Jan. 16, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls.

When several of his former classmates came to visit from the East Coast not long ago, Sioux Falls artist Brad Kringen had a memorable exchange.

“My friend looked at me, and she said, ‘Brad, when did Sioux Falls become cool?’ I said, ‘I think Sioux Falls has always been cool.’ From the east side to the west side, Sioux Falls is an art town.”

It’s also a town with plenty of appeal for visitors every season of the year – including this one.

So Experience Sioux Falls, formerly the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, is highlighting some of the many attractions for winter visitors with a new series of videos.

The arts is one of them. It provides Kringen’s perspective on the city’s arts scene, detailing why he believes Sioux Falls is “kind of a best-kept secret” for tourists who enjoy the arts.

“Someone that comes to Sioux Falls for the first time is going to be surprised,” he said. “It’s pretty spectacular, and there’s a lot to see.”

Alexa Jerstad, director of communications and human resources at Great Bear Ski Valley, gives a high-energy endorsement for winter in Sioux Falls in this video detailing some key visitor destinations.

“You know those days when we’ve got a lot of snow? People are eager to get out of their houses and make memories,” she said. “We’d rather celebrate winter than tolerate it.”

From the “one-stop shop” of winter fun at Great Bear – including its new ski lift – to shopping and indoor attractions such as the Butterfly House & Aquarium, “everything is so close that you can do a lot of different things in one day,” Jerstad said. “Wintertime in the Midwest is a special thing.”

For the latest headlines from Experience Sioux Falls, click here.