Discover Watertown: Art, Trails and History

Watertown (Watertown) brings together a major art collection, historic sites and trails that lead to Lake Kampeska. When choosing a vacation rental, you can consider whether culture, outdoor activity or waterside pursuits should shape your stay.

Art, Trails and Lake Kampeska

The Redlin Art Center displays more than 160 original oil paintings by Terry Redlin, and admission is free. A 30-acre Conservation Park surrounds the Center. The collection and park give the site distinct facets: art inside the building and a surrounding park landscape. Watertown’s trail system offers another focus for days outdoors. It includes more than 28 miles of paved and natural-surface trails and connects residential neighborhoods, parks, schools, Lake Kampeska and major recreational areas. The trails offer opportunities for walking, running and cycling.

A scenic paved trail serves cyclists and pedestrians through many parts of Watertown and along Lake Kampeska. Together, these details paint a varied picture: the trail system includes different surfaces and connects several kinds of places, while the scenic trail emphasizes paved travel along the lake. If you enjoy spending your days on the move, you can consider these trails alongside the arts and cultural offerings when choosing where to stay.

History and Art in the City

Historic Downtown Watertown has more than 60 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Codington County Heritage Museum is also located there, in the former historic Carnegie library building. The museum presents historical exhibits and offers events and activities. Its archival collection includes maps, documents, city directories and photographs relating to the history of Codington County. The different materials offer varied ways to explore the county’s history, from maps and images to documents and directories.

The Watertown Artwalk added to this cultural scene in 2024, with a total of 16 sculptures downtown and at other locations in Watertown. The year matters: it describes the 2024 edition. When planning, you can consider the historic buildings and museum as cultural interests in their own right, and view the Artwalk as a past facet of art in public spaces.

Activities Across the Seasons

At Bramble Park Zoo, Keeper Talks and training demonstrations take place on weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day. All zoo facilities are accessible. Special group tours are available with advance booking. This seasonal schedule is a specific factor to consider when planning your dates; if you’d like to include a visit, check the dates for the activities.

Near Watertown, Sandy Shore Recreation Area offers access to kayaking, tubing, water skiing, wakeboarding and jet skiing on Lake Kampeska. Seasonal conditions and facility operations can vary. If watersports are an important part of your trip, it’s a good idea to check current conditions in advance.

Another activity option is Prairie Lakes Ice Arena: a year-round, refrigerated facility with two ice rinks, operated by the City of Watertown’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Compared with the seasonally dependent water activities, its year-round operation is a clear distinction to consider when planning your trip.

This way, you can connect your choice of destination with the experiences that appeal to you most while you’re there.

For a broader travel overview: South Dakota.