Category: Iowa

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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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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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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Iowa

Five Reasons You Need to Visit Audubon County, Iowa

— Katy Flint6 Comments
Audubon County

I’ve been to Audubon County twice in less than 365 days now and I am confident in saying that everyone needs to visit Audubon County, Iowa!  Full of great places to stay, amazing food, lots of fun things to do, and the sweetest people around!  Whether you want to head here with your girlfriends, your special someone, or the family you’re all bound to have a memorable trip and even be ready to plan your return visit.  

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Iowa

4 “Must Do” Things in Dubuque, IA

— Katy Flint4 Comments
4 “Must Do” Things in Dubuque, IA

Did you know that Dubuque, Iowa is “where Iowa started”? It’s true, back in 1785, Julien Dubuque landed here and established a colony. Ever since then it’s grown and bloomed into an important part of Iowa’s tourism and commerce systems. Whether you’re looking to spend a day or a weekend here, there is lots to do. To help you navigate it all, I’ve put together our 4 things that are the “must do’s” while visiting this river town!

1. Stay at the Hotel Julien Dubuque

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Iowa

Top 10 Midwest Trips of 2019

— Katy Flint8 Comments
Top 10 Midwest Trips of 2019
top Midwest trips

Our Midwest Trips

Wow! What a year 2019 has been! We have been on some awesome Midwest Trips! In fact, I can hardly wrap my head around all the trips we’ve taken and the awesome places we’ve visited. Of course, the year wouldn’t be complete without featuring our top 10 trips in one post!

How did I select these top Midwest trips?! It was way too hard for me to choose on my own, so I let the stats pick! These are the top read posts about the destinations we visited in 2019! I hope you enjoy them as much as we have enjoyed featuring them!

  • Note – These are not in any particular order! 😉
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Iowa

Legion Room Loft – A Boutique in Sheffield, Iowa

— Katy Flint2 Comments
Legion Room Loft – A Boutique in Sheffield, Iowa

I don’t know about you, but I love shopping in locally owned boutiques like Legion Room Loft!  I’d much rather pay a few more dollars to find unique pieces and not fight crowds at big box stores!  And what you’ll find at the brand new Legion Room Loft is definitely unique pieces at affordable prices! When I was offered a sneak peak at this new gem in Sheffield, I jumped at it!  

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Iowa

The Very Best Midwest Coffee Shops: Grab a Cup

— Katy Flint6 Comments

I LOVE a good cup of coffee. Well, I LOVE a good latte or iced coffee with a little cream and sweetener. And the Midwest coffee shops are as good as they come! Yes, there are plenty of chains, but I prefer a locally owned coffee shop. To make it easy for you to find one on your travels, I called on some of my Midwest Travel Bloggers to help me compile a list of the very best the Midwest coffee shops we have to offer. I’ve organized them by state for your ease, so without further adieu…

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