DON'T LAUGH.......Considering a vacation to Iowa! (eat, summer)

[czote]

Yes, Decorah, IA. is definitely worth the drive. From there over to Lansing, IA. the raptor watching is spectacular. There are numerous artists and galleries to discover along bluff country highways, not to mention the fall colors. The eastern part of the state is unglaciated so the topography varies greatly from the flat expanses in the mid to western area of the state. Come visit.

[tessamax]

I would suggest going the last full weekend of July and going to the Backbone bluegrass festival in Stawberry point Iowa. Awesome music outdoors, great people, in a beautiful area. Backbone State park is very pretty. It is near enough many other areas of interest, such as the Mississippi River, Effigy Mounds Indian burial ground, Cedar Rapids and the Amana Colonies, Cedar Falls/ Waterloo where there is a great shop called the Calico Hen, and many other places of interest.
The bluegrass fest is one of a kind. www.backbonebluegrass.com

If time permits go through Mt. Horeb Wisconsin to the Mustard Museum. You may never see another one.
HAVE FUN

[CantWait2Leave]

My husband's family lives in northern Iowa and I just love this state. It's very pretty and the town they live in (Clear Lake) is really lovely. I think it's a much under appreciated state. We are flying to IA in 3 weeks for his grandmother's wedding!

[IowaCowgirl]

You would love the old Schoolhouse: Country School Retreat - Home

[Fearringtonflash]

Originally Posted by odessa3

I do only have 12 states to go toward my goal. Thank you all, for your ideas so far. And I'm sorry if I offended anyone with the title of this thread. People have asked me, WHY would you want to go to Iowa? (To most people, "vacation" means a beach, a cruise, etc.). I'd like to see what "undiscovered" and lesser-known areas for travelers have to offer. In the area where I live, I am guilty of thinking "Why would anyone want to come HERE?" But everywhere has something of value worth seeing.

Don't miss McGregor, Pikes Peak (the one in IA, not Colo), Effigy Mounds and Dubuque (take the cable car up the hill). On the west side of the state, be sure to visit Sioux City (Floyd's Monument, Lewis & Clark visitor center, Green Gables) and Larchwood, birthplace of Roger Blauwet.

[kander63]

I grew up in Illinois, and while we tend to joke about Iowa, there is a lot more there than people tend to think. It's not all cornfields, and it's not all flat. I spent a year working at Maytag in Newton, Iowa, and while I wouldn't want to spend my life there, I grew rather fond of the area.

If you happen to be there next May 6-8th, consider the tulip festival in Pella. It's a bit hokey but in a very charming way, and the town is very pleasant - the town was settled mostly by Dutch immigrants and there is still strong sense of Dutch heritage.

Iowa City is a great college town, and if you are a book lover, you have to stop at the Prairie Lights bookstore.

As many people mentioned, NE Iowa along the river is quite scenic.

While Des Moines is not going to overtake NYC, London or Paris as a world city any time soon, it would be worth spending a day or two exploring.

I hope that my attitude does not come off as being condescending because it is not meant too. I hate when people dismiss the Midwest as being "flyover" territory. There is much more to see and do there than people realize, and if the landscape is less dramatic than the West, it has a quiet beauty of its own that is there for people who can slow down enough to appreciate it.

Plus, while I think the term "heartland" is overused and has become a cliche, if there is such a thing as the "heartland", Iowa would be it.

Have a great trip!

[kek1993]

There is a lot of good barbeque restuarants there. Road Foodies love Iowa.http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurants/...Name&ps=1&s=IA

Eat Pork

[kander63]

Another quintessential Iowa dish is a loose-meat sandwich from Maid-Rite. It's kind of like a Sloppy Joe without the sloppy aspect.

[angela15517]

LMAO! Good luck HIKING in Iowa, this is probably the flatest land around! It is mostly corn/soy bean fields as far as the eye can see! But it does have those beautiful covered bridges, and the Science Center in Des Moines is pretty neat. Also, if youre into it, they have really cool old houses and barns. Go to Marshalltown! The very first Maid-Rite is there, amazing loose meat sandwiches, and delicious shakes! Have fun!

[El Rhino]

Ledges State Park near Boone is good for hiking - it doesn't really look like Iowa.