Katy Flint

Iowa

The Mississippi River & 15 Great Stops in Bellevue

June 6, 2023July 21, 2024 — Katy Flint2 Comments

Bellevue, Iowa, is located along the Mississippi River and the Great River Road in Iowa. It’s quickly become one of our favorite weekend getaway destinations over the last couple years! Sure, the Mississippi River is a great reason to visit (along with Lock & Dam #12), but Bellevue has so much more to offer! Actually, we have 15 Great Things to Do (and places to Eat) in Bellevue for you! So, pack your bags!

Things to Do

While we love just relaxing and watching the river roll on by (along with the barges), there are many things to do in Bellevue!

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Iowa

The Top Things to Do in Franklin County

May 11, 2023May 11, 2023 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Situated in the middle of North Central Iowa is Franklin County. This rural community with a population of about 10,000 may not be your first choice of places to spend a weekend, but we think they offer some great things! Slow down and enjoy a day or weekend here. Check out what we think the top things to do in Franklin County area!

Beeds Lake State Park

Franklin County is home to one of the most photographed dams in Iowa and maybe the Midwest. Beeds Lake is not only home to this spillway, but also offers a campground, great fishing spots, hiking trails, and more! My personal favorite thing to do at the lake is to walk the trail around the lake and across the causeway! It’s a great spot to spend some time!

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Iowa

10 Things to do in Decorah, Iowa (and Surrounding Area)

March 26, 2023March 25, 2023 — Katy Flint2 Comments

The northeast area of Iowa is known as the Driftless area due to its terrain that was caused by it not being glaciated and now it offers beautiful landscape of bluffs and valleys. Nestled in the center of this area is the community of Decorah, Iowa. From the great outdoors to delicious food, breweries, and much more there are many things to do in Decorah and we’re highlighting our favorites!

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Iowa

Plan a Visit to Northwest Iowa: The Best Stops

March 17, 2023July 9, 2024 — Katy Flint2 Comments

Where do you head to experience great food, shopping, outdoor recreation, and more?! I make a plan to visit Northwest Iowa! Whether you stop in Fort Dodge, Okoboji, or Estherville (and a few in between), you’ll enjoy your adventures in this part of the state!

Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge has a lot to offer those who love the arts & the outdoors plus history!

Things to Do:

Visit the Painted Silos – People drive from hours around to view these stunning hand-painted silos, so you don’t want to miss them!
Create at Studio Fusion – Head to Studio Fusion to paint ceramics or fuse glass.
Explore The Fort Museum – Learn about the original Fort Dodge and the role it played in the Civil War along with history of Iowa and the area!
Venture out to Veterans Memorial Park & the Children’s Forest – Located north of Fort Dodge a few miles is a beautiful park dedicated to honoring the Veterans and giving kids a place to explore!

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Iowa

Lakeside Inn & 10 Great Things to Do in Clear Lake, Iowa

March 12, 2023March 12, 2023 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Clear Lake, Iowa is known for being a quintessential Iowa lake town during the summer months! But, it’s not the only time to visit Clear Lake and Lakeside Inn, which is located on the south shore of Clear Lake. It is the perfect place to stay while you explore this community regardless of what time of year you visit!

Thank you to Lakeside Inn for hosting us during our stay. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.

Lakeside Inn – A Clear Lake Staple

The Lakeside Inn was built several decades ago and instantly became known as a staple to the Clear Lake community! For the next several decades, it saw many friends & families use this great lakeside location to make memories. But, lets be real…after more that many years and visitors, it was tired. Thankfully, the newest owners of the Lakeside Inn saw the potential and decided to give it new life!

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Iowa

The Best Historic Hotels in Iowa

January 24, 2023January 19, 2023 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Through all of our travels around the Midwest, we have fall in love with staying at historic hotels. There are lots of great spots around the country, but you’ll find the best Historic Hotels in Iowa. While we are still working our way around the Midwest checking out all the great stays, we feel like we’ve found quite a few that meet our standards for historic.

Black Hawk Hotel – Cedar Falls, Iowa

The Black Hawk Hotel located on main street in Cedar Falls and has been there for over almost 160 years. It began back in 1853 as a stagecoach hotel and tavern. The hotel, important to Cedar Falls as it was a growing town as it is located just a half block from the Cedar River, which was crucial to industry at the time. It has gone through several changes, but the history is maintained. The rooms are done to keep the history and character, but provide modern amenities like TV, whirlpool baths, and more!

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Iowa

A Weekend Getaway in Mason City, Iowa: 6 Things to Do

January 16, 2023January 11, 2023 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Who wants a weekend getaway with a big-city feel, but not the big city crowds or traffic?! Well, we think a weekend in Mason City, Iowa, is just what you are wanting then. We have 6 stops that will make for a great weekend with your special someone. Check them out.

** Special thanks to Visit Mason City, Iowa for hosting us during our visit. All thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and our own. Please see the Disclosure Tab for full details.

Mason City, Iowa

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Iowa

The Best Places to Stay in Iowa for a Couples Getaway

October 18, 2022November 13, 2024 — Katy FlintLeave a comment

Looking for a romantic getaway with that special someone in your life?! We have several great places to stay in Iowa that are perfect for everyone, but especially couples. You’ll find historic hotels, cool Air BnB’s, and more here in Iowa. Pick one of these great stops and I’m sure you’ll have a great weekend.

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Iowa

Plan a Fun Filled Weekend to O’Brien County, Iowa

September 25, 2022September 26, 2022 — Katy Flint4 Comments

Great food, beautiful landscape, and sleeping in a grain bin….sounds like a great place to visit, right?! You’ll find a weekend of fun and great things to do in O’Brien County, Iowa with all of this and more! Located in Northwest Iowa this county is about 14,000 people. And those people are some of the friendlies you’ll meet. They are also offering you a weekend full of fun and great things to do! Check out all these great options to fill your weekend with.

**Thank you to Tour O’Brien County and their partners for hosting us during our visit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and true. For more information, please read the Disclosure Tab.

Fun Things to Do in O’Brien County

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Iowa

Rail Explorers in Boone, Iowa: A Fun Time

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 — Katy Flint4 Comments

We are always looking for new and fun things to try and thankfully, the Midwest is FULL of these types of things! One of the most recent and best additions to Midwest fun is Rail Explorers in Boone, Iowa! Check out why!

Boone, Iowa – Rich in Railroad History

Boone, Iowa, is a community that has a rich history in the railroad dating back to 1893. Since then there has always been a railroad in the community. There is still an active cargo rail through town but also the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum was originally constructed in 1984 using a lot of interior materials from a historic depot in Rockwell City. The first dinner train ran along the rail in 1999. Its been offering entertaining train rides ever since!

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