This is a paid piece from the Children's Museum of South Dakota.

Simplified: You don't have to go far to make lasting memories with your family this summer. The Children's Museum of South Dakota provides a world-class museum experience less than an hour's drive from Sioux Falls, and you can even make a weekend out of it to enjoy all that Brookings has to offer.

Why it matters

  • As costs continue to rise, more folks are opting to stay closer to home this summer – choosing shorter "staycations" over flights and weeklong trips. Data from the state tourism department shows 58% of visitors travel within 150 miles of home.
  • For families in the Sioux Falls area, the Children's Museum is not only easy to get to, but it's also affordable. Admission is $12.50, and you can come and go all day as you please (break for lunch at Nick's Hamburger Shop, anyone?).
  • The museum also provides a space to join kids in play. Museum member Lisa Swanson drives up from Vermillion to Brookings to spend time with her young granddaughter, Juliet, exploring the museum and having fun together on their weekly "Gramma Day."
"We’ve been doing this every week for over a year, and her parents bring her there outside of Gramma Day … and she is never bored. Ever," Swanson said.

Tell me more about the museum

The Children's Museum is designed with free play and exploration in mind. Kids can enjoy "KidStreet" where they can stop at the grocery store, post office, café and more.

  • They can also explore the prairie with farm exhibits, outdoor play with faux fishing and, of course, the iconic animatronic Mama T. Rex.
"It's a great way to get to know your kids on a different level," said Kerrie Vilhauer, director of marketing and communications. “You can stand back and watch how they interact with the exhibits and the world, or you can play alongside them.”

For Swanson, play looks different at every visit. Some days, her granddaughter wants to spend all her time in the art studio. Other days, she's serving lunch to baby dolls in the sod house.

The best part is letting Juliet lead.

"I love this about the museum – there are so many places in life where we have to say, 'No,' 'Don’t touch that,' 'Not for you,' to kids. But not here," Swanson said. "I get to say, 'Yes!' to everything."

Tell me about memberships

Members get a number of perks, including free admission all year long, a "member-only" hour of play from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays and discounts in the gift shop.

The museum is also part of the Association of Children's Museum Institutions reciprocal program. That means ACM Reciprocal members can get 50% off general admission at participating museums throughout the country.

Plan your visit and learn more about membership options on the Children’s Museum website.