On a recent trip to visit colleges in Sioux Falls, S.D., we discovered something we had never noticed before.
The falls.
Noisy and powerful as it rushes down the multilayered reddish Sioux Quartzite rock formations, the falling water of the Big Sioux River makes an impressive show -- one you shouldn't miss if you have an hour or so.
It was a green oasis for my family on a gorgeous early March day. The fact that we hadn't visited the falls on previous visits is not the city's fault. They're located in Falls Park, an attractive place to spend a day despite being just past meat-processing facilities. The Sioux Falls Light and Power Co. building is now the wonderfully restored Falls Overlook Cafe, and the ruins of the Queen Bee Mill provide a local history lesson.
WHAT TO DO
If strolling college campuses isn't your idea of a good time -- and we enjoyed walking the grounds of Augustana College and the University of Sioux Falls -- there are plenty of other attractions besides the falls. Visible from Falls Park, the historic Cathedral of St. Joseph recently completed a restoration with a blessing of the cathedral doors and the dedication of a new altar. Inside, beautiful stained glass windows and restored ornamental plaster take visitors to another place and, perhaps, another time. (521 N. Duluth Av.; 1-605-336-7390; www.stjoseph cathedral.net)
You've heard of swimming with dolphins. Well, what about walking with butterflies? The Sertoma Butterfly House and Marine Cove is open year-round. The Butterfly House is home to nearly 1,000 butterflies imported from Central and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. They fly and flit about in a 3,600-square-foot indoor tropical garden. Visitors can watch butterflies emerge from chrysalises through the emergence window.
The Purdy Marine Cove offers 13 freshwater and saltwater aquariums, featuring corals, African cichlids, clownfish, surgeonfish, tangs and more. Admission to the butterfly house and marine cove is free for ages 2 and under; $3 for ages 3-4, $5.50 for ages 5-12 and $8.50 for adults. Senior admission is $7. (4320 S. Oxbow Av.; 1-605-334-9466; www.sertomabutter flyhouse.org)
For a walk on the wild side, the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History offers an up-close look at more than 1,000 animals. Its cozy 45-acre grounds are home to tigers, rhinos, giraffes and monkeys. There is an "Asian Cat" exhibit and a new "Rare Rhinos of Africa" exhibit. Kids can even ride a camel or, yes, kiss a sheep with six horns at the zoo's Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm. Admission: $4.50 for ages 3-12; $7.50 for adults. (805 S. Kiwanis Av.; 1-605-367-8313, ext. 10; www.greatzoo.org)
