This One Place In South Dakota May Become Your Favorite Wintertime Destination

Wintertime in in our state is certainly magical, but sometimes all you want is a mini vacation to escape the cold temperatures. Instead of planning a tropical getaway, you can take a break from the blustery cold right here in South Dakota at the Butterfly House & Marine Cove. Wander through the tropical environment, gaze at flittering butterflies from all over the world, and come face-to-face with marine animals. This one place in South Dakota just may become your favorite wintertime destination.

Butterfly House & Marine Cove is a non-profit organization that attracts visitors of all ages. Its mission is to celebrate nature’s beauty through education and healing.

It is located at 4320 S Oxbow Ave. Sioux Falls, 57106.

Enter the marine cove, and view hundreds of different species of fishes and corals. The cove is home to sea stars and sea urchins, seahorses, clownfish and anemones, stingrays, and even sharks!

The pop-up dome aquarium is certainly a popular feature of this spectacular exhibit. You can get up close and personal with various species of fish and coral.

Head over to the Touch Pool, and you can even reach out and feel the sharks and stingrays as they swim up to greet you!

The Pacific Tide Pool is another interactive exhibit. Feel free to touch the sea stars, sea cucumbers and sea anemones. It’s not every day that you get to interact with marine life in South Dakota!

Enter the butterfly house and be prepared for a truly enchanting experience. Hundreds of butterflies will gracefully float around you as you meander through the 80-degree tropical setting.

The gorgeous blue morphos seem to be a fan favorite.

Watch as the tropical butterflies delicately land on the flowers to feed on the tasty nectar.

And if you’re lucky, a butterfly just may choose to greet you up close.

The friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be more than happy to answer any of your questions during your visit. They also offer group reservations (with the option of requesting a guided tour), day camps, and various classes for children of all ages.

To promote healing, The Butterfly House hosts wonderful events open to the community. Join the yoga sessions or participate in crystal bowl sound healing amid the serene setting. To view the calendar of events and learn more about how they carry out their mission, click here.

Open year round, The Butterfly House & Marine Cove will give you a break from the winter weather and transport you to a relaxing, tropical paradise. Soak up the warmth, enjoy the colored foliage, and relish in the beautiful nature that surrounds you. For information on hours, pricing, and events, visit their website.

Have you ever visited the Butterfly House & Marine Cove? What was your favorite part? We would love to hear from you in the comment section!