Discover an array of family-friendly things to do in Brookings

Set just off I-29 about 2.5 miles from downtown Brookings, the Country Inn & Suites offers comfortable rooms and suites within minutes of top destinations like South Dakota State University. Prospective students, alumni, and parents visiting campus can cheer on the Jackrabbits at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium or peruse the works on display at the South Dakota Art Museum. If you’re looking for family-friendly things to do in town, plan a trip to the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, hike the Dakota Nature Park trails that loop outside of our hotel’s front door, or cool off at the Hillcrest Aquatic Center. Here for a conference or an expo? The Swiftel Center is within walking distance of the hotel.

Select what to see in a map

  • Culture
  • Family
  • Landmark
  • Nature
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Swiftel Center

0.54 mi / 0.87 km from the hotel
Attend concerts with big-name performers like Cole Swindell, Nelly, and Thomas Rhett, or sit in the front row for educational conferences and expos at this 30,000-square-foot multipurpose arena.

Larson Park

0.59 mi / 0.96 km from the hotel
Burn off some energy at this community park, which boasts a playground, a walking trail, and a 20-hole disc golf course.

Brookings Commercial Historic District

2.1 mi / 3.38 km from the hotel
Take a self-guided walking tour in Brookings’ historic district to admire art deco buildings like the College Theatre and the beaux arts-inspired First National Bank. Make time to grab a bite to eat at Nick’s Hamburger Shop, in business since 1929.

Children’s Museum of South Dakota

1.97 mi / 3.17 km from the hotel
Kids can search for dinosaur bones at hands-on exhibits like the Dino Dig or play pretend at the Post Office while visiting this popular children’s museum.

Dakota Nature Park

1.66 mi / 2.68 km from the hotel
Explore 135 sprawling acres of outdoor space at this expansive nature park. You can lace up your walking shoes for a leisurely stroll along the paved trails or pack your fishing pole for catch-and-release fishing in several small ponds.

Fishback Soccer Complex

3.67 mi / 5.91 km from the hotel
Watch the South Dakota State University women’s soccer team storm the main field at the Fishback Soccer Complex, or practice your passes on one of 10 additional fields located on the grounds.

Hillcrest Aquatic Center

1.3 mi / 2.1 km from the hotel
If you’re visiting in summer, plan a family outing to this fun aquatic center. You can brave the waterslides, relax in the wading pools, and build impressive sandcastles in the wet-sand area.

Larson Ice Center

0.58 mi / 0.94 km from the hotel
Visit this family-friendly indoor ice facility to attend an open-skating session or to catch a Brookings Ranger or SDSU Jackrabbit hockey game.

McCrory Gardens

0.75 mi / 1.2 km from the hotel
Maintained by SDSU, McCrory Gardens offers 25 acres of scenic themed gardens for you to explore. You can pose for a family photo op in the Waterfall Garden and Butterfly Garden or keep the kids entertained in the interactive Sensory Garden.

South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum

1.74 mi / 2.79 km from the hotel
View artifacts like traditional tractors, clothing, and crop production tools as well as an original shanty built in 1882 at this educational museum on the campus of SDSU. All visitors enjoy free admission.

South Dakota Art Museum

1.69 mi / 2.72 km from the hotel
Take a staff-guided or self-guided tour of this admission-free museum located on the South Dakota State University campus. The permanent collection showcases more than 7,000 works by artists like Ada Caldwell and Harvey Dunn.

South Dakota State University

1.28 mi / 2.06 km from the hotel
Join more than 12,000 students on the campus of the state’s largest university. You can catch a Jackrabbits game at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium or attend a concert at Larson Memorial Concert Hall.