 Our tent site and resort fun By: Greg Koch As a race timer for 605 Running Company, I’m lucky to travel across the state, exploring different communities and their unique offerings. Recently, I had the pleasure of timing the Big Sioux Rec Trail Race at Big Sioux Recreational State Park in Brandon, South Dakota—a beautiful area just a short 5-minute drive from Yogi Bear's Jellystone Resort. Despite living in Sioux Falls, my family and I hadn’t considered a stay at Yogi Bear's until our 5-year-old daughter, Violet, came home from a summer care program field trip, begging us to camp there. Her excitement was contagious, and this weekend provided the perfect opportunity to time a race and fulfill a 5-year-old’s wish. A Scorching Hot Weekend The weekend of our stay, July 26-28, was a scorcher, with temperatures soaring above 94 degrees each day. You can imagine our relief when we discovered that the tent sites at Jellystone Resort included power hookups. We are traditional tent campers, but with overnight lows at 72 degrees, the fans we brought were lifesavers. An Array of Activities What truly impressed us was how much this resort had to offer. Passing by on the interstate, the first thing you notice is the massive jumping pillow—a thrilling attraction for kids, even if it gave us parents a few heart palpitations! We also enjoyed a round of mini golf, but the highlight for our family was undoubtedly the pool, which provided a much-needed escape from the heat. We were also pleasantly surprised to find an air-conditioned recreation barn offering a variety of indoor craft activities. We spent some quality family time creating ceramic projects and tie-dye t-shirts, which turned out to be a huge hit with everyone. To top it all off, the resort hosted a Mardi Gras-themed weekend, complete with a Saturday night DJ dance party for the kids. The festive atmosphere added a special touch to our stay. A Staycation That Felt Like a Vacation Even though we were just 10 minutes from home, our stay at Jellystone Resort felt like a true vacation. In addition to the pool, we were thrilled to discover the Picnic Basket food truck conveniently located poolside. As this was a working weekend for me, it was a treat to let someone else handle the cooking. The quality of the food exceeded our expectations, and we also made use of the camp store, which offered a variety of treats, groceries, and Yogi Bear swag. We had such an enjoyable time that we’ve already booked a return trip in October, this time with my parents in tow. My Mom and Dad will experience the pull-through, full hook-up camper site while my crew will stay in one of the camp cabins. We’re also excited about the fall activities, including a corn maze, that the resort offers. Based on our summer experience, we’re confident it will be another great weekend. Your Turn! Have you ever visited Yogi Bear's Jellystone Resort in Sioux Falls? What was your experience like? And what are some other local gems that deserve a visit? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to hear your recommendations! Race Results for the Big Sioux Rec Trail Race: You can check out the race results here: Big Sioux Rec Trail Race Results.
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