Nestled on the northwest side of Aberdeen, this beautiful 210-acre recreation area features miles of hiking trails, a swimming beach, a mini golf course, picnic areas and much more. The main attraction is Storybook Land, an imaginative playground and amusement park inspired by classic children’s novels and nursery rhymes like “Humpty Dumpty,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” and “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” written by former Aberdeen resident L. Frank Baum.

Escape to Mina Lake Recreation Area for a day of splish-splashing fun. The first human-made lake in northeast South Dakota, Mina Lake is a haven for fishing, boating and swimming, especially during the summer. Off the water, there are several hiking trails around the lake, as well as campsites and cabins available for rent. If you’re visiting from October to January, join Aberdeen locals for their favorite fall pastime: pheasant hunting.

Learn about South Dakota’s pioneering history with exciting exhibits and displays. Traveling with kids? Check out the Country School Days, a hands-on children's area that mimics the one-room schools scattered around Aberdeen during the early 1900s. Here, kids can step back in time with role-playing activities like gardening and farming, and traditional playground games like hopscotch. Don't forget to check out the wildlife gallery, a surprising departure into Africa, Asia and North America.

Whether you’re a boater, cyclist, angler or cross-country skier, Richmond Lake Recreation Area has an adventure waiting for you. Boaters can cruise around the 1,000-acre waterway, while mountain bikers can get their thrills on the 4.75-mile loop on the north side of the park. When it comes to fishing, Richmond Lake is rich in black crappie, walleye and bluegill. During the winter, visitors can travel along miles of cross-country and snowmobile trails.

Laser tag, bumper cars, bowling, interactive climbing walls, arcade games and jumbo football — be ready to have to drag your kids and teens away from Allevity Entertainment. Parents can kick back at the Allevity Café while the young ones have their fun. Snack on sweet-chili wings, loaded nachos and chicken-bacon-ranch pizza while sipping on a pint of cold beer or a creamy milkshake. Pro tip: Ask your server for the milkshake of the month... you won’t regret it.

Aberdeen’s first brewpub, One-Legged Pheasant Brewery, was founded by Dave Welling, a Michigan native who moved to South Dakota in 2015 when his wife became dean of nursing at the local college. A craft beer enthusiast, he saw an opportunity to bring locally brewed beer to his new home. Today, you can belly up to the taproom bar with options ranging from Irish red ales and American pale wheats to plum sours and heavy-bodied IPAs.

After years of visiting countless coffee shops across the country, brother-and-sister duo Dan and Kileen Cleberg decided to open one in their hometown. On any given day, you’ll find people sipping on lattes and Americanos while browsing Red Rooster’s expansive used bookstore and art gallery, tapping their feet to live music or perusing the gift shop, where purchases benefit local humanitarian groups.

This eclectic eatery blends classic American cuisine with unexpected flavors and presentation. Situated on Main Street, Three22 is steered by Chef Jacob Collins, whose extensive travels have influenced nearly every item on the menu, including the street tacos, shumai shrimp potstickers and 605 Poutine — a half-order of chislic (fried cubes of meat that are a South Dakota staple) served on top of French fries and loaded up with ranch cream sauce and fried Wisconsin cheese curds.

Prepare for your jaw to drop when you see the gravity-defying antics of the Aberdeen Aqua Addicts. Fast-paced, graceful and incredibly fun to watch, this watersport involves choreographed music and movements along with daring stunts. The highlight of every show is typically the pyramid, where the Aqua Addicts form a 25-foot human pyramid while being towed at a high speed. The shows happen during the summer on Dahme Lake, just south of the city.

Once a vaudeville house, the Capitol Theatre is now a hub for arts and culture in Aberdeen. Here, the Aberdeen Community Theatre puts on numerous performances throughout the year, from slapstick comedies and musicals to dramatic playhouse productions. The theater also houses a cinema where film screenings happen nearly every night, as well as an art gallery in the main lobby that features works by local artists.

The beauty of the Great Plains is on full display at the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge abounds with herbaceous marshes and lush woodlands, all of which have made it a prime breeding and resting ground for thousands of migratory birds every fall and spring. During pheasant hunting season (October through January), the corn and sorghum fields in the surrounding James River Valley make the Sand Lake area a top choice for local hunters.