Jan. 31, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls.

It’s no secret that everyone loves taking time off from work. Spending time with family, enjoying a South Dakota road trip or even just taking time to yourself at home to relax and recharge. It’s all rejuvenating.

But first, ask yourself: Did you use all your earned time off from work last year? If you did, great! If not, then you, along with millions of other Americans, are losing out on so much more than just a day off.

Studies have shown that taking time away provides a huge boost of happiness and energy, and as a result your productivity increases upon returning to work. But it’s not just you who may be losing out on this. According to the U.S. Travel Association, it’s estimated that only about one-quarter of Americans use all their earned time off each year.

So today, the U.S. Travel Association along with hundreds of other organizations in the travel industry are promoting National Plan for Vacation Day to encourage people to make plans for taking time off in 2023.

“We know that there is still a lot of pent-up demand for travel as we rebound from the pandemic, so we’re working harder than ever to get the word out about Sioux Falls and why it’s such a great place to visit,” said Teri Schmidt, CEO of Experience Sioux Falls.

Last year was a great year for South Dakota in terms of visitors to our state, which welcomed 14.4 million people, and 2023 is shaping up to be another great year as marketing plans begin to fall into place for the peak summer travel season.

However, with record inflation, people are keeping a close eye on their budgets now more than ever.

“Traveling isn’t always inexpensive, so it’s understandable that people may be a little hesitant to plan something right now. A much more affordable alternative is exploring your own backyard,” Schmidt said.

Enjoy a Stampede hockey game, take a winter hike at one of our parks, experience animal encounters at the Butterfly House & Aquarium, or make plans to attend one of the many upcoming events such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 18.

Sioux Falls also has a wide range of free attractions and activities that you can take advantage of whether you’re a single person or a family with children.

Set a goal for yourself this year to do the things you love with your earned time off. It doesn’t matter if that means exploring a new city or enjoying a staycation in Sioux Falls, you will thank yourself later for the memories you created.

Start planning your list of things to do in Sioux Falls.