Touristy things to do and see in Iowa?

[The Tradition]

So, we’re here in Hawaii having a wonderful time and Mrs. Tradition (no pics) announces that she would like to visit the Midwest.

I’m like, what the hell is there to do and see in the Midwest?

School me up, HBOT….

 

[torbee]

No

🙂

 

[The Tradition]

I have heard there are some nice bridges in Iowa…

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

Depends on what you're into. I spent a few days in Des Moines earlier this summer. The Des Moines Art Center is SOLID. Many nice pieces by world renowned artist, both contemporary and classic. Greater Des Moines botanical gardens was really cool. And there was a trendy speakeasy bar near our downtown hotel.

There's a facebook group called, Iowa Road Trip that features a lot of cool spots, many off the beaten path.

 

[IIowaFarmBoy]

Snake Alley.

 

[WSC72]

I’m a life long Iowan and I cannot think of 1 great place to visit.

If you like beautiful scenery and a whole lot of nothing else try Western Nebraska.

 

[LuciousBDragon]

I have heard there are some nice bridges in Iowa…

Do you like Covered Bridges or secks w/bison bridges?

 

[joelbc1]

“Walking the fence line” at the Iowa State Fair…

Nothing says “Iowa” traditions like this..

 

[WSC72]

The Okoboji is VERY touristy I guess.

 

[bdcolt45er]

Effigy mounds are neat if you are into that sort of thing. Tooling down the river there are interesting river towns. I would argue you should go to an Iowa football game in the fall.

For a non-Iowa Midwest summer vacation I think it is hard to beat Michigan. Fishing, kayaking, boating, hiking, breweries.

 

[millah_22]

If you're going to visit the midwest aim for Chicago, KC, StL or Minneapolis. Even Omaha has things like the CWS and Henry Doorly Zoo.

Not much going on in Iowa.

 

[WSC72]

Effigy mounds are neat if you are into that sort of thing. Tooling down the river there are interesting river towns. I would argue you should go to an Iowa football game in the fall.

For a non-Iowa Midwest summer vacation I think it is hard to beat Michigan. Fishing, kayaking, boating, hiking, breweries.

Traverse City?

The Galena Territory would be a nice stop just east of Dubuque

 

[noStemsnoSTICKS]

Maquoketa Caves State Park?

 

[GOHOX69]

So, we’re here in Hawaii having a wonderful time and Mrs. Tradition (no pics) announces that she would like to visit the Midwest.

I’m like, what the hell is there to do and see in the Midwest?

School me up, HBOT….

Please stay away.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I've lived in Iowa my entire life. I have no desire to live anywhere else.

But when looking for something fun and exciting to do, I like to drive somewhere else.

 

[WSC72]

Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Deadwood area would be a nice trip

 

[hydro2.0]

Northern Minnesota is beautiful

 

[Thunderlips71]

Iowa: used to be a decent place to live, but I wouldn’t want to visit there

 

[bdcolt45er]

Traverse City?

The Galena Territory would be a nice stop just east of Dubuque

Traverse, Sagutauk, Ludington, Petosky, Mackinaw City. Basically the western coast.

 

[ButtersHawk]

Sioux City has Miles Inn. Very scenic at Uncle Dave's Pub also.

 

[WSC72]

Sioux City has Miles Inn. Very scenic at Uncle Dave's Pub also.

Never really cared for Charley Boys

 

[Fan In Black]

bring Mrs Tradition to my place and I will do things to her in Iowa

 

[tarheelbybirth]

The best breweries in Iowa??

 

[torbee]

The best breweries in Iowa??

Big Grove in Iowa City is fantastic and probably has the best outdoor beer garden in the state:

 

[Dr. Phil Seuss]

So, we’re here in Hawaii having a wonderful time and Mrs. Tradition (no pics) announces that she would like to visit the Midwest.

I’m like, what the hell is there to do and see in the Midwest?

School me up, HBOT….

The only reason one would go there is to explore what life is like there. There is not a single major tourist attraction in the state outside of the world renowned Iowa Hawkeye football program. Go for a game, Iowa city is a first rate college town and Kinnick is a great venue.

I will say though, eastern Iowas bluffs and river valleys are some of the prettier country landscapes in the Midwest. Especially northeast Iowa. You could get a feel for a good part of the state hitting Iowa city for a game in the fall and driving up the river from I-80 on the scenic routes. The trees are really beautiful when the leaves turn colors. You take that all the way up to the Minnesota border. Stop in these shitty little former industrial towns and catch a feel for the locals. Some decent state parks with pretty views in northeast Iowa. Maybe you’ll get lucky and hit a massive dear in your rental car.

Drive up through there and go to Wisconsin. Find some spots to hit. There is a lot of beautiful landscape in this area of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minn, NE Illinois. It is unlike most of the Midwest in its topography. Drive over to Chicago, spend some time there.

Good news is that you won’t spend much money in small towns. Bad news is that your accommodations are going to be horrifying. But if you want to see what the Midwest is like, center your trip around small towns

 

[tarheelbybirth]

Big Grove in Iowa City is fantastic and probably has the best outdoor beer garden in the state:

Very nice. If you ever get to Asheville NC, Sierra Nevada's brewery is a must stop for an incredible experience and beer garden...

...though Burial has the best brews IMO. Their beer "garden" isn't much to look at...

 

[Bank of Hawk]

I have heard there are some nice bridges in Iowa…

Iowa as we say it’s a great place to live but an iffy at best place to visit.

 

[wilson reborn]

Go to Iowa City. Hit the bars and restaurants. You will see many attractive women. People are very open minded and mostly liberal, you will enjoy talking to them. Then go to the Quad Cities, a classic Mississippi River metro area with some good breweries and mostly friendly people. Nice scenery. Soon they will build a buffalo bridge there, you are arriving too soon.

 

[DooBi]

Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Deadwood area would be a nice trip

It is. We are in Idaho for a wedding. We took 4 days to get here and did those three plus Devils Tower and Custer state park. It was amazing. I could have taken 2 weeks just for what we've done in 4 days. So much to see and do.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

 

[ICWestfan]

Big Grove in Iowa City is fantastic and probably has the best outdoor beer garden in the state:

Nice beer garden, but an over priced college bar. Pure garbage

 

[torbee]

Nice beer garden, but an over priced college bar. Pure garbage

Food definitely way overpriced.

But beer is excellent and in same range as any other brew pub.

Just skip the chow and enjoy the brews.

 

[ICWestfan]

So, we’re here in Hawaii having a wonderful time and Mrs. Tradition (no pics) announces that she would like to visit the Midwest.

I’m like, what the hell is there to do and see in the Midwest?

School me up, HBOT….

Come on up to Lansing, Ia where we have our summer home. Nothing like seeing colors change in the fall, and I can give you the deluxe tour, or visit in the summer. Either or, it's beautiful up here (and there are real breweries if that's your thing).

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

The best breweries in Iowa??

Toppling Goliath in beautiful Decorah has won a lot of awards. We also have Pulpit Rock which is a nice smaller brewery. Also have Pivo brewery in Calmar just 10 miles away. They have a brew cruise bus that takes you to all of them for a decent price.

For Trad, the Driftless region in NE IA where Decorah is, is as beautiful as it gets in Iowa, that’s where I would recommend if you’re into the outdoors. Lots of hiking/biking trails, good restaurants in Decorah and the aforementioned breweries. The largest Norwegian museum in the US also. Lots of cool little towns along the Mississippi river with beautiful views of the bluffs and a casino if you’re into that. SW Wisconsin, SE Minnesota as well as NW Illinois have some nice towns and scenic drives also.

 

[ICWestfan]

Food definitely way overpriced.

But beer is excellent and in same range as any other brew pub.

Just skip the chow and enjoy the brews.

I have to disagree, but only because I am fundamentally opposed to the Swift family takeover of restaurants in Iowa City. Doug is a good dude but screw the rest of them.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

It is. We are in Idaho for a wedding. We took 4 days to get here and did those three plus Devils Tower and Custer state park. It was amazing. I could have taken 2 weeks just for what we've done in 4 days. So much to see and do.

Black Hills National Forest is very close to that route and has some incredible scenery.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Take a walk on the wild side-

Ottumwa

 

[JMNSHO]

Come in early October. Bring a jacket. Fly in to MSP, rent a car. Work your way down through the Driftless Area as suggested. Go to Iowa City on game day. Probably go to Des Moines. Stop in Ames and take a dump Go see some washed-up rockers at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. Drive back to MSP.

 

[onlyTheObvious]

Amana colonies appeals to some people.
Decorah is nice
Field of Dreams

If you bike, the trail system in central Iowa is second to none.

Really Iowa has a lot of interesting stuff but you need to research it based on what you like. I notice on Ragbrai how out of state people that the sunrises over the rolling fields with the fog was beautiful. Hell we see it everyday and think nothing of it.

Iowa Football game has great atmosphere. Iowa State basketball has great atmosphere.

The towns along the Mississippi can be interesting.

The water park in Waterloo Iowa is considered one of the top 5 in the country.

 

[torbee]

Come on up to Lansing, Ia where we have our summer home. Nothing like seeing colors change in the fall, and I can give you the deluxe tour, or visit in the summer. Either or, it's beautiful up here (and there are real breweries if that's your thing).

Good trout fishing near there too.