Alexandria South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Alexandria, South Dakota.
1. A1 Al's Pheasant Ranch
PREMIER HUNTING EXPERIENCE
A1 Al's Pheasant Ranch offers visitors an authentic South Dakota hunting experience with guided pheasant hunting tours. The ranch provides a perfect opportunity for both novice and experienced hunters to enjoy the state's renowned pheasant population. Visitors can experience the thrill of the hunt while enjoying the natural beauty of the South Dakota countryside.
2. Blarneys Sports Bar & Grill
LOCAL FOOD AND FUN
Blarneys Sports Bar & Grill serves as Alexandria's popular gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. The establishment offers a casual dining experience with classic American bar food and a selection of beverages. Sports enthusiasts particularly enjoy the venue for its welcoming atmosphere and opportunity to catch games on multiple screens.
3. Mitchell Aquatic Center
FAMILY WATER FUN
Mitchell Aquatic Center provides a refreshing escape with its variety of water attractions just a short drive from Alexandria. The center features multiple pools, water slides, and splash zones suitable for visitors of all ages. Families particularly enjoy this facility during South Dakota's warm summer months as a way to cool off and have fun together.
4. The World's Only Corn Palace
UNIQUE CULTURAL ICON
The World's Only Corn Palace stands as one of South Dakota's most distinctive attractions in nearby Mitchell. This unique cultural venue features elaborate murals made entirely of corn, grains, and native grasses that are redesigned annually with new themes. Visitors can explore the interior which functions as an arena for concerts, sports events, exhibits and other community activities throughout the year.
5. Palisades State Park
DRAMATIC NATURAL BEAUTY
Palisades State Park showcases some of eastern South Dakota's most impressive natural formations with towering quartzite spires and cliffs. The park offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing, hiking, and kayaking along Split Rock Creek. Visitors are drawn to the dramatic landscape that provides a stark contrast to the surrounding prairie.
6. Falls Park
URBAN NATURAL WONDER
Falls Park serves as the natural centerpiece of Sioux Falls with the Big Sioux River cascading over striking pink quartzite formations. The 123-acre park features viewing platforms, historic buildings, and a five-story observation tower providing panoramic views of the falls and city skyline. Visitors can enjoy walking paths, picnic areas, and the Falls Overlook Café housed in a restored 1908 hydroelectric plant.
7. Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum
WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HISTORY
The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History offers an engaging wildlife experience featuring over 1,000 animals from around the world. The connected Delbridge Museum houses a rare collection of mounted animals representing all seven continents. Families appreciate the interactive exhibits, including the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm where children can have close encounters with domestic animals.
8. National Music Museum
RARE MUSICAL TREASURES
The National Music Museum houses one of the world's most extraordinary collections of musical instruments on the University of South Dakota campus. Visitors can explore more than 15,000 instruments from virtually all cultures and historical periods. The museum is renowned among scholars and musicians for its rare and historically significant pieces, including the oldest playable harpsichord in existence.
9. Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
HISTORIC WATERFRONT DESTINATION
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area offers premier water-based recreation on the 31,400-acre Lewis and Clark Lake. The area features extensive camping facilities, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and hiking trails along the Missouri River. Visitors can participate in fishing, boating, and water sports while enjoying the same scenic landscape once traversed by the famous explorers.
10. Good Earth State Park
ANCIENT CULTURAL SITE
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run preserves one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the United States. The site served as an important gathering place and trading center for Indigenous peoples from 1300 to 1700 AD. Visitors can explore interpretive displays at the visitor center and hike through rolling hills with prairie and riverside forest while learning about the area's rich cultural history.
11. Riibe Outdoors
GUIDED HUNTING ADVENTURES
Riibe Outdoors provides professional guided hunting and fishing experiences in southeastern South Dakota. Guests can pursue pheasant, waterfowl, and deer with experienced guides who know the region's best hunting spots. The outfitter caters to both novice and experienced sportspeople looking to enjoy South Dakota's abundant wildlife resources.
12. Great Bear Recreation Park
FOUR-SEASON OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND
Great Bear Recreation Park transforms across seasons to offer year-round outdoor activities on its 200-acre natural playground. In winter, the park becomes a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing with 14 downhill runs. Summer visitors enjoy hiking and mountain biking trails winding through the wooded hillside just minutes from downtown Sioux Falls.
13. SculptureWalk
URBAN ART EXPERIENCE
SculptureWalk displays an ever-changing outdoor gallery of sculptures throughout downtown Sioux Falls. The annual exhibition features more than 50 original pieces ranging from whimsical to thought-provoking, created by artists from around the world. Visitors can vote for their favorite sculpture, with the People's Choice winner purchased by the city for permanent display.
14. Missouri National Recreational River
HISTORIC WATERWAY EXPERIENCE
The Missouri National Recreational River preserves one of the last free-flowing stretches of the mighty Missouri as Lewis and Clark once experienced it. Visitors can paddle, fish, or boat along sections of the river that retain their natural character without dams or channelization. The area offers opportunities to spot wildlife including bald eagles, deer, and river otters while enjoying the scenic beauty of the riverside landscape.
15. Historic Downtown Yankton
RIVER CITY HERITAGE
Historic Downtown Yankton invites visitors to explore South Dakota's first capital city through its well-preserved architecture and riverside charm. The district features unique local shops, restaurants, and the Meridian Bridge, a converted double-decker bridge now serving as a pedestrian walkway over the Missouri River. History enthusiasts appreciate landmarks like the 1909 Dakota Territorial Capitol replica and the Mead Cultural Education Center housed in a former state hospital building.