyon

We had an absolute riot driving a UTV off-road in Spearfish Canyon.

We picked up the UTV and map at Spearfish Canyon Lodge and headed out for a 4-hour adventure.

So much fun and a great new way, to us, to explore the outdoors.

Where to Stay

I’m going to recommend the haunted hotel in town that is also pretty swank.

The historic Alex Johnson is located right downtown within easy walking distance to restaurants, shopping, and public art.

That is just a sampling of everything there is to do in Rapid City and what we enjoyed on a recent visit. 

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This often overlooked hidden gem in the Midwest offers so many experiences and adventures for a weekend, or longer, vacation.

I’m sharing just a sample of what awaits you in Eastern South Dakota.

(c)LewisAndClark.com

6+ Fun Reasons to Visit Eastern South Dakota This Summer

Lewis & Clark Recreation Area

Situated on beautiful Lewis & Clark Lake, 6 miles west of Yankton off SD 52, is one of the state park system’s favorite resort parks. 

Three separate campgrounds comprise this modern recreation area, attracting visitors from throughout the Midwest. There are many miles of paved bike trails that follow the lake.

A nature trail begins near Gavins Point Campground and continues to 1.2 miles along the bluffs. A nice scenic overlook is at the top of the trail offering a beautiful view of the lake and bluffs. 

LOCATION: Yankton

Good Earth at Blood Run

South Dakota’s newest state park, Good Earth at Blood Run is a national historic landmark.

The river, abundant wildlife and fertile flood plains made the area a crossroads of Native American civilization from 1300 – 1700 AD and possibly even longer. 

This is one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the United States. Guided nature hikes are provided during the summer with registration through the Outdoor Campus at www.outdoorcampus.org.

LOCATION: Sioux Falls

(c)National Music Museum

National Music Museum

Make a note to stop at the National Music Museum. This museum is a treasure trove of musical instruments from around the world – spanning six centuries!

Be sure to find the guitars by Stradivari, Martin, Gibson, D’Angelico, D’Aquisto & more.

LOCATION: Vermillion

(c)CzechDays

Tabor Czech Days

Celebrate the central European history of Tabor at this annual celebration. Enjoy food, music, arts, baking demonstrations and more.

Held June 16-17, 2023.  

LOCATION: Tabor

(c)CornPalace.com

World’s Only Corn Palace

If you’re in South Dakota you MUST visit the only Corn Palace in the world!

The corn palace is decorated in a different theme each year using thousands of bushels of corns, grains and native grasses.

LOCATION: Mitchell

Little House on the Prairie

Visit the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Walk through the pages of the Little House on the Prairie stories.

You can camp in a covered wagon, make corn cob babies, ride in a horse drawn wagon, visit the homestead and more.

If you watched Little House on the Prairie or read the books this is an absolute must and one of my favorite things to do in South Dakota.

Location: DeSmet

More Things To Do In South Dakota

Here’s a few other posts I’ve written about South Dakota. I may like South Dakota just a bit 😉

Falls Park – Sioux Falls

Sertoma Butterfly Garden – Sioux Falls

Outdoor Campus – Sioux Falls

Washington Pavilion Art & Science Center – Sioux Falls

14 Things To Do in Sioux Falls

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum – Sioux Falls

Ingalls Homestead – DeSmet

Custer State Park  – Custer

Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary – Spearfish

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary – Hot Springs

Fun in the Black Hills – Black Hills

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I could get lost in the stories for hours as I read about Ma, Pa, and the entire Ingalls clan.

Then the tv show brought it all to life and I was even more vested in the stories.

Fast forward a lot of years and I find myself walking across the same land the Laura Ingalls walked.

It’s one of those moments in life that feels surreal.

I was standing where Laura stood. Gazing across the plains I saw her stories in my mind and for just a moment I was that 10-year-old girl lost in a book about a long-ago family and it felt like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ was coming to life right before my eyes.

VISITING THE INGALLS HOMESTEAD IN DESMET, SD

Ingalls Homestead, Laura’s Living Prairie

Located just outside the small town of DeSmet, SD the homestead welcomes visitors from around the world from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

There are covered wagon rides (if you’re lucky you might be able to drive wagon), an 1880’s schoolhouse, ponies and horse, prairie exhibit, pioneering activities, a replica of the Ingalls home and so much more.

The Ingalls lived in a number of states including Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa and, of course, South Dakota.

The homestead in DeSmet is where the books By the Shores of Silver Lake, The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years took place.

The homestead really focuses on The Long Winter book and the living museum costumed characters at the different buildings do a fantastic job of telling and showing how the Ingalls survived that winter.

As soon as I arrived at the homestead I spotted an observation platform behind the visitor’s center. After getting my ticket to visit I made a beeline for the platform and made my way to the top.

From up there I had a birds-eye view of the surrounding area. It is a great place to get your bearings and also get a great look at Laura’s home.

Climbing down from the platform I explored the prairie learning center, checked out the dugout home, stopped by the barn to see the cow and play with kittens.

Walking up to the Ingalls home I’m greeted by a hostess who welcomes me to the Ingalls Homestead and talks to me about life on the homestead in the late 1800s.

She has a vibrant personality and is extremely knowledgeable about the Ingalls and homesteading. I enjoy talking to her and learning about life without electricity and plumbing (shudder).

After chatting for quite some time I move over to the activities building. The hands-on activities are completed while the host tells stories from ‘The Longest Winter’ and shares how the Ingalls survived.

We make corn cob dolls, rope and hay twists.

Next up is probably the highlight of the visit. I get to drive the covered wagon through the prairie.

IT. IS. SO. MUCH. FUN!

I have no idea what I’m doing, but I fake it and have fun anyways. No one, including the horses, was ever in any danger since the trained driver had a hold of the ends of the reins.

The covered wagon takes us to the schoolhouse where we ring the bell and learn about education on the prairie.

I spent approximately 2 hours visiting the homestead, but recommend planning for 3-4 hours.

If you are up for an adventure there is camping in covered wagons. My girlfriends and I are headed to the Ingalls Homestead this summer to camp in a covered wagon and spend more time visiting.

We’ll also be visiting the town of DeSmet which was home to the Ingalls for most of their lives. It has the house that Pa built and a historical area with buildings that the Ingalls lived and worked in. It’s going to be a fantastic time.

Ingalls Homestead website
Visit DeSmet, SD
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes

***Pin Where Little House on the Prairie Comes To Life To Pinterest***

Here, adults and children alike, can experience prairie life first hand and walk the land that Laura Ingalls Wilder lived on during her childhood.

By The Shores of Silver Lake, Little Town on the Prairie, The Long Winter, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years are all historic childhood fiction stories about growing up in the Dakota Territories, in a little place that is now known as DeSmet, South Dakota.

DeSmet is where the Ingalls lived most of their lives and where most of the stories written by Laura Ingalls Wilder took place.

Here you can walk through the house that Pa built in town, sit under the cottonwood trees Pa planted, experience life on the original Ingalls homestead, stand by the shores of Silver Lake and pay respects at the town cemetery where most of the family is buried.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home Society and the Ingalls Homestead both provide a wonderful opportunity to experience life from Laura’s days on the prairie.

An entire day can easily be spent visiting the town of DeSmet and exploring the life and times of the Little House on the Prairie series.

LAURA INGALLS WILDER HISTORIC HOME SOCIETY

Take a guided tour through four buildings from Laura’s time. The tour includes the Surveyors’ House, the First School of De Smet, the replica of the Brewster School, and the house that Pa built.

Additionally, the visitors center offers an exhibit which house the largest collection of original artifacts of the Ingalls family.

The tour through the buildings takes about an hour and you are able to spend as much time as you’d like at the visitors center exhibit.

After you are done in town head out of town a mile toward the Ingalls Homestead.

Adjacent to the homestead is the cottonwood trees that Pa planted for the girls. Take a moment to walk under their branches, sit in their shade and breathe it all in. This was one of my favorite moments.

All I could think about is that we have no idea how important the seeds we plant now will become. There is no way that Pa knew the significance these trees would have over 100 years later.

I wonder what seeds I’ve planted will become significant long after I’m gone. <<—Something to think about.

INGALLS HOMESTEAD

The Ingalls Homestead is a living museum located on the original Ingalls property. This is the land where Laura and her sister’s created so many childhood memories and, in my opinion, created some of the best storybooks.

During our visit, we explored a dugout home and shanty home, played with the animals in the hay roof barn, learned about home life in a house built based on Pa’s papers he filed for his land claim, drove a covered wagon, went to school, made hay twists and so much more.

Yes, we held little newborn kittens. So adorable and cute.

A very friendly calf lives in the hay roof barn.

We learned about soapmaking and laundry day. THAT would have been a chore back in the day. Thank goodness for today’s washers and dryers!

We made hay twists, corn cob babies and learned about the Long Winter at Flindts Garage.

We drove a covered wagon across the prairie to the school. Honestly, a really cool and fun experience. They’ll even let kids drive.

We went to school and learned our ABC’s and 123’s.

We learned about native prairie plants.

We slept in a covered wagon and listened to the winds howl across the prairie all night long without stopping.

It quickly became apparent why some women suffered from prairie madness.

The winds did not stop that night.

It was a constant noise, I think mostly due to the storm that also blew through that night.

Overnight in the covered wagon is a must. So. Much. Fun.

The view from our wagon was quite delightful.

That night the sky turned a glorious shade of purple/blue which made our visit to the Ingalls Homestead even more spectacular!

We truly enjoyed our visit to the Ingalls Homestead and learning about life on the prairie.

It doesn’t matter the age of the visitor, young and old alike, will enjoy the experiences at the homestead.

BY THE SHORES OF SILVER LAKE

After visiting the Ingalls Homestead be sure to stop by what remains of Silver Lake.

The lake is mostly a marsh now, but there is roadside parking and a marker that talks about the area and its importance.

DESMET CEMETERY

Before leaving DeSmet stop at the DeSmet cemetery, located just outside of town, and pay your respects to the family.

Laura and Alanzo are buried in Mansfield, MO, but Ma, Pa, Carrie, and Grace are laid to rest here.

It was a nice moment to thank them for raising their children to have an adventurous spirit and for giving us Laura. The world is a much better place because she was in it.

BEYOND DESMET

After visiting Little House on the Prairie in DeSmet be sure to make plans to visit the other Laura Ingalls Wilder locations.

On this road trip, my friend Sara and I made it to three (DeSmet, SD, Walnut Grove, MN and Burr Oak, IA) of the six locations. Next year we will finish up our #LauraLoopers road trip and visit Peppin, WI, Independence, KS and Mansfield, MO.

Sara and I were interviewed for a podcast about our adventures which shares more about the other destinations and can be heard here: https://www.justgoplacesblog.com/a-laura-ingalls-wilder-road-trip/

Our trip had us traveling across the entire state via I-90 and there were many, many farm fields that guided us across the state.

We would drive for miles and miles seeing nothing but endless fields. 

However, along the way, we found amazing views, cultural attractions, and more fun than we were able to handle on this trip.

There are so many great things to do in South Dakota that we are making plans to visit again soon.

Things To Do In South Dakota

Here are some of the great attractions in South Dakota that you just might want to experience. 

Whether you are taking a long road trip as we enjoyed, or your destination is one specific South Dakota location, this list is amazing.

Fun Outdoor Adventures in South Dakota

Panning for gold in the Black Hills. We only found 2 small pieces of gold, but we had a lot of fun panning for gold.

Jewel Cave is well worth the visit. We took a tour that included lots and lots of stairs but it was completely worth it. Simply stunning.

Of course, Mount Rushmore is a highlight when you visit South Dakota. It is a pretty impressive piece of work.

Everyone needs to camp at Custer State Park at least once in their life. The wildlife viewing alone is worth the visit.

Taking a tour of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is a great way to spend the morning. We had a lot of fun getting (fairly) up close and personal with the wild horses.

Unique Roadside Attractions

If you are driving through South Dakota you MUST stop at Wall Drug Store. It has enough quirkiness to keep you busy for hours on end.

You will see billboard signs for Wall Drugs all along I-90, traveling west you will probably see at least 50. 

Continuing with interesting things to see when traveling through South Dakota be sure to visit the World’s Only Corn Palace.

Located just off of I-90, there is a whole lot of corn going on at the Corn Palace and it is definitely something to see.

Along your trip you will cross over the Missouri River. There is a rest stop on the east side of the river that offers fantastic views.

(c)VisitSiouxFalls.com

Falls Park in Sioux Falls is a great place to get out and stretch your legs.

Enjoy the warmth and beauty inside the Butterfly House and Aquarium in Sioux Falls.

Learn about outdoor activities, cooking, and more at the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls.

(c)VisitSiouxFalls.com

Looking for a bit of rainy day fun? Head over to the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. It is three great attractions in one: Science Museum, Art Center and Performing Art Center. Fun for the entire family.

Take a walk on the wild side at the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History.

(c) Great Plains Zoo

{This is part 2 of a 5 part series about must-do activities in Sioux Falls:Washington Pavilion, Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, Outdoor Campus, Sertoma Butterfly House & Marine Cove, and Falls Park}

The zoo is easy to navigate and small enough to see and enjoy everything in an afternoon. The exhibits make it incredibly easy for even the smallest visitors to see the animals.

There is a nice variety of animals to entertain children, including, but not limited to: Bison, Wolf, Bears, Cheetah, Eastern Bongo, Monkeys and more.

To help children discover more about the animal kingdom the zoo offers keeper chats and up close introduction to smaller animals. There is also a junior zookeepers program for older children that are ages 12-18.

(c) Great Plains Zoo

The Delbridge Museum of Natural History is located on the zoo grounds and offers a look at 150 mounted animals from 6 different continents.

The animals were all legally hunted, years ago, by a local resident that displayed many of them at his hardware store. After his passing, the Delbridge family purchased the collection and donated it to the city of Sioux Falls with a request for it to be on permanent display for everyone to enjoy.

I really enjoyed my visit to the zoo. It is definitely a zoo I would return to again when I’m in the area. 

(c) Great Plains Zoo

GREAT PLAINS ZOO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Hours: 10 am – 5 pm

Location:

805 S. Kiwanis Ave.
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7003

***PIN TO PINTEREST***

I spent time in the city during a conference and was able to explore and find so many fun things to do.

Visiting the Washing Pavilion in downtown Sioux Falls is a must when you’re in town.

{This is part 1 of a 5 part series about must-do activities in Sioux Falls: Washington Pavilion, Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History, Outdoor Campus, Butterfly House & Marine Cove, and Falls Park}

The Washington Pavilion, once known as Washington High School, sat empty for years before a few community members decided to put it to good use.

After a complete remodel Washington High School was transformed into Washington Pavilion and today is an Art Center, Science Discover Center, and Performing Art Center all in one.

VISUAL ARTS CENTER

The Visual Arts Center has visiting exhibits as well as permanent exhibits. The visiting exhibits are rotated every couple months so there is always something new and interesting to see. There is an amazing paper crane display made up of well over 1,000 cranes that is on permanent display.

I think my favorite permanent rotating exhibit is the “Off The Fridge” project. Area school children are invited to submit their art work which is then framed and displayed around the Visual Arts Center.

Under their work of art is a small plaque stating the name of the art work and the student’s school. I bet the kids get a kick out of seeing their work on the walls of an art museum!

KIRBY SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTER

The Kirby Science Discovery Center offers over 100 hands-on interactive exhibits that range from exploring space to making music. The Science Discovery Center has something for all ages. The center also offers a unique movie experience at the Cinedome theater.

The theater boasts a 60 foot wide and four story tall movie screen with enough speakers to make you feel like you are part of the movie. 

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The Performing Arts Center brings in a wide array of theater and musical talents. Everything from Broadway musicals to top performing artists.

Quite honestly, after touring the theater I don’t think there is a “bad” seat in the house so even if you bought the cheap tickets you’d still love the performance.

Sculpture Walk Visitor Center

The Washington Pavilion host the SculptureWalk Visitor Center on the second floor lobby near the entrance to the Visual Arts Center.

Start your SculptureWalk journey at the Washington Pavilion with sculpture #1 “Birds Eye View” by Clark Martinek inside the SculptureWalk Visitor Center. SculptureWalk ends outside the Washington Pavilion with sculpture #80 “Ancient Game” by Steven Maeck.

Location:

301 S Main Ave Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Pin Why You Should Visit Washington Pavilion 

Stopping to see unique things during our road trip is always a must which put this place right at the top of the list.

Every year the front displays change to a different scene.

The scenes are decided on by a committee and local artists use corn to create new scenes. All parts of the corn are used in the designs.

The palace is actually a multi-use building for the region and it hosts events throughout the year, including sporting events and stage shows.

Started in 1892 the palace has quite a long history in the community. Plus, visiting is always free and it’s open year round.

There is plenty of parking around the Corn Palace and there are also a variety of shops in the immediate area that are worth a visit.

If you are hungry there are concessions in the palace for purchase.

Of course, like any good tourist attraction there is a gift shop available that offers everything from postcards and t-shirts to food items made from corn.

Inside the building, you’ll find corn murals so be sure to step inside if the building is open. The intricate art work is amazing.

Over 275,000 ears of corn are used each year to design the palace—that sure helps explain all the corn fields we passed along the way.

Be sure to look close at the murals to see all the different kernel colors used in the designs.

According to the site all the colors of corn are naturally grown with special seed raised just for the Corn Palace. Each color must be planted in separate fields to maintain its pure color.

This is definitely an interesting stop along a South Dakota I-90 road trip and is a great place to get out and stretch your legs.

Check out these other things to do in South Dakota!

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Don’t get me wrong, there are a whole lot of corn fields, which I appreciate, but after a while, oye. Please give me something different to see.

It became a joke between Em & I.

Me: “Hey Emma, guess what I spy?”

Emma: “Ummmmm…..Corn???”

Me: “You win!”

Yes, we were getting goofy as heck and would be giddy if it changed from cornfields to hay fields since it was a different view.

However, there are some highlights along I-90 worth mentioning.

TOP HIGHLIGHTS ALONG MN/SD I-90

PANORAMIC VIEWS

First, being able to look across the land and see for-ev-er is amazing. In Michigan, we have a lot of trees that inhibit us from being able to see great distances. Not so in South Dakota.

Honestly, it was amazing.

Disclaimer: most photos were taken out the car window by Em as we were driving 75mph–not always the best quality, but it gives you a good idea of what we saw.

Driving towards Rapid City we saw LOTS of Harleys. The Sturgis Rally was getting ready to start so lots of bikers headed towards Sturgis, SD.

FIRE TRUCK ON END

Of course, there was the occasional oddity along the way like this old fire truck turned up on end.

WALL DRUG BILLBOARDS

We started seeing Wall Drug billboards as soon as we merged onto I-90 in Minnesota.

It became a game to count how many we passed.

Our best calculation from first entering South Dakota until we left I-90 at the entrance to the Badlands is 40 billboards and those are just the ones we saw.

I’m quite sure that we missed some while we were chatting or checking out the Harley’s that were passing.

Yikes! That is a lot of Wall Drug billboards….oh, and each of them are different.

Yes, a cup of coffee really is only 5 cents and they still have free ice water.

More about Wall Drug in another post. 🙂

ALL THE BILLBOARDS

Emma helped combat the boredom of the drive-by either a) sleeping or b) taking photos of billboards.

Quite a few Harley boards and billboards for tourist attractions.

Yes, I will have a post soon about the Corn Palace. Interesting place.

CHAMBERLAIN REST STOP

If you are driving along I-90 in South Dakota and you are near Chamberlain, SD you have to stop at the rest area.

Great view of the Missouri River and a nice interactive historical display inside.

Hope you enjoyed the virtual trip along I-90.

More things to do in South Dakota

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