Colorful murals were one of our unexpected discoveries while exploring downtown Sioux City.

Sioux City, Iowa, wasn’t a destination where we planned to spend much time sitting still.

And we certainly didn’t.

Over one very full weekend, we climbed aboard a historic riverboat, followed the story of Lewis and Clark through Siouxland, wandered through a candy shop filled with pieces of candy-making history, discovered a surprisingly fascinating railroad museum, relaxed at a local vineyard, hunted for murals downtown, ate very well and even took a side trip to the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

Our itinerary changed a little along the way—as travel itineraries often do—but some of those changes led to our favorite discoveries of the weekend.

So, is Sioux City worth the detour?

For us, the answer was an easy yes.

Where We Stayed: The Warrior Hotel

We made The Warrior Hotel, Autograph Collection our home base for the weekend, and it turned out to be an experience in itself.

Located in downtown Sioux City, The Warrior has a distinctive personality that begins almost as soon as you walk through the doors. One of my favorite details was the collection of little birds displayed in the lobby. That bird-inspired theme continues throughout the hotel in subtle, beautifully incorporated ways and gives the property much more character than a typical hotel stay.

Our room was comfortable and nicely appointed, right down to an unexpected bathroom feature—a bidet.

We also made time to enjoy some of the hotel’s amenities. Downstairs, we relaxed in the pool, hot tub and sauna. The fitness center looked impressive, with plenty of equipment, although this was definitely not a workout kind of weekend for us.

The hotel also has a spa and its own bowling area, War Eagle Lanes. Unfortunately, the bowling area wasn’t open when we went down to check it out, so we’ll have to save that experience for another visit.

Worth Knowing: Parking at The Warrior

There was quite a bit of road construction happening around the hotel during our stay, but parking was surprisingly easy. We found a parking garage directly across the street, additional parking behind the hotel and metered street parking nearby. The construction really wasn’t an inconvenience for us.

Our First Night: Rooftop Drinks Over Sioux City

After traveling on Friday, we deliberately kept our first evening simple.

We headed upstairs to The Crown, The Warrior’s rooftop bar, and settled in with drinks.

There is outdoor patio seating with views over downtown Sioux City, and it was exactly what we wanted after spending the day traveling—somewhere comfortable to sit, talk and officially ease into the weekend.

With a packed Saturday ahead of us, it was the perfect beginning.

Saturday: Coffee, History, Candy & Wine

Saturday was our big sightseeing day.

And by big, I mean we were go, go, go.

If you follow this itinerary yourself, it is absolutely possible to cover a lot of Sioux City in one day. Just know that this is not a leisurely schedule.

Start With Donuts at Jitters

Our first stop Saturday morning was Jitters, a local coffee shop known especially for its donuts.

And this ended up becoming more than a quick breakfast stop.

The owner was kind enough to sit down with me for a short interview and talk about the shop. There is something special about visiting a locally loved business and getting to meet one of the people behind it.

Jitters serves coffee and other food items, but the donuts are what people kept telling us about—and after visiting, it was easy to understand why this is a familiar local stop.

Sometimes getting to know a city starts over coffee and a donut.

Step Inside a Riverboat at the Sergeant Floyd River Museum

From breakfast, we moved directly into Sioux City’s history at the Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center.

What makes this museum unusual is the museum itself: you’re actually walking through the dry-docked M.V. Sergeant Floyd.

If you enjoy boats, river history or simply like exploring unusual museums, this is a fun stop. Inside are historic photographs, artifacts, models and exhibits explaining Missouri River transportation and its connection to Sioux City.

You can also see parts of the vessel itself as you walk through.

It isn’t an enormous museum, so it worked especially well with our packed itinerary. We were able to walk through, learn something about the area’s history and then continue to our next stop.

Continue the Story at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

Just nearby, we continued the history lesson at the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.

This was one of the historical attractions that impressed me most.

The museum is extremely well put together, with interactive exhibits, historical information, displays and some absolutely beautiful hand-painted murals.

The murals in particular caught my attention. They add so much visual interest to the exhibits and help bring the story of the expedition through Siouxland to life.

The death of Sergeant Charles Floyd—the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to die during the journey—is an important part of the story here, and it’s something that continues to connect several of Sioux City’s historical attractions.

If history is one of the reasons you travel, I would definitely put this one on your Sioux City list.

Lunch at Jackson Street Brewing Company

By lunchtime, we were ready to slow down for a bit, so our next stop was Jackson Street Brewing Company in downtown Sioux City.

I ordered the smash burger, and this ended up being another food stop I’d happily recommend. The burger was juicy and flavorful, but what stood out most was the flavor itself—it had a distinctive taste unlike other smash burgers I’ve tried. Whatever they’re doing back there, it works. Paired with crispy fries and a cold drink, it was exactly what we needed before continuing our very full day of exploring.

Worth the Detour verdict: If you’re looking for a casual lunch stop in Sioux City, Jackson Street Brewing is an easy one to add to the itinerary. And if you’re a burger person, the smash burger gets my vote.

A Sweet Stop at Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe

Then it was time to trade history lessons for chocolate.

Although, as we quickly discovered, Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe gives you a little of both.

Palmer Candy has been making confections in Sioux City since 1878, and the shop incorporates pieces of that history throughout the experience. Retired candy-making equipment, vintage photographs and other historical items are displayed among the sweets.

And there are a LOT of sweets.

Candy. Chocolates. Fudge. Truffles. Nuts. Classic treats. Boxes and bags everywhere you look.

The shop was busy during our visit, but there were plenty of helpful employees available, and the whole place had a fun energy.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without taking some sweets with us.

If you have a sweet tooth, this is an easy recommendation. But even if candy isn’t the entire reason for your visit, the historic equipment and photographs make Palmer’s much more interesting than simply walking into another candy store.

There truly seemed to be something for everyone.

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center: A Good Family Stop

Later that afternoon, we headed to the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

We arrived fairly close to closing time, so we made the decision to concentrate on the indoor exhibits instead of heading out onto the trails.

The Nature Center focuses on the natural history of the Loess Hills and has wildlife exhibits, interactive displays, bird-viewing areas and several miles of trails outside for visitors who have more time.

For us, one of the best parts was watching my son explore the bird exhibits.

He had brought along his own bird book, so he started comparing the birds in his book with the specimens on display and trying to identify them. He spent quite a bit of time doing that and really enjoyed himself.

We also got to see the live birds of prey, including owls, which was another highlight.

If we returned with more time, I would plan our visit earlier in the day so we could experience some of the trails too.

A Quick Stop at the Chief War Eagle Monument

We also made a brief stop at the Chief War Eagle Monument.

For us, this was more of a historical landmark to see while exploring Sioux City than somewhere we needed to spend a significant amount of time.

If you’re interested in the history of the area, it’s an easy stop to incorporate into a larger sightseeing day.

Dinner at 1854 Grille: One of Our Favorite Meals

After a full day of sightseeing, we were ready for dinner.

Our original plans had changed, so we ended up at 1854 Grille.

Sometimes changing the itinerary works out very well.

This was one of my favorite meals of the entire trip.

The food was delicious, the service was good, the atmosphere was lovely—and my martini was fabulous.

If I were returning to Sioux City and wanted a nicer sit-down dinner, 1854 Grille would absolutely be on my list.

Ending the Day at Oscar Carl Vineyard

After such a busy day, Oscar Carl Vineyard was exactly what we needed.

The setting was beautiful and relaxed, with comfortable outdoor seating and lovely views. We settled in, tried the wine and finally slowed down after spending most of the day moving from one attraction to another.

The wine was delicious, the atmosphere was cozy and the entire experience felt unhurried.

It was everything I want from an evening at a vineyard.

And after our very full Saturday, it was a wonderful place to end the day.

Sunday: Monuments, Trains & a Detour for Ice Cream

Sunday started with breakfast at Perkins before we headed out for another full day of exploring. We had originally planned to eat at the hotel, but sometimes travel plans change—and a familiar breakfast stop was an easy way to fuel up before heading to our first destination of the day: the Sergeant Floyd Monument.

Our first stop brought us back to a name we’d encountered throughout the weekend.

Sergeant Floyd Monument

The Sergeant Floyd Monument marks the burial place of Sergeant Charles Floyd, who died in this area during the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The monument itself is impressive, but what I especially enjoyed was the setting.

From the bluff, you get a wide view over the surrounding area and across the Missouri River toward Nebraska. There are places to sit and picnic tables nearby, so this could easily become a quiet coffee or picnic stop rather than simply a quick photograph.

We didn’t spend a tremendous amount of time here because there isn’t a large attraction to walk through.

But that’s not really the point.

It’s a historical landmark with a beautiful view—and after learning about Sergeant Floyd at several stops the day before, seeing his monument brought that part of the weekend full circle.

The Sioux City Railroad Museum Surprised Us

I’ll admit it.

We had driven past the Sioux City Railroad Museum the previous day, and from the road, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

It didn’t look like much.

Then we went inside.

This became one of the biggest surprises of our entire weekend.

The volunteers were wonderful—friendly, helpful and happy to talk with us about what we were seeing.

There was so much more to explore than I had expected: historic railroad equipment, railroad cars, artifacts and exhibits spread throughout the property.

We walked through a dining car staged to show what railroad dining once looked like. Another portion of the museum addressed the much darker history of rail transportation during the Holocaust, which was difficult and emotional to see but thoughtfully presented.

And then we found the trains.

So many trains.

One model railroad display in particular completely captivated my son. He spent so much time studying the miniature trains and city that he left the museum talking about starting his own collection of HO and N scale trains for his room.

A travel stop may have created a brand-new hobby.

That’s a pretty good souvenir.

This is exactly the kind of place that reminds me not to judge an attraction from the road.

The Sioux City Railroad Museum was absolutely worth stopping for.

The Sioux City Activity We Never Planned: Hunting for Murals

Not everything we did in Sioux City was on our itinerary.

Somewhere along the way, we started noticing murals.

And then we noticed another.

And another.

Before long, finding murals around downtown had become its own activity.

Sioux City has more than 140 murals concentrated in its downtown outdoor art gallery, and the variety is incredible. Some are colorful and playful; others tell stories, celebrate local identity or completely transform the side of a building.

We found ourselves driving around looking for the next one almost like we were on a treasure hunt.

It was never part of our original plan.

It became one of the most memorable little discoveries of the trip.

So if you’re exploring downtown Sioux City, look up.

Then look down the next alley.

You never know what you’ll find.

A Detour From Our Detour: Le Mars, Iowa

Sunday afternoon, we temporarily left Sioux City for a very important reason.

Ice cream.

About a half-hour drive away is Le Mars, Iowa—the officially designated Ice Cream Capital of the World.

And the fun started before we ever reached the ice cream counter.

As we got closer to town, we started noticing giant ice cream cone sculptures outside businesses and scattered around the community.

It was adorable.

Le Mars actually has dozens of these oversized cone sculptures around town, so spotting them becomes another little scavenger hunt.

Then we reached downtown.

Le Mars has that charming, small-town feel that makes you want to slow down and look around. Between the Ice Cream Capital signage, cute downtown and ice-cream-themed touches, the town really embraces its identity.

Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor

Naturally, our destination was the Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor.

Before even going inside, we had to stop for pictures with the fun ice-cream-themed benches outside.

Inside, there is colorful décor, a gift shop and an upstairs area that includes a theater. We peeked into the theater but didn’t stay for the presentation because we had another priority.

The ice cream.

And yes, it was delicious.

After an entire weekend of museums and history, sitting down with a big bowl of ice cream felt like the perfect change of pace.

Would I recommend driving out of Sioux City to visit Le Mars?

Absolutely.

It’s close enough to make an easy side trip, the town itself is charming and there is something delightfully fun about visiting a place that proudly calls itself the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

This was one detour that was definitely worth taking.

One Last Great Meal: Marto Brewing Co.

Back in Sioux City, we finished our sightseeing weekend with dinner at Marto Brewing Co.

And Marto joined 1854 Grille as one of my favorite meals of the trip.

The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, with outdoor seating available and plenty of options on the menu.

Our table tried several things. My aunt ordered lamb chops and let us sample them, and they were delicious.

But I was there for pizza.

Marto offers a cauliflower-crust option, which meant I could order a gluten-free pizza and enjoy pizza night with everyone else instead of settling for something completely different.

And it wasn’t simply a substitute that happened to be gluten-free.

It was genuinely good pizza.

Paired with the brewery atmosphere and selection of drinks, Marto was a fun, casual way to end our weekend.

If you’re traveling with someone who needs a gluten-free pizza option, this is one Sioux City restaurant I would keep in mind.

So, Is Sioux City Worth the Detour?

After one very full weekend, I think the answer is yes.

What surprised me about Sioux City wasn’t one major attraction.

It was the variety.

In one weekend, we explored river history aboard an actual historic vessel, followed Lewis and Clark through Siouxland, discovered the story behind a candy company that’s been making sweets since the 1800s, explored the natural landscape of the Loess Hills, visited monuments, wandered through railroad history, relaxed at a vineyard, hunted for downtown murals and ate some really good food.

Then we drove to another Iowa town for ice cream.

Our itinerary didn’t go exactly according to plan.

We didn’t make it everywhere we originally intended.

We didn’t have enough time to hike the nature trails.

We drove past one attraction and almost underestimated it.

And an activity we never planned—looking for murals—became part of the fun.

That’s travel.

And maybe that’s also the best way to experience Sioux City.

Have a plan.

Leave a little room to change it.

And keep your eyes open for the places you didn’t know you were looking for.

Because sometimes those are the places that make the trip worth the detour.