Women today are busier than ever and are in need for a getaway! Shopping, architecture, good food, and nature are the perfect reasons to plan a visit to Estherville, IA! No girls day is complete without each of these things, so you’re bound to have a perfect day!
Thank you to the Estherville Chamber of Commerce for hosting our visit. All thoughts & opinions are 100% truthful, authentic, and my own. Please see the Disclosure Tab for more information!
Estherville, Iowa
Estherville, Iowa, is located in northwestern Iowa with a population of a little over 6,000 people. This means it has several amenities to offer not only it’s residents, but also it’s visitors! Lucky for you, it means you can have a great visit there!
Travel Time
If you are traveling to Estherville by car….
- Des Moines, IA – 3 hour drive time
- Minneapolis, MN – 2 hours, 45 minutes drive time
- Kansas City, MO – 5 hours, 30 minutes drive time
- Chicago, IL – 7 hours, 10 minutes drive time
If you want to fly, use Air Choice One and fly into Mason City Regional Airport and then rent a car and drive 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Plan Your Girls Trip
There are several great reasons to plan a visit to Estherville, IA for your girls trip!
Great Shopping
No girls trip is complete without shopping and Estherville offers some of the very best! Their town square is surrounded by shops, offices, and more, which makes it a great place to start your girls day!
Furniture shop, Sievert’s, not only offers furniture, but home decor! Brey’s on 7th offers gifts, coffee, Iowa wines, and more. We managed to pick up quite a few items during our visit! The Style Loft is a great place to find casual and work appropriate clothes! It’s spacious and has several fitting rooms, so you and your friends can enjoy trying on clothes together! We had a great time perusing the racks, digging through the sales, and picking out a few items to take home! Heartland Co-op is a great spot where multiple vendors can sell their goods. From clothing to homemade crafts, purses and bags, to pet supplies and baby gifts, you’ll find a little bit of everything here!
Architecture
While you’re enjoying your time walking around the square, make sure to take in the old buildings that have been very well maintained. Then, head inside the Estherville Public Library, which is a beautiful Carnegie library! It was built in 1903 and has beautiful windows, wood work, and a great collection! We enjoyed browsing and admiring the beauty.
Nature
Nature should be the next reason to visit Estherville with your girlfriends. Yes, we all love food and shopping, but head outdoors to enjoy the beautiful scenery and time with your best pals.
Walking Trail & Parks
Beginning at Mickelson Park (West 1st Street South), you’ll find their Walking/Bike Path that runs along the Des Moines River. It traverses North for about a couple miles. This concrete path is extra wide which means you can walk alongside your friends!
Mickelson Park is home to the Estherville Rock Garden, which is a beautifully landscaped garden that has been a part of the Estherville community since the 1930’s. It is a place where you can walk, sit, and be quiet for just a moment. It also has picnic tables, playground equipment, and their swimming pool!
As you walk North, you’ll find several other small parks with lots of offerings! Of course, the most interesting and fun part of the path is the Estherville Swinging Bridge. It was built in 1937 by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) workers as part of the “New Deal” program. It was then updated in 2011 by the city and I love that it is still a part of their community! Walking across this true swinging bridge is a must when visiting!
Fort Defiance State Park
Located just southwest of Estherville a couple miles is Fort Defiance State Park! Here you’ll find extensive hiking trails, shelters, a lodge, campground, and restrooms. Fort Defiance was opened to the public in 1930 and was built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression. It is named after the former Fort Defiance which was built in town to protect a grist and saw mill during the Dakota War of 1862.
Now, the state park offers 191 acres for people to explore! At the center, you’ll find their beautiful lodge constructed to resemble an army outpost lodge. Take time to go for a hike with your friends. It’s a beautiful park, but extra gorgeous in the fall as the leaves change! If you enjoy hiking, this is the state park for you!
Good Food
No visit to Estherville is complete without enjoying the delicious food they offer!
Central Perk
As soon as you get to town, swing by Central Perk to grab a coffee to enjoy while you shop! Then, make sure to head back for lunch! Their extensive lunch menu has over 10 kinds of sandwiches, salads, both hot and cold options, and more!
The Pick 2 Option was my choice and I’m so glad I did because then I got to try more than one item! I selected their Berry Salad (romaine, spinach, strawberries, blueberries, feta cheese, and poppyseed dressing) along with a half of their Turkey, Apple, Cheddar sandwich! This sandwich was hand carved turkey, fuji apple, white cheddar cheese, romaine, and mayo! I was so excited to find out that they also offer gluten free bread! WIN! Both were delicious and fresh!
If you think you’re going to need a sweet treat later, grab a cookie, sweet roll, or bar before you leave! Or, make plans to come back to grab some creamy ice cream! Keep in mind that they do close at 2PM so if you want to come back after your walk, plan ahead!
Woody’s Pizza
For supper, recommendations will have you heading to Woody’s Pizza! While we were unable to try it, we’ve heard nothing but rave reviews. Here you’ll find a large variety of appetizers, dinners, sandwiches, and of course mouthwatering pizza! Create your own pie with toppings of your choice or choose one of their specialities!
More Estherville Goodness
In case these stops aren’t reason enough to plan your girls day visit to Estherville, here are some more!
Estherville offers golf, roller skating, a drive-in theatre, museums, and more!
If you’re looking to stay overnight, you can book rooms at the Super 8 or Estherville Hotel & Suites, but we recommend heading west into the country to Little Swan Lake Winery and Bed & Breakfast! They offer 3 rooms along with wine tasting, special events, and more! Even if you don’t want to spend the night, making the trip to wine taste and enjoy a glass with your girlfriends before heading out of town is a MUST!
Plan Your Visit to Estherville
There’s no time like the present to start planning your girls trip to Estherville! Check out the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce’s website to aid in your planning! This community will welcome you to town not only with the great options for shopping, food, and more but also with the friendliest of people. What more can you ask for when planning a girls day?!
The swimming pool has been closed for 3 years. No pool in this town.
I hear a new pool is planned and will open in a couple years! That’s very exciting!
That looks like an awesome day!
It definitely was!!!
This town looks delightful! I love the idea of going for a hike and then returning to wood fired pizza. Fun! Thanks for sharing!
It was a great day! A small community with so much to offer!
Looks like the town has everything a girl needs for a fun visit!
It really does! It’s a great day!