Discover Brookings

Brookings offers several distinct reasons to stay: McCrory Gardens, with its formal garden areas and arboretum; the Ag-Xploration Gallery for children ages 1 to 6; and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival. This lets you choose the destination based on a specific interest rather than reducing it to a single general theme. The gardens focus on plants and landscapes; the Gallery offers hands-on agricultural activities for younger children; and the festival combines a broad arts program with food vendors.

Gardens and climate-adapted trees and shrubs

McCrory Gardens encompasses 25 acres of formal gardens and a 45-acre arboretum. Based on the stated areas, the arboretum is larger than the formal garden areas. Trees and shrubs adapted to South Dakota’s harsh climate grow in the South Dakota State Arboretum. These details point to two distinct ways to experience the gardens: the formal gardens on the one hand, and the woody plants and their connection to the climate on the other. For travelers who prioritize plants and landscapes, this offers a specific reason to consider Brookings. The garden areas and focus on trees and shrubs give garden enthusiasts more than one aspect to consider when choosing a destination.

Hands-on agriculture for younger children

The Ag-Xploration Gallery adds another, family-oriented aspect to Brookings. It is a family-friendly space where children ages 1 to 6 can explore agriculture. Activities include milking a cow, moving grain with an auger, collecting eggs and selling produce at a farmers market. These examples make the focus concrete: children can try out different agricultural activities rather than just learning about the subject in general. For a trip with children in this age range, the Gallery is therefore a targeted attraction. The stated age range helps you assess whether it suits the youngest travelers in your group.

Art and food vendors at the Summer Arts Festival

The Brookings Summer Arts Festival offers a cultural and culinary highlight. It brings together more than 170 artists from across the country, representing 15 art forms. The festival also includes more than 40 gourmet and ethnic food vendors. The variety of art and the food offerings are two distinct reasons to take an interest in the festival. The participating artists and program may vary from one edition to another. Vendors and the number of food stands may also differ from year to year. If the festival is a deciding factor for your trip, check the details for the specific edition before planning your travel around it.

Choose your stay based on the reason for your trip

When looking for a hotel in Brookings, you can use the reason for your trip as a starting point. For botanical interests, the focus is on the formal gardens and the arboretum with its climate-adapted trees and shrubs. For a trip with children ages 1 to 6, the Ag-Xploration Gallery has a clearly defined age range and activity focus. A trip centered on the Summer Arts Festival depends more on the specific edition, since the program and participation may vary.

For the broader travel overview: Brookings.