Sioux City!
November 1, 2019 6:45 AM Subscribe
AskMe, you were so helpful when I went to Oshkosh, WI a few years ago. Now, same question, different city. I'm taking a business trip to Sioux City, IA in about a month and will probably have a few hours of spare time here and there. How should I spend it?
Things I like: museums, quirky roadside attractions, antique shopping, bookstores, restaurants and cafes, general sightseeing, Christmasy stuff. As I said back in '15, I love anything eclectic, off-the-beaten-path, or just plain weird. Fully not expecting shiny big-city vibes. Honestly, I don't know much about western IA - tell me what your city/region is known for and where I can find it!
I did see this 2012 question but it's a little different from the one I'm asking (I don't need a hotel recommendation) so hopefully this isn't a double.
Flying in and out of the amazingly-named SUX. I will have a car, but I won't have time to get to Sioux Falls or Omaha.
Things I like: museums, quirky roadside attractions, antique shopping, bookstores, restaurants and cafes, general sightseeing, Christmasy stuff. As I said back in '15, I love anything eclectic, off-the-beaten-path, or just plain weird. Fully not expecting shiny big-city vibes. Honestly, I don't know much about western IA - tell me what your city/region is known for and where I can find it!
I did see this 2012 question but it's a little different from the one I'm asking (I don't need a hotel recommendation) so hopefully this isn't a double.
Flying in and out of the amazingly-named SUX. I will have a car, but I won't have time to get to Sioux Falls or Omaha.
Best answer: If you go to Le Mars for a steak, save room for dessert at Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor.
posted by Fukiyama at 11:35 AM on November 1, 2019
posted by Fukiyama at 11:35 AM on November 1, 2019
Best answer: Well, there is Sergeant Floyd monument out near the river.
Now is the moment when I must confess I actually lived in LeMars for a while back in the 80s but I'm struggling to recommend anything else to visit if you decide to go there. Maybe the Plymouth County historical museum and the former site of Westmar College? Downtown LeMars is the epitome of rural midwestern small-town downtowns and I understand it's had something of a revitalization lately. Worth a stroll-down, anyway.
In the same general area, Orange City springs to mind. It is very, very Dutch. Which is not exactly what I personally was expecting to find in the middle of Iowa.
Northwestern College in Orange City is a Dutch Reformed oriented college and probably one of the highest concentrations of Dutch Reformed anything in the U.S. or at least the midwest. Worth at least a stroll-through if you're already going to Orange City.
posted by flug at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2019
Now is the moment when I must confess I actually lived in LeMars for a while back in the 80s but I'm struggling to recommend anything else to visit if you decide to go there. Maybe the Plymouth County historical museum and the former site of Westmar College? Downtown LeMars is the epitome of rural midwestern small-town downtowns and I understand it's had something of a revitalization lately. Worth a stroll-down, anyway.
In the same general area, Orange City springs to mind. It is very, very Dutch. Which is not exactly what I personally was expecting to find in the middle of Iowa.
Northwestern College in Orange City is a Dutch Reformed oriented college and probably one of the highest concentrations of Dutch Reformed anything in the U.S. or at least the midwest. Worth at least a stroll-through if you're already going to Orange City.
posted by flug at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2019
Best answer: And speaking of Sergeant Floyd, the monument is actually just one of a series of things related to Lewis & Clark in the area: Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Sergeant Floyd River Museum (in a riverboat on the river).
Across Lewis Blvd from Sergeant Floyd Monument, plus a hike, is First Bride's Grave, which might be more the type of thing you are interested in. Ignore the map at Tripadvisor as it wildly in the wrong place, but some visitor descriptions there might help you find the place.
Don't forget the Sioux City Railroad Museum.
More to your preference might be the Death Spot of the Booze-hating Churchman and the giant Jesus, Mary, and last supper scene in Trinity Heights.
posted by flug at 12:31 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Across Lewis Blvd from Sergeant Floyd Monument, plus a hike, is First Bride's Grave, which might be more the type of thing you are interested in. Ignore the map at Tripadvisor as it wildly in the wrong place, but some visitor descriptions there might help you find the place.
Don't forget the Sioux City Railroad Museum.
More to your preference might be the Death Spot of the Booze-hating Churchman and the giant Jesus, Mary, and last supper scene in Trinity Heights.
posted by flug at 12:31 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: There's a lot of good Mexican food in Sioux City. My favorite is Jose's, 1401 Pierce, where they even make their own tortillas. I had the Huevos Rancheros last time, they came with the homemade corn tortillas that are about 3 times as thick as you expect, and it was just SO good. Their salsas are great, and they have fresh carrot juice made there too.
posted by fritley at 3:22 PM on November 1, 2019
posted by fritley at 3:22 PM on November 1, 2019
Best answer: I have always wanted to go see the memorial to those killed in the air crash there. It's a pretty amazing story if you haven't ever heard it.... Link to Wikipedia. The memorial is here.
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 5:18 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 5:18 PM on November 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by TrialByMedia at 7:03 AM on November 1, 2019