Getting out of Siouxland, Sioux Falls

Recently I took a day trip with a friend and visited Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It’s about an hour’s drive north of Sioux City, and probably less is one drives the now 80mph speed limit which the state allows. Fortunately for me, I was a passenger and we took a road less travelled that meandered into the back side of Sioux Falls. Sometimes it is just nice to get out of “Dodge” and it was a pleasant trip up, although the weather was still humid and warm. But after finding a nice Mexican take-out place to buy lunch, we ate a picnic at the Falls Park near the downtown area.

I hadn’t visited this park for probably a decade, maybe more. It was a nice change and always fun to see something new, even if new is just 10 years later.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Remnants of an older structure that was part of the Queen Bee Flour Mill built in the late 1800’s and part of the Dakota Territory, now the Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Another view of Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The water falls still active at the Falls Park , former site of the Wueen Bee Flour Mill from the late 1800’s in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A grandma and grandson cool their toes in the Big Sioux River at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A fair amount of people come out to enjoy the day at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Falls Park sits off of the downtown area in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. This was a site of the former Queen Bee Flour Mill that began operation in the late 1800’s of the then Dakota Territory. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Part of the falls at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A plaque commemorating the Queen Bee Flour Mill on its former site, now the Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The former turbine house for the Queen Bee Flour Mill at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)