Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Not only does Sioux Falls have access to everything from skiing and snowboarding to biking and fishing, but you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good view while doing it. Particularly for a midwest city, the variety of outdoor options will likely surprise you. The beautiful Big Sioux river snakes throughout the city, with parks and trails sprinkled throughout. Outdoor options are available in Sioux Falls area regardless of the season.

A transplanter who lived here for several years notes what they liked about Sioux Falls:
I moved to Sioux Falls in 2004 and lived there until 2014. I loved the city, the culture and the people. The river runs in a circle around the city so there is a lovely ring of parks that offers plenty of recreation year round. There are also other recreation areas within a short drive so its easy to get away. If you move to Sioux Falls invest in a good snow shovel, but treasure the summers. I suggest Frisbee golf at Tuthill park, or go camping at the Palisades.

For more reviews of what living in Sioux Falls is like from locals check out: The Buzz

About those seasons… Winters are frigid, with temperature drops into single digits and ~40 inches of snowfall per year. Summers can be brutal on the other end of the spectrum, and if you think you’ve driven far enough west to escape the midwest humidity, think again. Severe rain, high winds, and tornadoes are also unfortunately common in the area. While most small midwestern cities usually aren’t too far away from bigger metro areas, that’s not the case with Sioux Falls, which is more than 150 miles from the nearest big city.

Here's a transplanter on where Sioux Falls struggles:
It seems new development ignores what people love about the town (or at least what I love). The downtown area is being developed but the other areas are just large shopping centers or housing. If they spread the vibe downtown around the city we can avoid where others have struggled.

Traffic. As it gets worse the response seems to be tactics that clearly don’t work. It is by no means bad but it could get there with rapid growth.

State politics. This is obviously personal but in the year I have been here it’s been scandal after scandal with no end in sight. People just seem ok with it because it’s their team. The state can do better red or blue.

The culture in Sioux Falls is family friendly with a small town atmosphere. That atmosphere, unfortunately, might further stem from the fact that Sioux Falls falls short of many U.S. cities in terms of urban amenities. Like many small midwestern cities, residents are generally regarded as polite, reserved and politically moderate. It’s a gorgeous place to live and make friends, and the issue that young people and families alike will have with Sioux Falls probably won’t stem from the people, but the lack of things to do with them in the area outside of its solid restaurant scene.