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Brookings, South Dakota: Where the Fun Never Stops! Best Places to Visit and Things to Do

Brookings has two museums, a botanical garden, a brewery and one ice cream counter. The ice cream counter is the one that people actually go home talking about. The counter is run by the university’s own dairy science program. Nick’s has been grilling the same small burgers in this town since 1929. Set those two against anything else on this page and they still win.

Are you planning a trip to Brookings, South Dakota and wondering what is worth the time? Look at what follows. Brookings is a small city, but it holds a few things you will not get anywhere else.

Brookings: A Hidden Gem in South Dakota Located in the east of South Dakota, Brookings is a city of around 25,000 people. It’s home to South Dakota State University, which keeps the place young and busy. For its size, Brookings covers a lot, from the parks and gardens to the museums and the eating.

Top Attractions in Brookings One of the main draws in Brookings is McCrory Gardens, the botanical garden running over 25 acres of planting. Another is the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, which is built around hands-on exhibits for children of any age. And if you want the history of this state, take the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, which covers how the land here was farmed.

Key Takeaways

• Brookings, South Dakota may be small, but it’s full of hidden gems and unique experiences.
• Top attractions in Brookings include McCrory Gardens and the Children’s Museum of South Dakota.
• If you’re interested in history, be sure to check out the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum.

Brookings: A Hidden Gem in South Dakota

You may not have heard of Brookings, South Dakota, and that is part of the appeal. Located in the eastern part of the state, Brookings is a college town with more going on than the size suggests.

One of the main draws in Brookings is the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. This museum is built for families with young children who want them learning while they play. You can work through the exhibits, which run from a pretend grocery store to a giant bubble machine.

If you read history, take the Agricultural Heritage Museum. This museum covers the history of agriculture in South Dakota, from Native American farming practices through to how the land is worked now.

For art, the South Dakota Art Museum is the one. This museum holds a serious collection of Harvey Dunn paintings alongside regional and national work. And the gift shop carries pieces made by artists who live here.

If you want to be outdoors, McCrory Gardens is where to go. This botanical garden runs over 25 acres of flowers, plants and trees. You can walk it slowly or time a visit for one of the events they hold through the year.

Overall, Brookings covers more than a town this size should. Whether you came for art, history or simply time outdoors, this part of South Dakota will give you something.

Top Attractions in Brookings

Are you looking for things to do in Brookings, South Dakota? Look at what follows. Brookings runs attractions that will hold you for a long weekend. Here are the ones not to miss:

The Children’s Museum of South Dakota

If you are travelling with children, The Children’s Museum of South Dakota is the stop. This museum is built around hands-on exhibits that teach without announcing it. From a giant Lite-Brite to a bubble room, every age gets something.

McCrory Gardens

McCrory Gardens is the botanical garden here and it is where the noise stops. With over 25 acres of planting and paths through it, an afternoon disappears. Don’t leave without the photograph in front of the gazebo.

South Dakota Art Museum

If you look at art, the South Dakota Art Museum is the one. This museum holds a collection of over 7,000 works, regional and national both. You can also take the events and workshops if you want to understand what you are looking at.

Agricultural Heritage Museum

Take the history of agriculture in South Dakota at the Agricultural Heritage Museum. This museum covers early farming methods through to how it is done now. And the collection of antique tractors and machinery is worth the visit by itself.

Dakota Nature Park

Get outdoors at Dakota Nature Park. This park runs over 150 acres, though the figure is given differently elsewhere on this page, with hiking trails, fishing ponds and picnic areas. You can also rent a kayak or a paddleboat and work the water.

Wooden Legs Brewing Company

If you drink beer, do not miss Wooden Legs Brewing Company. This local brewery pours a range of craft beers, seasonals and one-offs included. And there is live music and there are food trucks on some nights.

Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center

If you want something more active, the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center covers it. This center runs archery, fishing and shooting sports. You can also rent the equipment and take classes if you are starting from nothing.

Whether you have children with you, want somewhere quiet, or want something more active, Brookings has a version. Don’t skip these while you are here.

Fun Things to Do in Brookings

Looking for things to do in Brookings? Look at what follows. Here are the best of them in this South Dakota city.

Brookings Summer Arts Festival

Get among the work at the Brookings Summer Arts Festival. This annual event brings over 200 artists from across the country showing painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more. You’ll also get live music, proper food and enough going on to keep a family occupied. Don’t miss it if the dates line up.

Kayaking at Dakota Nature Park

Take a break from the road and put a paddle in the water at Dakota Nature Park. Rent a kayak or bring your own and work the lake and the channels off it. Keep watching for the wildlife, ducks, geese and the occasional beaver. It’s the cheapest good hour in this town.

Archery at Outdoor Adventure Center

Ready, aim, fire. Test yourself with a bow at the Outdoor Adventure Center’s archery range. Whether you have never held one or you shoot regularly, the range works. Plus it is a straightforward way to burn off whatever the week left you with.

Ice Cream Tasting at SDSU Dairy Bar

Give in to the sweet tooth at the SDSU Dairy Bar, where the ice cream is made on campus. From plain vanilla and chocolate to pumpkin pie and maple nut, the board changes and the odd ones are worth taking. Plus what you spend goes back into the university’s dairy science program.

So there it is, the things worth doing in Brookings. Whether you came for art, the outdoors, something active or simply the ice cream, this city delivers. Get out and work through them.

A Taste of Brookings: Best Places to Eat

When it comes to food, Brookings covers most of it. Whether you want a burger, a cold beer or a proper breakfast, this town has somewhere. Here are the places to eat in Brookings:

SDSU Dairy Bar

If you eat ice cream, you cannot miss the SDSU Dairy Bar. This place turns out some of the best you will taste anywhere. And the reason is that it is made on campus at South Dakota State University. From chocolate and vanilla to Jackrabbit Tracks and Cookies ‘n Cream, the board covers everybody. Plus the prices are set for students, so it costs almost nothing.

Wooden Legs Brewing Company

Looking for somewhere to drink with friends? Wooden Legs Brewing Company is the answer. This local brewery keeps a comfortable room and a proper list of craft beers. Whether you take a hoppy IPA or a smooth porter, something will suit. And they do pub food alongside, burgers and sandwiches included.

Brookings’ Famous Cafes

Brookings holds some of the better-known cafes in South Dakota. Nick’s Hamburger Shop is the local institution, grilling small burgers and fries since 1929. And for breakfast, head over to Mattie’s Pancake House for the pancakes and the bacon. Another local favorite is Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge, which does the American plates alongside South Dakota dishes like bison burgers and pheasant salad wraps.

No matter what you are after, Brookings will feed you well. So take the friends and the appetite and work through the eating in this part of South Dakota.

Where to Stay in Brookings

When it comes to a bed in Brookings, you have options. Whether you need somewhere that takes a dog or somewhere near SDSU, both exist. Here are the places to stay in Brookings:

Pet-Friendly Hotels

If you are travelling with a dog, there are hotels in Brookings that will take one. Here are a few of our favorites:

Hotel Name	Pet Policy	Price Range
Super 8 by Wyndham Brookings	Dogs and cats allowed for a fee	$
My Place Hotel-Brookings, SD	Dogs allowed for a fee	$$
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brookings	Dogs allowed for a fee	$$$

Hotels Near SDSU

If you are here for South Dakota State University, stay close to it. There are hotels a short distance from the campus. Here are the options:

Hotel Name	Distance to SDSU	Price Range
Days Inn by Wyndham Brookings	1.5 miles	$
Hampton Inn & Suites Brookings	2.3 miles	$$
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Brookings	2.9 miles	$$$

No matter where you sleep in Brookings, the town will keep you busy. So pack the bags, bring the dog if you have one, and get on with it.

The Dairy Bar is not a novelty at all, but a working teaching operation. The milk for it comes straight off the university’s own dairy herd. That is why the flavors are odd and why the texture is exactly right. McCrory Gardens is the other thing here that is genuinely worth the trip out. Everything else on this page is pleasant rather than genuinely remarkable.

Exploring Downtown Brookings

If you want a straightforward day in Brookings, take Downtown Brookings. This area runs local shops, restaurants and enough going on to hold an afternoon. Here are a few highlights:

Downtown at Sundown

One of the better times to take Downtown Brookings is through the summer, when the community runs Downtown at Sundown. This weekly event brings live music, food trucks and local vendors onto the street. Take a cold drink and something to eat and let the evening run. It’s how the week gets closed out here.

Unique Shopping in Brookings

Downtown Brookings holds shops you will not find in a chain. From the small boutiques to the specialist stores, something will catch you. Looking for clothes? Check out The Carrot Seed Boutique. Need a present? Head to the South Dakota Art Museum Store for work made by artists here. And take the Brookings Farmers Market for the produce and the handmade goods.

Whether you live here or drive through, Downtown Brookings is worth the walk. With the atmosphere, the shops and the events through the year, something is usually on. So take the friends or the family down there for the day.

Outdoor Adventures in Brookings

Looking for outdoor time in Brookings? Well, you are well placed. This small town has more ground than you expect. Here are the outdoor options in Brookings:

Fishing at Dakota Nature Park

If you fish, then Dakota Nature Park is the water. With over 120 acres of it by this page’s count, which does not match the acreage given earlier, there is room to cast. The park holds bass, catfish and bluegill. So take the gear over to Dakota Nature Park and use the morning.

Disc Golf at Larson Park

Looking for something different? Try disc golf. Larson Park runs a challenging 18-hole course that works for beginners and for people who play regularly. The course is laid out through woodland, so you get the outdoors alongside the game. So take the discs over to Larson Park and lose an afternoon.

Biking Tours

If you want something more active, take a biking tour. Brookings has trails worth riding around the town. You can rent from one of the local bike shops and go alone, or take a guided ride and let somebody else read the map. Either way you cover more ground than walking allows.

So there it is, folks. The outdoor options worth taking in Brookings. Whether you want to slow down or work hard, this town covers both. So take the gear and get outside.

Brookings Through the Seasons

Brookings, South Dakota runs a full calendar through the year. Whether the visit lands in summer or in the fall, something will be on. Here is what each season gives you.

Summer in Brookings

Summer in Brookings is when the town opens up. The light is long, the campus empties and the calendar fills. One of the busier events is the Summer Arts Festival. This festival runs every June with live music, food vendors and arts and crafts across the ground. It’s how a warm day in Brookings should go.

If you want something quieter, walk one of the town’s parks. McCrory Gardens is the botanical garden here, running over 25 acres of planting. It’s where you sit and let the afternoon go.

Autumn in Brookings

As the leaves turn and the air sharpens, Brookings settles into the fall properly. One of the better things at that time of year is the South Dakota Festival of Books. This event is given here as every September, with book signings, author readings and discussion, though the festival moves between host cities and the date wants checking. It’s a good way to mark the turn of the season.

If you want something more festive, take the Brookings Pumpkin Festival. This event is placed here in November, which is worth checking for a pumpkin festival, and it runs carving contests, hayrides and plenty of pumpkin food. It’s how the season gets marked in this town.

No matter which season you take, Brookings gives you something. With events through the year, this town works as a destination rather than a stop.

The Local Perspective: Insider Information

So you’re planning a trip to Brookings, South Dakota? Well, you are in for a good few days. As a local, I’ve got the version you will not get from a listing.

First things first, the food. If you want a classic burger counter, Nick’s Hamburger Shop is the one. This place has been running since 1929 and it is a Brookings institution. But if you want something you cannot get elsewhere, head to Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge for the pheasant dishes.

Now, the things to do. If you like being outdoors, take McCrory Gardens. This botanical garden is genuinely good and it is where you walk slowly. And if you want something further out, head to Oakwood Lakes State Park for the hiking and the fishing.

But what about the evening? Well, Brookings is small but it knows what to do with a night. Check out the Wooden Legs Brewing Company for craft beer and live music. And this page also points at the Dakota Sioux Casino, which sits a long drive north of here rather than in town.

And last of all, the shopping. If you want presents and souvenirs, head to the Brookings Farmers Market. You’ll find fresh produce through to handmade work. And this page also names the Brookings Mall for the chain stores, which is worth checking, because that site has thinned considerably.

So there it is, the local version. Enjoy the trip to Brookings and use what this town actually has.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to spend a day in Brookings, South Dakota?

Well, you can start the day at Nick’s Hamburger Shop, though the grill there runs burgers rather than breakfast, so time it for later. After that, take the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum for how this state was farmed. Then head to the Children’s Museum of South Dakota with the children. In the evening, take a performance at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.

What’s the most underrated attraction in Brookings?

The McCrory Gardens is the one people underrate in Brookings. It’s a botanical garden running plants, flowers and trees across the spectrum. You can walk it slowly and let the place do the work. It’s where you go to stop thinking about anything.

Where can I find the best burger in Brookings?

If you want the burger people argue about in Brookings, take the ones at Cubby’s Sports Bar & Grill. They come out properly cooked and they are the size a burger should be. You can build it yourself from the toppings and the sauces on the list.

What are some unique date ideas in Brookings?

If you want a date that is not dinner in Brookings, take a walk at the Oakwood Lakes State Park. You can also rent a kayak or a canoe and get out on the lake. And this page offers a hot air balloon ride over the country here, which is worth confirming before you promise anybody one.

Is there a hidden gem in Brookings that tourists often miss?

Yes, there is one people miss in Brookings. It’s the Brookings Arts Council. It’s a small gallery showing work by artists who live here. You can spend an hour in there among the paintings, the sculpture and the photography.

What’s the craziest thing to do in Brookings for adventure seekers?

If you want the adrenaline, this page offers a jump at the Skydive Adventures, which is worth confirming as a local operator. It’s the sort of thing you do once and talk about for years. You go out of the plane at 10,000 feet and the freefall does the rest. It’s not for everybody, but nobody who does it regrets it.

Frequently asked questions about Brookings, South Dakota

How much does a cone at the SDSU Dairy Bar cost?

Very little indeed. It is priced for students rather than for visitors, which means a cone here costs a fraction of what it would anywhere with a tourist economy. The money from it goes back into the university’s own dairy science program. The flavors change and the odd ones are the point. Go on a weekday afternoon, because the line after a home game runs out of the door.

Does it cost anything at all to walk round McCrory Gardens?

There is admission. It runs to over 25 acres of planting with an arboretum behind it, and a botanical garden of that size is not maintained on goodwill alone. The events they run through the year are where the value actually sits. Students and members get in for less than everybody else. Go in early summer, when the planting peaks and the whole thing justifies what it charges.

Does it cost anything at all to use Dakota Nature Park?

No, nothing. The trails, the fishing and the picnic ground are all open, and the only money you spend there is on a kayak or a paddleboat. This page gives the acreage two different ways, so treat both of them carefully. The water in it holds bass, catfish and bluegill. Take your own gear along, because there is nothing to rent there once the season closes.

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