Every parent knows that vacationing with small children is hardly a vacation. The job almost becomes harder when you’re removed from all the comforts of home. But at the right location, a vacation with even the tiniest of tots can be magical.
One of our 10 most sought-after hidden gems is the ideal vacation place for parents of toddlers, preschoolers, and young children.
Aberdeen, S.D., located in the northeast corner of the state, is home to Wylie Park, Storybook Land, and dozens of family-friendly attractions for kids of all ages.
The flagship attraction is Storybook Land, a nursery rhyme- and fairytale-based theme park with free admission. The park features a roller coaster, a high-flying balloon ride and a vintage carousel, all accessible to preschoolers that usually get relegated to the kiddie section of conventional theme parks.
Rides are sold on an individual basis – either as separate tickets or on a 10-ride punch card; between that and free admission, there’s no pressure to stay at the park through nap time and risk a meltdown – come and go as you please during the park’s open hours.
All the classic fairytales and nursery rhymes come to life at Storybook Land – there’s a large castle in the center of the park, Jack and Jill’s hill, Captain Hook’s pirate ship, the three little pigs and their corresponding domiciles and a large section of the park is dedicated to “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” as author L. Frank Baum called Aberdeen home in the late 1800s.
To prepare for a trip to Storybook Land, break out that vintage copy of Mother Goose or Grimms’ Fairy Tales; read up on Goldilocks, the Gingerbread Man, Cinderella and all the other characters featured in the park.
While Storybook Land appeals most to younger kids, their older siblings and cousins will love riding thrill rides like Humpty Dumpty’s Great Fall Roller Coaster, the Wizard’s Balloon Ride and new in 2024, the Barnyard Twister. It takes riders up in the air and tosses the barn around as if it’s in the tornado that takes Dorothy to Oz.
Wylie Park – the 210-acre park where Storybook Land is located – also features Thunder Road and Thunder Mountain, a go-kart track and mini golf course that also includes bumper boats, bungee bounces, and a laser maze. There are more than three miles of paved trails at Wylie Park alone – more than 30 throughout the city – and a bike rental business that features unique pedaled vehicles like four-person surreys and fun cycle recumbent bikes.
Go swimming at the Wylie Lake beach or head into town and cool off at the Aberdeen Aquatic Center, which features a 50-yard lap pool, waterslides, a lazy river, and a leisure pool.
The Aberdeen Aqua Addicts perform a world-class waterski show on Thursday nights in the summer and SkateAway provides old-school fun on the weekends in the winter.
Need to escape the heat or the rain? Learn about the history of the area with hands-on exhibits at the Dacotah Prairie Museum or play a round of laser tag at Allevity Entertainment. See a movie at Golden Ticket Cinema or take aim at Hub City Axe Throwing.
With so much fun, the kids might actually get tired and the parents just might get a break – either watching a long-awaited movie on a premium channel at the hotel or in front of the campfire at the Wylie Park Campground.
Off the beaten path, Aberdeen, S.D., is the perfect family escape.
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