Siouxland Families

The Okoboji area or "Iowa's Great Lakes" region is one of Iowa's most beloved vacation destinations, and it's easy to see why. There's fun in the water and on shore, great food and drink, cute boutique shopping, and attractions like museums, nature centers, and Arnolds Park amusement park. And while there are plenty of opportunities at Boji for 21+ fun if that's what you're seeking, there's also tons of options for family-friendly fun. I headed to Spirit Lake recently to visit some family and see the beautiful area, and we had so much fun! I also did some research online and got some helpful info from Vacation Okoboji. So, based on all of that, while its way too big of a topic to fully cover in a single post, here's my quick guide to things to do with kids in the Okoboji area: What are the Iowa Great Lakes? Terrace Park Beach The "Iowa Great Lakes" area consists of several lakes that are mostly interconnected and all very near to each...

Kansas City is one of my favorite family trip destinations, and each time we visit, I've been trying to show my kids more of the amazing fun, history, culture, and adventure in KC. My family has lived in the Kansas City area since at least the 1880s and I lived in a KC suburb as a teen, so it's kind of my hometown, but it's also a big city several hours away from where we live now. I feel like this gives us kind of a unique perspective as sort-of-locals, sort-of-visitors to Kansas City. Every time we go, besides enjoying the wonderful company of family and friends, we find something new to enjoy. And I'd love to share more of that with you. So, here's my guide to visiting Kansas City with kids, and I'll keep updating it as I myself discover more of KC myself! Must-See Fun for Kids in Kansas City The National World War I Museum the world's largest collection of artifacts from World War I is right in the heart of Kansas City, and it's a must-se...

In Sauk Centre, Minnesota, I found a super coffee shop that checks a lot of boxes for things I love: delicious coffee and drinks, scratch made baked goods, a tie to literary history, and even a kids menu. I stopped by on my way home from a northwoods vacation to check it out (delicious research is my fave!), and did some additional research as well so I could share all about this spectacular coffee shop and cafe. Here's why Jitters Java Cafe needs to be on your central Minnesota bucket list. (PS: Looking for Jitters Donuts in downtown Sioux City, Iowa? Read my full guide to Sioux City's Jitters Donuts . Honestly, this is another reason I wanted to stop here--I thought it was funny that it has almost the same name as our beloved donut shop here in Sioux City!) Where is Jitters Java Cafe? Jitters Java Cafe is located at 403 Main Street South in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. This is the main street of Sinclair Lewis' iconic (and Nobel Prize winning) 1920 book...

The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is home to the world's largest collection of WWI artifacts, and it's a surprisingly good place to take kids. I went with my family, and the museum provided complimentary admission so that I could write about it here and for an article I'm working on for Living Here Midwest . Here's why I think families should bring kids to the National WWI Museum, and what else families should know before you go: What is the National WWI Museum?  The National WWI Museum and Memorial is the home of the world's largest collection of WWI artifacts. The Museum and Memorial includes a permanent collection, traveling and temporary exhibits, a gift shop, a cafe, a research library, and the iconic Liberty Memorial Tower. While the Tower and its Courtyard are much older (1926), much of the current museum is new from renovations and expansion which happened while the museum was clos...

 I recently went to Nebraska City to write an article for Living Here Midwest magazine  about the history of Arbor Day, and I got to stay in the stunning Lied Lodge. The hotel is part of a group of high-quality attractions run by the Arbor Day Foundation on the former estate of Arbor Day creator J. Sterling Morton, and I was given a hotel stay and admission to the Arbor Day Foundation attractions so that I could write about them. What I discovered is that the Lied Lodge isn't just one of the best hotels in the area or along I-29; I'd argue it's one of the best in the Midwest. Here's the full scoop on why I think the Arbor Day Farm Lied Lodge is one of the best hotels in the Midwest. Where is the Lied Lodge? The Lied Lodge at Arbor Day Farm is in Nebraska City, NE just a few minutes from interstate 29 near the Iowa/Nebraska border (and not too far from the Iowa/Missouri border either!). The address is 2700 Sylvan Road in Nebraska City, NE, and the...