Category: Travel Adventures

Iowa

Great Eats: the Best Iowa Restaurants

— Katy Flint8 Comments
Great Eats: the Best Iowa Restaurants

Iowa, the land of corn, pigs, and nothing else right?!  I love living in Iowa and the great restaurants are just the tip of the iceberg!  Four different season, Iowa-nice people, and wide open spaces are just of my favorite things about living in Iowa.  A lot of people think you have to travel to a big city, or even out of state, to experience really good eats.  However, this just isn’t true!  There are so many great places to grab a bite to eat in Iowa we’ve combined them into the Best Iowa Restaurants! I’ve even broke it up based on region!  You’ll find Eastern, Central, & Western regions!

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Iowa

Plan a Visit to Northwest Iowa: The Best Stops

— Katy Flint2 Comments
Plan a Visit to Northwest Iowa: The Best Stops

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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Travel Adventures

Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

— Katy Flint6 Comments
Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

Planning a family vacation can be overwhelming, scary, and expensive without proper planning. We’ve planned our fair share of vacations, so we thought it would help if we shared some tips for planning a family vacation that we follow! Don’t forget to grab the FREE downloadable guide at the end to help you in your planning!

1. Pick the Destination

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Day Trips

The Best Wineries, Breweries, & Cideries in the Midwest

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The Best Wineries, Breweries, & Cideries in the Midwest

I think it’s safe to say that microbreweries and wineries are gaining more popularity. Thankfully, we have some of the best wineries, breweries, and cideries in the Midwest! No need to travel to the metropolitan areas. From Minnesota to Wisconsin, & Iowa we are full of great places to grab a drink, enjoy a brew or wine, and relax! Check them out!

breweries wineries cideries in the Midwest
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Day Trips

Food Tour of the Iowa State Fair

— Katy Flint12 Comments
Food Tour of the Iowa State Fair

Everyone has their own reasons for visiting the Iowa State Fair! For some its the livestock, for others its the grandstand shows, but for me, it is definitely, the Iowa State Fair FOOD!

Visiting the Iowa State Fair

It’s a tradition for T and I to attend the Iowa State Fair at least one day each year! It’s our date day or weekend and something we look forward to sharing with each other!  We often do the same things at the fair…see the same things, and even eat the same fair foods, our favorites of course  We’re creatures of habit and honestly ok with that!

The Varied Industries Building, Pioneer Hall, and the Shoppers Mart underneath the Grandstand are always a must for us.  We also enjoy watching the FFA Parade of Champions and the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.  

But, really…the Iowa State Fair is all about the food, right?!  So, what do we eat?  Well, it’s usually a lot of the classics, but I also try to taste one new item each year.  It’s usually new to me, but not necessarily the fair.  So, what do we love?!

Grab our Tips for Visiting the Iowa State Fair!

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Midwest Travel

Austin, MN – Not Just SPAM: 9 Reasons to Visit

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Austin, MN – Not Just SPAM: 9 Reasons to Visit

I don’t know about you, but when I hear of Austin, Minnesota, I can’t help but think of SPAM! It makes complete sense since Austin is the home to Hormel, the maker of SPAM. But, after a recent weekend getaway in Austin, we know that there are so many more reasons to visit Austin. In fact, there are 9 reasons to visit Austin, MN. Whether you love spending time outdoors, history, or art, Austin offers it all! Time to plan a trip to visit Austin, Minnesota.

Thank you to Discover Austin, MN for hosting our visit to Austin! All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For full details, please see the disclosure tab.

Hormel Historic Home

Hormel Historic Home
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Day Trips

Plan a Visit to West Central Iowa: 3 Day Itinerary

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Plan a Visit to West Central Iowa: 3 Day Itinerary

I’ve fallen in love with West Central Iowa! It holds some of the very best gems in Iowa. From wineries, rich Danish culture, good eats, and more you’ll be ready to plan a visit to West Central Iowa! And with this 3 day itinerary, it’s easier than ever! Ready to pack and get going? (Make sure to download the checklist at the end!)

Day 1: Elk Horn

On Day 1, start your visit to West Central Iowa in Elk Horn. This Danish community has so much to offer! Of course, the focus and center point of this community is their authentic and historic Windmill, but that is just the beginning!

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Day Trips

The Best Day Trips & Weekend Getaways in Southeast Iowa

— Katy Flint2 Comments
The Best Day Trips & Weekend Getaways in Southeast Iowa

The Midwest is full of lots of great day trips & weekend getaways. Iowa alone has a plethora of them! Southeast Iowa is no exception to this rule! Whether you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, we have something for you! Wineries, breweries, museums, good food, and more! Check them out!

*Note – For the purposes of this post, Southeast Iowa is considered anything South of Highway 20 and East of I-35!

getaways in Southeast Iowa
Goldie’s in Prairie City
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Girl's Trips

A Stay at The Black Hawk Hotel – an Escape in Cedar Falls, Iowa

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A Stay at The Black Hawk Hotel – an Escape in Cedar Falls, Iowa

Historic hotels have become our favorite stays and a night at the Black Hawk Hotel in Cedar Falls, Iowa, recently was no exception.

We were given a gift certificate for Christmas to the Black Hawk Hotel and I couldn’t wait to use it as this has been on my “must-visit” list for awhile now! We decided to use it on a Friday night for a quick getaway before T started spring fieldwork. The gift certificate we were given was part of a holiday promotion in which we were able to get the best available room, 2 free drinks from the bar, and an early check-in and early check-out time! (Watch their social media channels for different promotions!) Lucky for us, the best available room was a queen spa suite. WIN!

This post contains affiliate links for your ease! More details can be found on the Disclosure page.

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Girl's Trips

The Best Weekend Getaways in the Midwest

— Katy Flint2 Comments
The Best Weekend Getaways in the Midwest

Ready to travel? We’ve gathered up this list of the very best in Midwest Weekend Getaways to help make your planning easier! You’ll find them grouped by state, but I’ve also noted which ones are the best for families, couples, girlfriends getaway, and more! I hope you’re excited to get exploring!

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