Sioux City, IA Road Trips

Sioux City sits on the cusp of the westernmost reaches of the industrial Midwest. Most of the rest of the United States between it and Denver is dominated by wide expanse of sparsely populated prairie. Sioux City is proud of its frontier history and you can find markings all over town dedicated to the western exploration done by Lewis and Clark. The Sioux City metropolitan area (Siouxland) covers portions of three US states; it is primarily in Iowa, but extends westward into South Dakota (North Sioux City) and Nebraska (South Sioux City). Sioux City sits on a major bend in the Missouri River and this dominates its geography. The state boundaries are marked by rivers. The Missouri River divides Nebraska on the South side from Iowa and South Dakota on the North Side. The Big Sioux River divides Iowa on the east side from South Dakota on the west side. Interstate 29 (I-29) runs along the Missouri River in Iowa until it enters South Dakota where it then follows the Big Sioux River. I-29 is the major highway used to access Sioux city. In Sioux City, Gordon Drive divides Sioux City into North and South. Lewis Blvd is the main thoroughfare that runs North and South on the East Side of town while Hamilton Boulevard is on the west side of town. In Sioux City street numbers increase as you move north away from the river. In South Sioux City, Nebraska street numbers increase as you move south away from the river. U.S. Hwy 20/75, sometimes referred to as "the bypass" is on Sioux City's easternmost side and curves around the mall area eventually crossing into Nebraska.

1 Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska Street, Sioux City, Iowa 51101-1712, ☏ +1 712-279-6272, fax: +1 712-255-2921. M closed, Tu-W 10AM-4PM, Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Features many rotating exhibits from around the world. Hands on experience available for children in their Kids Art Zone. Free. (updated Feb 2018) Sioux City Public Museum, 607 4th St, ☏ +1 712-279-6174. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Museum about the history of the area, Native Americans and later settlement. Free. 2 Trinity Heights, 33rd & Floyd Blvd, ☏ +1 712-239-8670. Daily 10AM-8PM. Giant Jesus and Mary statues made of metal. A life-size wood carving of the Last Supper. Trinity Gardens. Free. Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Rd, ☏ +1 712-224-5242. A museum complex that includes exhibits on the Lewis & Clark expedition plus the Sergeant Floyd River Museum Featuring a nostalgic riverboat and the Betty Strong Encounter Center. Free. Flight 232 Memorial (just east of Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, off Larsen Park Dr in Chris Larsen Park near intersection of Hwy 20 and I-29). A memorial to the 1989 United Flight 232 plane crash where victims were seen walking out of a cornfield. Free. Sergeant Floyd Monument, 2601 S Lewis Blvd. Obelisk honoring the fallen Lewis and Clark expedition member with great views over the Missouri River and into Nebraska.

1 Cone Park, 3800 Line Dr., ☏ +1 712 279-6126. This park's main attraction in winter time is a multi-lane snow tubing hill with an automatic conveyor belt type lift and night time lighting. Other activities include an outdoor ice skating rink, a recreation trail and (in summer) a splash pad. (updated Feb 2018) 2 Tyson Events Center, 401 Gordon Dr., toll-free: +1-800-593-2228. Multiple sports activities are hosted here. From NAIA college athletics championships to Musketeers hockey, this venue handles all kinds of events. When not hosting events, you can practice rock climbing on their climbing wall. (updated Feb 2018) 3 Saturday in the Park, 24th and Grandview, ☏ +1 712 277-2575. early July. An annual music festival held primarily at the Grandview Park Municipal Bandshell in Sioux City. Started in 1991, the festival falls on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July and attracts around 50,000 people from all over the Midwest for the weekend. (updated Feb 2018) Sioux City has a robust performing arts scene including multiple theater companies and many venues to catch a live performance. 4 Orpheum Theater, 528 Pierce St, ☏ +1 712 244-5000 (box office), toll-free: +1-800-514-3849 (e-tix). See a show at the Orpheum Theater, which has been used through the years for symphony performances, ballet and special attractions, hosting entertainers such as Fred Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, and Katherine Hepburn. The theatre was re-opened on September 15, 2001 after being closed for a number of years.

1 La Juanitas, 1316 Pierce St, ☏ +1 712-279-0772. Flavorful Mexican food, open late for the bar crowd. (updated Feb 2018) 2 El Fredo Pizza, 523 West 19th Street, ☏ +1 712-258-0691. A Sioux City original, with a sweet and spicy pizza sauce. (updated Feb 2018) 3 Crave, 1100 Larson Park Rd, ☏ +1 712-224-2387. Fine dining, patio and bar with excellent views of the Missouri River. (updated Feb 2018)

1 The Diving Elk, 1101 4th St, ☏ +1 712-276-9625. German beer hall with American flair and great craft beer selection. Try the Elkwurst. At The Diving Elk, you'll find a friendly atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy a revolving craft beer list, classic cocktails, and quality local food. (updated Feb 2018) 2 Miles Inn, 2622 Leech Ave., ☏ +1 712-276-9625. Stop in for Charlie Boy and a Schooner. (updated Feb 2018)

1 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 111 3rd St (Under the gigantic light up guitar as seen from I-29 and Wesley Parkway), ☏ +1 712-226-7600, toll-free: +1 844-222-7925, [email protected]. 24 hrs. This hotel is connected to the Hard Rock Casino and offers many options for food from a buffet to a steak house. It is also home to a concert venue. Check out all kinds of Rock and Roll memorabilia inside. 2 South Sioux City Marriott Riverfront, 385 east 4th st., South Sioux City, ☏ +1 402-494-4000, toll-free: +1 800-798-7980, fax: +1 402-494-2550. 24 Hrs. Higher end hotel right on the river front in South Sioux City. Features a good steakhouse inside and nice view of downtown. (updated Feb 2018) 3 Days Inn Sioux City, 3000 Singing Hills Blvd (Exit from I-29 to US 20 and go east; it will be on your right.), ☏ +1 712 258-8000. (updated Feb 2018) 4 Stone State Park, 5001 Talbot Rd, ☏ +1 712 255-4698. Along the Loess hills bordering South Dakota, this state park offers campsites and cabins. (updated Feb 2018)

Sioux City is accessible by a number of highways. Interstate 29 connects Sioux City to as far north as the Canadian border, and as far south as Kansas City. Highway 75 extends to the northeast and southwest of Sioux City, to cities such as Le Mars, Iowa, and Tekamah, Nebraska. Highway 20 brings motorists for the east or west to Sioux City, all the way from Indiana and Wyoming, respectively. 1 Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX IATA). Sometimes referred to as "The Big SUX". The locals have embraced their airport designation. Non-stop service daily is on American Eagle to Chicago O'Hare and to Dallas/Fort Worth (updated Feb 2018) 2 Martin Field (7K8), 615 Old Hwy 20 W, South Sioux City 68776, ☏ +1 402-494-3667. Always open. Martin Field is a privately owned, public use airport 3 nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of South Sioux City, in Dakota County, Nebraska (updated Feb 2018) 3 Greater Sioux City Bus Depot (Greyhound), 501 Nebraska St, ☏ +1 712 255-7678. (updated Feb 2018) Yes, it sounds crazy but you can arrive in Sioux City by boat from any coastal city on the planet. Sioux City sits at the northernmost reach of the navigable Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River which is the only in the lower 48 to be longer than the Mississippi itself. This means you can take your boat (or perhaps shallow draft luxury yacht) from Sioux City all the way to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Mississippi River through St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. From the Gulf it is to anywhere you are adventurous enough to go.

Sioux City Transit System, Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation Center, 505 Nebraska St. (downtown), ☏ +1 712 279-6404 (route info). The bus system is a fairly well built out public transit system for a small Midwestern city. It serves Sioux City, South Sioux City, Nebraska, and North Sioux City, South Dakota. Routes schedules and maps can be found here. $1.80/adult (one way), discounts for seniors, youth and pass holders. Taxi Service-several taxi companies operate in the Siouxland area. Siouxland Taxi, ☏ +1 712-277-0000. (updated Feb 2018) Taxi Xpress, ☏ +1 712-577-1111. (updated Feb 2018) Sioux City Skywalk, Downtown. M-Sa 6:30AM-10:30PM and Su 9:30AM-5:30PM. The Downtown Skywalk system is a great, climate controlled way to get around in downtown! The system is roughly 2 miles long and covers 10 blocks in the heart of the city, with 27 access points that get you to and from the street Free. (updated Feb 2018) Trails- Sioux City, Iowa and the major suburbs of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and North Sioux City, South Dakota, all maintain a network of walking trails that connect to each other through Sioux City. Trails are walking and bicycle friendly and include a connection over the Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge which connects downtown South Sioux City, Nebraska, to downtown Sioux City, Iowa. Lyft and Uber operate in the Siouxland Region. Many car rental companies operate at Sioux City Airport and throughout town. Avis, ☏ +1 712-255-8181. (updated Feb 2018) Hertz, ☏ +1 712-255-4986.