Brookings combines university culture with agricultural heritage and eastern South Dakota charm, creating an educational reunion destination. The city's South Dakota State University campus adds vibrancy and cultural attractions to the prairie setting. From the South Dakota Art Museum to McCrory Gardens and Children's Museum, Brookings offers arts, nature, and family activities in a welcoming college town atmosphere.
Already chosen South Dakota? Read the South Dakota Planning Guide.
South Dakota Art Museum
The South Dakota Art Museum showcases regional and Native American art through comprehensive collections and rotating exhibits, providing cultural enrichment for families. The museum's permanent collection includes works by Harvey Dunn depicting pioneer life, Marghab embroidery, and contemporary Native American art. The galleries display regional artists alongside national exhibitions, and the museum's educational programs engage visitors of all ages. The museum's free admission, diverse collections, and climate-controlled comfort make it ideal for reunion groups seeking art and culture in eastern South Dakota.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM with group tours available for parties of 10 or more when booked 2 weeks in advance. The building is fully ADA accessible with elevator access to both floors and accessible restrooms on each level. Great Plains weather extremes mean winter blizzards can close roads from October through April so confirm conditions before driving the 50 miles from Sioux Falls.
Website: sdstate.edu/art-museum
McCrory Gardens
McCrory Gardens encompasses 70 acres of themed gardens, arboretum, and natural areas creating beautiful outdoor spaces for family exploration. The gardens feature formal rose gardens, perennial borders, and children's maze, while the arboretum showcases trees adapted to South Dakota's climate. The South Dakota Native Plant Garden displays regional flora, and walking paths wind through diverse landscapes. The gardens' seasonal beauty, educational focus, and free admission make them perfect for reunion groups seeking horticultural displays with prairie plant education.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Admission is $5 for adults and groups of 12 or more receive $1 off per person when scheduled at least 10 days ahead through the SDSU horticulture office. Paved paths wind through the formal display gardens and are ADA accessible though the woodland trail transitions to wood chips requiring mobility assistance. Summer temperatures can exceed 100F in July so bring water and plan visits before 10 AM or after 5 PM for comfortable group strolls.
Website: sdstate.edu/mccrory-gardens
Children's Museum of South Dakota
The Children's Museum of South Dakota features hands-on exhibits exploring science, art, and culture through interactive play creating engaging experiences for young families. The museum's exhibits include a climbing structure, water play area, and pretend play spaces encouraging imagination and learning. Rotating exhibits bring new experiences, and the museum's programs offer educational entertainment. The museum's focus on early childhood learning, interactive exhibits, and family-friendly atmosphere make it ideal for reunion groups with young children seeking indoor educational play.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Admission is $10 per person with group rates of $8 per person for parties of 15 or more when booked at least 1 week in advance. The museum is fully ADA accessible on both levels with an elevator and sensory-friendly hours on the first Sunday of each month from 9 to 11 AM. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot with 80 spaces and overflow street parking along 6th Street during peak summer weekends.
Website: prairieplay.org
Oakwood Lakes State Park
Oakwood Lakes State Park features a chain of glacial lakes with swimming beaches, fishing, and camping creating water-based recreation for active families. The park's sandy beaches provide supervised swimming areas, while the lakes produce walleye, northern pike, and panfish. Boat ramps accommodate watercraft, and the campground offers modern facilities. The park's natural beauty, water activities, and family-friendly amenities make it ideal for reunion groups seeking lake recreation with prairie pothole ecosystem experiences near Brookings.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
A daily park entrance license is $8 per vehicle and camping sites run $18 to $26 per night with group camping areas that hold up to 40 people reservable 90 days ahead. The park is located 15 miles northwest of Brookings and roads can become impassable during winter blizzards from October through April so check conditions on SD511. Boat ramps and fishing piers are ADA accessible and the 2-mile lakeside trail is packed gravel suitable for wheelchairs in dry weather.
Website: sdgfp.info
Ken O.
Founder of AmazingReunion and veteran reunion organizer who has coordinated 50+ family gatherings across the US.