Siouxland Families

It's apple season! Whether you like them sweet or tart, baked into a pie or freshly sliced, apples are one of the quintessential fall flavors. And there's just something extra special about picking your own apples. Luckily, there are several lovely places near Sioux City and Siouxland where you can do just that. So, here's my guide to where to pick apples within 2 hours of Sioux City:  Apple Orchards in Sioux City Autumn Grove Apple Orchard 1658 180th Street, Sioux City, IA Currently Autumn Grove Apple Orchard is the only you-pick apple orchard I am aware of within Sioux City itself. There is no admission charge to Autumn Grove Apple Orchard, and the apples are sold by volume, so just buy your bag and pick what you want as long as it fits! Their opening day for 2025 is Sunday, September 7th from noon to 4pm but they stated they may not be open every Sunday (basically, it depends on the weather and which trees are ready which days,) so watch their Facebook page for updates! ...

Brekky's inside the Art SUX local collaborative art gallery is Sioux City's newest breakfast cafe and coffee shop, opened in late 2024. It had been on my bucket list since opening, and I finally got to go visit in early August 2025. I brought my 4 kids with me, and we all enjoyed trying a variety of things on the menu and checking out the art. Based on my online research and personally visiting Brekky's, here's my full review of and guide to Brekky's: Where is Brekky's? Brekky's is located at 515 4th Street in historic downtown Sioux City, Iowa. Brekky's is on the main/first floor of the Art SUX Gallery building and shares a door with the gallery. There is metered street parking in front of Brekky's/Art SUX and in front of other nearby businesses and attractions. You can use coins or an app to pay for that metered parking (25c per 15 minutes with a max of 2 hours when I visited in August 2025,) and the metered parking is free ev...

Sunkist Bakery is home to Siouxland's best yeasted donuts, and it's also Sioux City's oldest bakery still in operation. It's also one of my personal faves! Here's what you should know about Sunkist Bakery: Where is Sunkist Bakery? Sunkist Bakery is located at 4607 Morningside Avenue in Sioux City, IA, just a few blocks from Morningside University and the Morningside branch library. There is ample free parking in Sunkist's lot, and there is additional free parking on the streets surrounding the bakery.  History of Sunkist Bakery Sunkist Bakery has been making delicious food since 1932, making it the oldest bakery in Sioux City that's still in operation. They've supplied many local restaurants with rolls, pizza dough, and other dough and bread varieties throughout their decades of operation and continue to do so in the 2020s. According to the owners , Sunkist uses around 6,000 pounds of flour every week...

I love Scooter's Coffee and people seemed to enjoy the full review of the full Scooter's Coffee kids' menu that  we posted earlier this year . So, when I heard they were doing a cute "Candyland" inspired holiday menu for Christmas 2024, I thought it might be fun to try them out and share our thoughts on that too! In case you're new here, I'm a mom of four kids from toddler to teen, and my kids and I love reviewing food and drinks together. We especially love a good kids' menu, so the Scooter's Coffee Kids' Combos and other kid-friendly treats are totally in our wheelhouse. So, without further ado, here's my review of the Scooter's Coffee 2024 holiday menu: What's on the 2024 Candyland Holiday Menu at Scooter's Coffee? Starting in November 2024, Scooter's Coffee is offering a limited menu of holiday treats inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Candyland. These drinks and desserts will be available through the app or for ...

The Spot Espresso Bar and Cafe is THE spot to go for a treat in Akron, Iowa. I got to stop by the Spot in September, and I'm excited to spread the word about it! Here's what you should know about the Spot next time you're going to or through Akron: Where is the Spot The Spot Espresso Bar and Cafe is located at 351 Highway 12 in Akron, Iowa. It is right across the street from the Akron City Park where community events like the Great Akron Scarecrow Festival is held ,and shares a building with Rise Fitness. There is a large lot with free parking for customers at Rise Fitness and the Spot. Drinks at the Spot Espresso Bar and Cafe As you might guess from the name, the Spot Espresso Bar and Cafe has an extensive menu of espresso-based drinks, but also other coffee and tea drinks, smoothies, and energy drinks. I had a mocha frappe and also tried a sample of their cold brew coffee with foam, and they were both well-made, but very d...

This is a bit different sort of post than what I usually put up here. But I love writing. And one of the many things I love to write about here is kids' books! I think it's so fun to see the creative books other authors come up with and spread the word about them. But I also have a dream of writing my own, and this month to stretch my writing skills, I decided to participate in a fun little contest called " Fall Writing Frenzy " where writers are invited to write an autumn themed short (super short, under 200 words!) piece based on their choice from several inspiration photos.  I was charmed by a darling little hedgehog, and I came up with this idea for a nonfiction picture book about fall food. I found it very interesting to research, because to be honest, I hadn't really ever looked into whether the leaves turn beautiful colors in Australia (they do!) or if they eat pumpkin-based foods in fall in Chile while we are celebrating spring here (they do!) If this was ...

Could the best peanut butter in the world be from just up the road in South Dakota?? I love trying and sharing about brands based in the three states that make up Siouxland, so when I heard about Nerdy Nuts, a gourmet peanut butter company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, I knew I had to try their peanut butter out! I ordered some (spoiler alert: delicious!!) Here's what you should know about Nerdy Nuts: Nerdy Nuts is a gourmet peanut butter company started by a pair of South Dakotans, Erika and Craig who wanted fresh-ground peanut butter. Their peanut butter was so good that first friends and family started buying, then customers at a farmer's market, and now, the wider world via their website. Their products exude creativity and fun, and they've gone viral on tiktok with their imaginative flavors. Basically, they make really delicious peanut butter from scratch in classic flavors like honey roasted peanut and white chocolate, plus a gazillion fun seasonal an...

This Friday is National Donut Day, which is one of my very favorite made up holidays, and I'm excited to share with you (in alphabetical order because they are all too yummy to rank) my top picks of where to celebrate with the best donuts in the Sioux City area! this post was updated in 2024 from the original version written in 2018 Cafe Brule Where: 24 West Main Street in Vermillion, SD Why: Fluffy soft beignets with raspberry or honey dipping sauce, along with lots of other tasty options For more info: Check out the Cafe Brule website or find Cafe Brule on Facebook . Casey's Where:   Over a dozen locations all over Siouxland including 3 in Sioux City Why: best gas station donuts in Siouxland, including the best blueberry donuts in Sioux City For more info: Check out the Casey's website or find Casey's on Facebook Evelyn's W here:   2010 Dakota Avenue, South Sioux City Why:  authentic Mexican pastries including conchas and much more. I esp...

This new cookbook from Minnesota's Amy Thielen is focused on the idea of cooking for company. Inside, she shares recipes, menus, and ideas suitable for crowds from 6-8 (which is every night for dinner for me as a mom of four) to 20+ (family holidays!) Thank you to W.W. Norton for sending a review copy so that I could check it out and let other readers and home cooks know what to expect. Who wrote Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others ? Amy Thielen is a chef and author from Park Rapids, MN who has worked in some of Minnesota's best restaurants, and she is the author of James Beard award-winning cookbook, (affiliate links ahead:)  The New Midwestern Table and a memoir, Give a Girl A Knife . She also hosted Food Network's show Heartland Table for two seasons. What is  Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others? This new book is a nod to Midwestern hospitality and tradition, with recipes that will work for everything from casual summe...

For the best cake donuts in Siouxland--maybe the best anywhere--locals know to head to Jitters. But that's not the only reason to head there, as Jitters also serves up drinks, sandwiches, and other tasty fare. Here's what you should know about Jitters: updated in 2024 to include new location details! Where is Jitters? Jitters is open in a new location downtown at 130 Nebraska Street, in the bottom floor of the Floyd River Flats development. There is free parking in the lot in front of Jitters and around the corner. Previously Jitters was at 3rd & Virginia in downtown Sioux City just off Historic 4th Street and before that, started as a coffee shop on the northside. What does Jitters serve? Jitters started with a light breakfast and lunch menu, and still serves a small selection of wraps and sandwiches, but they're now known largely for their amazing cake donuts. But why are they so good? In 2009, Jitters acq...