A Vast Oasis of Farmland

It was a long, flat drive from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls. We were flanked by flat corn fields, soy fields, and cow fields on each side of us, the entire four hour drive. We arrived in Sioux Falls in early evening. It is a very sleepy little town with very limited dining options, so we decided to make it a quiet night. We ordered a couple salads from a bustling local restaurant and took them back to our hotel and opened a bottle of wine. We sat and planned for our hikes through the Badlands the next day. Before settling in, we stopped by the Falls to check them out. They were striking in the setting sun. Back at the Sheraton Sioux Falls, there was a Japanese animae convention at our hotel, literally, so it was crawling with strange-looking creatures with bright, neon hair in crazy shapes. The sight was a little surreal, especially considering the cornfield backdrops. As night fell, we heard fireworks outside and ran out to see a huge display coming from the nearby football field. Bright bursts of red and blue and chest-thumping pops filled the night air overhead. They were breathtaking and when they quieted, we were sent into a deep twilight sleep.


Sioux Falls