Siouxland Families

The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center in Sioux City is one of the cutest nature centers in Iowa and has a particular focus on the natural environment of the Loess Hills and Siouxland. It's totally FREE to visit, and a fun place to spend a day in any season, offering activities both indoors and outside. And it's one of my personal favorites. My kids and I have had so much fun at the nature center over the years! Here's what you should know about the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center: Where is the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center? The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is located at 4500 Sioux River Road in Sioux City, Iowa. There is ample free parking in their parking lot, but there is a gate that closes each afternoon. If you are planning to leave after it's closed, park in the small lot between the road and the gate instead of in the large lot near the nature center itself so you aren't trapped! The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center includes the nature ce...

I found the coolest camera! Camp Snap sells screen-free digital cameras, and I'm a huge fan. In fact, I love them enough that I signed up to be an affiliate, so please note that this is a sponsored post. After getting one and trying it out, and more specifically, letting my 13-year-old with Down syndrome, my 9-year-old, and my 4-year-old each use it without supervision, I am super impressed. I think Camp Snap cameras are such a cool option, especially for kids and teens, including kids and teens with special needs. Here's why:  What are Camp Snap Cameras? Basically, Camp Snap cameras are digital cameras that store your pictures on a memory card, but they don't  have a screen (you use the viewfinder to line up your shot). On the Camp Snap Classic Camera, there is a switch that toggles between on, off, and flash. And there's a single button on top to take a photo. And that's it. Flash or not is the only decisions the photographer has to make o...

Each year, the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre hosts the biggest and best Broadway-style productions of plays and musicals in Siouxland, and the 2026-2027 season looks like it will keep the bar high for this tradition. Here is the scheduled lineup for fall 2026 and winter and spring of 2027, announced in May 2026: image courtesy of the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre/ Oak View Group Broadway at the Sioux City Orpheum Theatre 2026-2027 Lineup Mystic Pizza  Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Based on the 1988 Julia Roberts rom-com movie, set to a soundtrack of hits from the 80s and 90s.  Beetlejuice Tuesday, November 17, 2026 & Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Musical rendition of Tim Burton's spooky classic! A Christmas Story: The Musical Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Based on the 1983 Christmas movie with Ralphie, the leg lamp, the bunny suit, and other iconic festive fun A Beautiful Noise Monday, February 1, 2027 at 7:30 p.m. A musical sharing t...

If you're looking for comic books, gaming accessories, and collectibles for your fave fandoms in Sioux City, you have to check in at Acme Comics & Collectibles. Acme is Sioux City's oldest comic bookstore; it's an Eisner Spirit Award winner (which is a HUGE deal in the comic book industry, recognizing them as one of the best comic book stores in the entire world!), and it's known for its wide variety of products and fun events. Here's what you should know about Acme Comics & Collectibles in Sioux City: Where is Acme Comics  Acme Comics is located at 1622 Pierce Street, just north of downtown Sioux City. There is free parking in Acme's lot and on both Pierce and 17th streets. The store is painted in a steely blue reminiscent of a cityscape from a comic book and looks awesome. Unfortunately, the doors are pretty heavy and tricky to navigate with a stroller, and I'd imagine the same would be true for wheelchairs and walkers. Definitely bring a friend if...

*UPDATE: S is for Sioux City is available in paperback from Amazon as of May 21st, 2026!** I'm so excited to announce my first ever children's book: S is for Sioux City ! I've been working on it for literally years, and it's finally done and ready for the kids of Siouxland and beyond to enjoy! Here's a peek at the cover: Inside S is for Sioux City S is for Sioux City is a full-color, 32-page picture book that features local fun for every letter of the alphabet, from the Sioux City Art Center to the Ziplines at Miracle Field. The book is 8.5" square with a glossy cover, and I chose the most premium paper option they had available in hope the colors will look nice! Each letter page features a simple concept like "L is for Loess" which is great when you or your kids want a quick read. Each letter page also has a full paragraph of fun facts for kids who want more info on these cool local attractions! I tried to make it a book my preschooler would sit thro...

* Now updated with Summer Reading Programs for Kids for summer 2026! * Summer is a great time to read, and our local Siouxland libraries and bookstores do a great job of supporting summer reading with fun programs for kids (and sometimes for adults!) Here are some of the great summer reading programs happening in and around Sioux City for summer 2026 at local libraries and at stores and restaurants: