Siouxland Families

Get ready to splash and dive! I'm excited to share the best places to swim in Siouxland, water safety tips, and where to find swim lessons in the Sioux City area! Swimming can be one of the best forms of exercise, along with tons of fun, and it's important to make sure you and your family are ready to be safe in the water! Water safety in Siouxland I had the chance to chat with Kristin Rager, a mom of 4 kids and certified Infant Swim Resource Instructor, about pool safety for kids and I was really impressed. This isn't a sponsored post--her message is just important enough that I wanted to share it.  One of Rager's kids nearly drowned as a toddler when Rager turned away for a second to put sunscreen on her then-preschooler. When Rager looked back, her 18-month-old daughter was gone. She ran to the water, terrified, and dove in to rescue her daughter immediately. Rager got to her daughter in time and she's a happy, healthy kid (and a great swimmer) now. But the inc...

If you're looking for an imaginative picture book to kick off your kids' summer reading, check out The Dinosaur Seed by Lindsey Yankey, new in late May 2025. Thank you to Beaming Books for sending a copy so that I could review it. Read on for my full thoughts on The Dinosaur Seed  and why parents and kids will love it:  Who wrote The Dinosaur Seed ? The Dinosaur Seed is written and illustrated by Lindsey Yankey, who is an experienced author and illustrator from Kansas also known for her other books, including Sun & Moon and Bluebird , both award-winning picture books with stunning illustrations. I love her dreamy, colorful style, and her talents really bring The Dinosaur Seed  to life. You can learn more about Yankey and her books on her official author website .  The Dinosaur Seed is published by Beaming Books , and imprint of Augsburg Fortress. Our review of The Dinosaur Seed In The Dinosaur Seed , a group of kids on a playground f...

Nestled just to the northwest of Des Moines, in Altoona, Iowa, you'll find a wonderland of roller coasters and waterslides, known as Adventureland. Adventureland is Iowa's only theme park and is all about grand adventure, from cowboys to pirates to biplanes. Here's what families should know about visiting Adventureland, including firsthand perspective I gained during a trip to Adventureland in 2018 with complimentary passes courtesy of Catch Des Moines . We had a blast and learned a lot! This post has also now been updated to reflect an additional visit to Adventureland, additional research, and new updates and changes for the 2025 season: Where is Adventureland? Adventureland Park is located at 3200 Adventureland Drive, Altoona, Iowa, just minutes from downtown Des Moines. From Sioux City, it's about a 3-hour drive to Adventureland. There is ample parking at Adventureland, and it is $21 per car and $26 for vehicles that require multiple spaces, so carpool wisely! ...

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is advertised as "the #1 Zoo in the Nation" and it's less than 2 hours from Sioux City! Does it live up to the hype? As someone who grew up in San Diego and regularly visited the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, I'm a huge fan of zoos while also having a somewhat high standard for them. But the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha truly impresses me and holds own amongst the best zoos in America. I even think you can make an argument that it is literally THE best zoo in the entire nation. If you have never been to the Omaha zoo, or haven't been lately, you're missing out. Here's everything you need to know about visiting the Henry Doorly Zoo with kids: Where is the Henry Doorly Zoo? The Henry Doorly Zoo is at 3701 South 10th Street in Omaha, Nebraska, almost exactly an hour and a half from downtown Sioux City. There is ample free parking in the zoo's parking lots, but expect a bit of a walk from your car to the ent...