The Best Coffee Shops in West-Central Iowa

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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Hotel Grinnell: A New Meaning to “Old School”

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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Five Reasons You Need to Visit Audubon County, Iowa

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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Unique Midwest Hotels, Lodges, and Bed & Breakfasts

Unique Midwest Hotels, Lodges, and Bed & Breakfasts

While many people consider the Midwest to be fly-over country, the Midwest Travel Bloggers can prove you differently. Midwest hotels, lodges, and bed and breakfasts are some of the most unique in the country. Several bloggers have joined me to put the best of the most unique into one post for your reference! Enjoy reading about these stays that have been organized by state for your convenience.

Turn your stay at a unique hotel by making it a Weekend Getaway in the Midwest! Snag our guide HERE!

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Top 10 Midwest Trips of 2019

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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My Favorite Midwest Eats

My Favorite Midwest Eats

We get the privilege of traveling to some pretty neat places! I’ve also gotten to eat a lot of great food, so I thought I’d put together my Favorite Midwest Eats. 

When we’re traveling, food can make or break the trip for anyone, but this is especially true for me! I LOVE food!  I LOVE to eat and I love to try new foods and meals!  In the last several years, we’ve come across many great eats while traveling! I decided to put them all into one easy post for you to review and then hopefully include in your next roadtrip!

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Legion Room Loft – A Boutique in Sheffield, Iowa

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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The Very Best Midwest Coffee Shops: Grab a Cup

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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6 Danish Treasures (and more) in Elk Horn, Iowa

Many thanks to the Danish Windmill who organized my stay, meals , and adventures while I was in Elk Horn.  All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own.  Please see the Disclosure Tab for more information.   

I’ve lived in Iowa my whole life and had heard of Elk Horn, Iowa, but had no idea when I headed there for a recent visit that I would essentially become Danish for a few days. Ok, that might be a bit extreme, but for this German girl it was fascinating to learn about the Danes, their culture, and traditions. Whether you are a Dane, want to learn about the Danish, or just enjoy visiting and exploring small midwest towns, a stop in Elk Horn, Iowa is a must for your next trip!  

If I told you that you could fill 2+ full days visiting a town of 650 people would you believe me?  Yeah, I didn’t think so, but I’m here to prove you wrong!  Check out my adventures in this amazing community! 

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Enjoy a Visit to Tequila’s in Northwood, IA

On ony day of the week, T and I will never say no to Mexican food. So, when I had heard that Tequila’s in Northwood, Iowa was some of the best ethnic food around, I knew we had to visit! So, off we went and it was definitely worth the 50 minute drive from our home to Northwood!

Northwood, Iowa is a community of about 2000 people in North Iowa just 21 miles north of Mason City! This thriving community is home to Diamond Jo’s Casino, Worth Brewing Company, Signature’s Supper Club, a growing downtown business, and of course Tequila’s! It’s a great place to visit for a couple of hours!

Photo Credit to Donna of www.donnahup.com
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