For an unforgettable day trip, nothing compares to exploring Iowa. These destinations are hiding in plain sight and are easy to forget about. So, if you haven’t visited them put them on your list. They are definitely worth seeing.
- Bridges of Madison County
Chris Yunker/Flickr Yes, the ones from the movie. If you haven’t seen them, just go! There are six of these famous covered bridges. Stop and spend some time in Winterset, too. It’s a quaint Iowa town with lots to see.
- Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines
Grendelkhan/Wikimedia There are over 1,400 animals from all over the world at this amazing zoo. It’s open year ‘round; 10am-4pm during the fall and winter. There’s always something going on, here. On December 9th and 16th, you can see Santa at the zoo and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.
- Ice Cream Capital of the World in Le Mars
BlueBunny.com It really is the sweetest place on earth. Wells Blue Bunny has its headquarters here. It’s an Iowa company with deep roots in the northwestern part of our state. Visit the old-fashioned ice cream parlor and choose from 40 ice cream flavors.
- National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque
Dirk Hansen/Wikimedia This world-class museum and interactive center offers more than a dozen aquariums full of native species, raptor aviaries, and outdoor exhibits. See the William M. Black steamboat, touch a Craver Stingray, and experience river life in the 3D/4D Large-format Digital Theater.
- Iowa State Fair
Phil Roeder/Flickr How do you discuss things to do in Iowa without talking about this incredible festival of meat-on-a-stick? It happens each year in August and goes for 11 glorious days. For the best view of the action, be sure to ride the lift!
- Living History Farms in Urbandale
Dennis Bratland/Wikimedia Learn about Iowa’s incredibly farming culture and history while interacting with people who are living life as they would have in bygone eras. Tour at your own pace and see the real-life inner workings of farm life over a span of 300 years in this 500-acre open-air museum.
- American Gothic House in Eldon
American Gothic House Website Is there anything more iconic than the back drop to Grant Wood’s most famous painting? If you are in the area, you must take the ultimate Iowa selfie in front of this historic home.
- Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor
McGhiever/Wikimedia Iowa has some serious terrain, and at this amazing park, you can see for miles from the lookout. The trails are beautifully developed and maintained. This is one of the most photographed and beloved places in Iowa.
- Lake Okoboji
Alan Light/Flickr Part of Iowa’s Great Lake region, this giant playground will keep you busy and happy for a long, long time. Great restaurants, sport fishing, boat tours, and more await.
- Iowa State Capital Building, Des Moines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Capitol#/media/File:Capitol_building,_Des_Moines,_Iowa.jpg Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia Schedule a tour so you can climb the stairs to reach the top of the 23-karat golden dome. In 2011, the circular glass floor was installed as part of the plan to restore the building’s pre-1915 design. Tours can be scheduled Monday through Saturday in advance for a unique perspective on our state capital building.
What would you add to this list?
Chris Yunker/Flickr
Yes, the ones from the movie. If you haven’t seen them, just go! There are six of these famous covered bridges. Stop and spend some time in Winterset, too. It’s a quaint Iowa town with lots to see.
Grendelkhan/Wikimedia
There are over 1,400 animals from all over the world at this amazing zoo. It’s open year ‘round; 10am-4pm during the fall and winter. There’s always something going on, here. On December 9th and 16th, you can see Santa at the zoo and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.
BlueBunny.com
It really is the sweetest place on earth. Wells Blue Bunny has its headquarters here. It’s an Iowa company with deep roots in the northwestern part of our state. Visit the old-fashioned ice cream parlor and choose from 40 ice cream flavors.
Dirk Hansen/Wikimedia
This world-class museum and interactive center offers more than a dozen aquariums full of native species, raptor aviaries, and outdoor exhibits. See the William M. Black steamboat, touch a Craver Stingray, and experience river life in the 3D/4D Large-format Digital Theater.
Phil Roeder/Flickr
How do you discuss things to do in Iowa without talking about this incredible festival of meat-on-a-stick? It happens each year in August and goes for 11 glorious days. For the best view of the action, be sure to ride the lift!
Dennis Bratland/Wikimedia
Learn about Iowa’s incredibly farming culture and history while interacting with people who are living life as they would have in bygone eras. Tour at your own pace and see the real-life inner workings of farm life over a span of 300 years in this 500-acre open-air museum.
American Gothic House Website
Is there anything more iconic than the back drop to Grant Wood’s most famous painting? If you are in the area, you must take the ultimate Iowa selfie in front of this historic home.
McGhiever/Wikimedia
Iowa has some serious terrain, and at this amazing park, you can see for miles from the lookout. The trails are beautifully developed and maintained. This is one of the most photographed and beloved places in Iowa.
Alan Light/Flickr
Part of Iowa’s Great Lake region, this giant playground will keep you busy and happy for a long, long time. Great restaurants, sport fishing, boat tours, and more await.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Capitol#/media/File:Capitol_building,_Des_Moines,_Iowa.jpg Carol M. Highsmith/Wikimedia
Schedule a tour so you can climb the stairs to reach the top of the 23-karat golden dome. In 2011, the circular glass floor was installed as part of the plan to restore the building’s pre-1915 design. Tours can be scheduled Monday through Saturday in advance for a unique perspective on our state capital building.
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