Author: Katy Flint

Iowa

15 Iowa Day Trips to Make

— Katy Flint8 Comments
15 Iowa Day Trips to Make

Iowa is full of all sorts of great places to visit for a weekend or even just a day. I’ve put together a list of 15 Iowa Day Trips that should be on your “to do” list this summer!

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Going on Iowa Day Trips


Traveling is different for everyone. Some people consider traveling to be out of the country for a long period of time. Others consider it within the US for a week. Of course, there are those who look for weekend trips and day trips!

Iowa day trips are a great way to see the state without having to dedicate an entire weekend or week to exploring! So, here are 15 fantastic day trips that you can enjoy with your girlfriends, spouse, significant other, or the entire family. These are no particular order!

Snag the Ultimate Guide to Traveling in Iowa by clicking HERE!

Pella

A plethora of downtown shops, biking on the Volksweg Trail, or exploring one of the many nearby parks makes Pella great spot for an Iowa day trip! Make sure to check out the Vermeer Windmill and Pella Historical Society Museums!

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Iowa

North Iowa Restaurants – Grab Delicious Take-Out

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north iowa restaurants

North Iowa restaurants are alive and trying to thrive right now. This area is blessed with lots of great places to grab takeout food year-round, but right now, it’s more important than ever to support them, if you’re able! So, where can you go? What places are recommended? I’ve collected this list for you based on not only my personal experiences, but also by asking my readers and friends! One note…these are all locally owned joints, which is my jam! I love supporting small businesses!

Butler County

Sleep with the Cows at New Day Dairy Guest Barn: A True Iowa Experience

Splitz Bar & Grill at Freeze Frame Bowl

Not your typical bowling alley, Splitz Bar & Grill offers a full service restaurant for carry-out right now. Grab a pizza, baskets filled with french fries and sandwiches, or even a steak dinner!

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Iowa

Small Iowa Businesses I’m Supporting Right Now…and You Can Too!

— Katy Flint6 Comments

I’ll admit that I’m a self-proclaimed supporter of small Iowa businesses all the time, but right now its even greater. We are in the middle of a pandemic that has virtually crippled small business owners. So, now I want to support those hard working business owners more than ever! So, I thought I’d share with you the Iowa businesses I’m supporting. Some of them you will be able to support regardless of where you live. Some you’ll be able to find one similar close to you, I’m confident!

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Iowa

Support Iowa Dairy Farmers: Buy Locally

— Katy Flint4 Comments

We’re in the middle of a pandemic, but our need for good milk and dairy products hasn’t ended. We’ve all seen the videos, articles, and pictures floating around the interwebs of dairy farmers having to dump out milk due to a variety of reasons. Thankfully, here in Iowa, we can support our local dairy farmers and buy quality products directly from the source! This is especially good news if you’re having problems finding milk in your grocery stores!

Benefits of Milk

Right now, the best thing you can do for yourself and for dairy farmers is to buy milk and other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, & ice cream. Yes, I am ordering you to eat more ice cream! You’re welcome! 😉 There is a large variety of reasons that milk is good for you, but some of the top ones are that milk is packed full of nutrients, its great source of quality protein, it benefits the health of your bones (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and K2), helps prevent weight gain, and it is very versatile in cooking and baking.

There are many benefits of buying locally produced milk as well! It stimulates jobs, supports local families, and stimulates the economy by putting $ back into local economy.

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Recipes

Creamy Chicken & Rice (NO SOUPS!)

— Katy Flint2 Comments
Creamy Chicken & Rice (NO SOUPS!)
chicken & rice

Creamy Chicken & Rice is always a comfort food in our house! However, not only can we not do condensed soup anymore thanks to my gluten allergy, but they also aren’t healthy. So, I was thankful that my mom reminded me of my great-aunt’s chicken and rice recipe that is so delicious, but also free of soups!  I’m happy to bring it to you two different ways!  

Planning Meals

We are constantly in the battle of planning meals. I need variety, changing options all the time. T, on the other hand, can eat the same meal each week! There are only a few things that I can work into our meal plan like that! Add in the fact that we are now accomodating a gluten allergy and our meal planning has become even more difficult.

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Uncategorized

A Trip to Nowhere: A COVID-19 Update

— Katy Flint6 Comments
A Trip to Nowhere: A COVID-19 Update

We (those of us in Iowa) are officially a full week “in” this COVID-19 mess and on a Trip to Nowhere! What is a travel blogger to do?! It’s a new and weird situation we find ourselves in. I thought I’d just share a brief update of where things are in my world and how it’s affected the Flints so far!

Life Changes

How has COVID-19 changed our lives. Well, both boys are home. M’s high school has suspended classes until mid-April. R’s college has dismissed students from campus and they are completing their spring classes online. So, our grocery bill has definitely taken a jump, but that’s ok! I love having them around more! Track for R has been cancelled and M’s season is on hold until school resumes. It certainly has freed up my schedule in April.

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Iowa

Sleep with the Cows at New Day Dairy Guest Barn: A True Iowa Experience

— Katy Flint5 Comments
New Day Dairy

I’m a true Iowa girl and I still loved sleeping with the cows at the New Day Dairy Guest Barn outside Clarksville, Iowa. 

There isn’t anything much more “Iowa” than staying on a farm and the Bolin’s, who have opened their Guest Barn (adjacent to their milking barn), have done an amazing job of letting you experience life as a dairy farmer while also providing modern and updated amenities for a fantastic stay!  

New Day Dairy Guest Barn

The Bolin’s have made it super easy to make a reservation to sleep with the cows! Their website make booking a room super easy and they also accept bookings via Airbnb. Both spots easily share all their amenities too! On their website, you can check out their several deals, specials, and add on’s to make your trip just that much better!

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Travel Adventures

A Newbies Guide to Nashville

— Katy Flint2 Comments
A Newbies Guide to Nashville

At the top of my travel list is an adventure to Nashville, TN. This is a great destination full of lots of great food, history, and adventures. So, I’m excited to partner with Hotels.com to bring you my Newbies Guide to Nashville.

Thankfully for us here in Iowa, it is now easier than ever to travel with direct flights from both Des Moines and Cedar Rapids via Allegiant airlines! So, grab your girlfriends or special someone and plan it now!

guide to nashville
Nashville, Tennessee downtown skyline and streets
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Iowa

The Best Coffee Shops in West-Central Iowa

— Katy Flint7 Comments

By Victoria Anders

As more and more coffee shops pop up in the small towns of West-Central Iowa, it’s good to know which option is worth the drive. It’s good to know which shop is better for grab-and-go coffee. I like to know where you can grab a solid lunch with your coffee or where is most comfortable for getting some work done or reading a book. Finally, I like to know which is best equipped for friend gatherings or meetings.

I always prefer to support a locally-owned caffeine source than Starbucks or Casey’s coffee, and I have tried many! My drink of choice is a latte with dairy-free milk. I rate the quality of this drink and various other elements on a “happy coffee cups” scale of 1 to 5. This rating includes the variety on the menu, non-coffee drinks and food options available, ambiance and seating availability, Wi-Fi connection, and customer service. Check out this feature on the coffee shops of West-Central Iowa

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Iowa

Hotel Grinnell: A New Meaning to “Old School”

— Katy Flint2 Comments
Hotel Grinnell: A New Meaning to “Old School”

“Old School” has a whole new meaning when it comes to the Hotel Grinnell!  Across from Central Park in Grinell, Iowa, you’ll find an old school that has been beautifully restored and renovated into a boutique hotel!  Owners Angela & Steve have painstakingly turned this historic building into a place you’ll want to come back to again and again. 

The building has not only been a school, but also a community center for 26 years.  Lucky for us (and all travelers), Steve and Angela purchased the building in 2016 and began their adventure.  Now, it’s a great stay with just over 40 rooms, which gives it cozy and intimate feeling plus lots of other amenities to make sure your stay is the best one possible!

Thank you to the Hotel Grinnell for hosting our stay with them! All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.

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