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.
Fantastic Lodging Options for Your Visit to Audubon
Thank you to Audubon Economic Development & Tourism for covering our stay at the Blue Grass Inn & Suites. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own! For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Audubon County, located in Western Iowa, has several lodging options! Located on the edge of Audubon you’ll find the Blue Grass Inn & Suites. This hotel recently opened and is a fantastic option for your stay. Each room is tastefully decorated with great finishes! This is the first hotel I’ve stayed in that had wood laminate floors. And while it took a little getting used to, I loved knowing they were squeaky clean!
The Blue Grass Inn has done a great job selecting toiletries as well as unique features like their touch light mirrors! These special touches really make this hotel stand out! Add to that a beautiful pool room with stunning pool/patio furniture and you have a complete stay!
Looking for a place to stay with the family? Everyone will be happy at the Blue Grass Inn & Suites! If you’re looking for a hotel with a slightly romantic feeling, it’s the perfect place to stay as well!
If you prefer a bed and breakfast type stay, we recommend checking out Taylor Hill Lodge in Northern Audubon County! This converted barn is a great place for a family reunion, a girls weekend, or a stay with your sweetie!
Great Eats
When you’re hungry, there are a lot of options in Audubon County!
Breakfast is always a good option at The Broadway 312 in downtown Audubon! From donuts to muffins, breakfast burritos and sandwiches plus a delicious coffee drink it’s the best way to start your day!
Darrell’s Place
Thank you to Darrell’s for our delicious lunch! All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own!
Don’t be scared away from Darrell’s Place in Hamlin from outside appearances. Inside, you’ll find the best kind of hometown establishment! This is a stop you need to make during your visit to Audubon County.
In 2003, Darrell’s won the Iowa’s Best Tenderloin award and things have grown from there! During our visit, T decided to give this tenderloin a try along with a cup of their Wisconsin Cheese Soup! This thick cut, battered, and fried golden brown tenderloin comes on a bun with your choice of lettuce, tomato, onion, & mayo! It’s a hearty option, but isn’t overwhelming! While it was good, T really raved about the soup!
I opted for their grilled chicken and added their salad bar! Darrell’s has a great salad bar! Two options of lettuce, several toppings and dressings, along with cottage cheese, fruit, along with a variety of sweet and savory salads…I could have made a meal out of the salad bar alone!
The service at Darrell’s just added to the experience with their friendly waitress and owner! You can definitely feel the warm, hometown vibe inside Darrell’s. Oh, and if serving up one of the best tenderloins in the state isn’t enough….Darrell’s takes their business on the road in July and serves breakfast at all host cities during RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). So, if you can’t make it to Hamlin, catch them on one of those stops!
The Feed Mill Restaurant
Located on the same site as the Blue Grass Inn, you’ll find the Feed Mill Restaurant! This modern farmhouse chic decorated restaurant offers a variety of options for everyone! Burgers, Sandwiches, Steaks, Pasta, and more mean everyone will find something they like!
I’ve already praised the salad bar at Darrell’s, but I have to praise the salad bar at the Feed Mill as well! I love being able to start my meal with a delicious salad and you are definitely able to do that with the salad bar here! Lots of topping options, a variety of pasta salads, and a soup of the day will get your meal off to the right start!
Friday and Saturday nights are Prime Rib nights at the Feed Mill. T finished his prime rib and said it was cooked very well! I loved my hashbrowns! And our server did a fantastic job! The Feed Mill is a great place to grab a hearty Iowa dinner!
More Dining Options
We’re not done with dining options for your visit to Audubon County! El Adobe Mexican Restaurant not only offers amazing Mexican food, but also top notch margaritas and pasta! I’ve had some of the best pasta of my life here! Looking for a casual setting for your meal? The Bull Pen Restaurant inside the Audubon Rec Center offers sandwiches, pizza, and a large variety of appetizers!
Lots of Things to do in Audubon County
You will not be bored during your visit to Audubon County! There are plenty of options for things to do!
Littlefield Recreation Area
Located outside Exira in Audubon County, you’ll find Littlefield Recreation Area. This county park offers camping, fishing, a beach for swimming, a playground and more! Plus, the Audubon County Conservation offers lots of different workshops (Youth Fishing Clinic on Father’s Day weekend) and other activities! We were lucky enough to partake in their Ice Fishing Clinic during our visit. The conservation guys provided ice fishing rods and bait, had holes drilled in the ice, and educated the kiddos on safety of ice fishing and some other facts about fishing!
During the summer, on Saturday’s, you can use their kayaks and paddle boards for free! They are also finishing up a 9-Hole disc golf course that will be ready this summer. Littlefield also offers several miles of hiking trails that lead through the prairie, timber, and wetland areas so you can spy all sorts of wildlife. Finally, you and your family can enjoy one of their 110 campsites (many with full hook-ups) during the summer months!
Little Mermaid & Sculpture Garden
Located in Kimballton, you’ll find the Little Mermaid & Sculpture Garden. This replica of the Little Mermaid sculpture located in Denmark is a fun stop! Walk through the sculpture garden which has features for all the stories written by Hans Christian Andersen. In addition, you’ll find the Audubon County Freedom Rock and a great playground for the kids!
Love the Freedom Rocks? Check out Worth County’s by clicking HERE and Webster County’s by clicking HERE
Audubon Recreation Center
Located on the outskirts of Audubon, you’ll find their Recreation Center! This non-profit center was the brainchild of a group of residents, who spent 10 years planning and fundraising. Now, this facility is open to the public by membership or day pass! Complete with a basketball court (half court), batting cages, walking course, & tennis/racquetball court, you can burn off some energy here!
In addition to the physical movement aspects, you’ll find the Bull Pen Bowling Alley & Restaurant! This 8 lane bowling alley, complete with arcade, children’s soft play area, and restaurant is the best place to spend some time! Top it off with special classes and events for a complete experience! We were lucky enough to partake in their trivia night and had such a great time!
Other Things to Do in Audubon County
If this isn’t enough for you, check out Albert the Bull, Nathaniel Hamlin Home & Museum, the restored Rose Theater, and the John James Audubon Plaza! Whether you’re looking for something indoors or outdoors, you’ll find it in Audubon County!
Plenty of Shopping Options
It’s $5 – A Bargain Hunter’s Dream
There a lot of shopping options to enjoy during your visit to Audubon County! One of the most unique shopping spots is “It’s $5”. This stop is a bargain hunters dream! Filling the store, you’ll find lots of brand new items that have been purchased in bulk from other retailers. They are brought to “It’s $5” and separated into category bins. Then, the bargain hunting adventure begins!
Any item you find, you get to snag for no more than $5. These items range from food items to brand new clothing. Each Saturday and Sunday the store is refreshed with new items and throughout the week, the deals get even better until all items are 10 for $5! During our visit, we were able to snag a brand new wireless keyboard for my laptop, several gluten-free food items (I have a gluten allergy), and several other household gadgets. It was fun to explore the bins and see what kind of treasures you could find!
Other Shopping Options
Audubon has several different shopping options downtown. You’ll find home decor at the brand new Rustic Touch; gift, home decor, and apparel at both Present Company & Molly’s. Divine Salon not only is a great place to get a manicure during your visit, but she also offers unique gift items! Spending your money in Audubon is easy with these awesome shops!
Surrounding Attractions
As if Audubon County didn’t offer enough things to do, there are surrounded by other great options!
Templeton Rye Distillery
Located just North of Audubon County, you’ll find the small town of Templeton and the Templeton Rye Whiskey Distillery. This Iowa legend whiskey distillery offers tours, tastings, and an amazing museum. We loved walking through the museum and reading all the stories of the bootleggers and their secrets from back in the day! Touring the distillery gives you an inside look at how the whiskey is made!
Elk Horn & the Danish Windmill
Located about 20 minutes from the town of Audubon, you’ll find Elk Horn and the Danish Windmill! This historic (and working) windmill is the root of the Danish heritage that this town is so proud of! I recommend a visit to the windmill as well as the Danish Heritage Museum, and their unique shops!
6 Danish Treasures (and more) in Elk Horn, IA
Travel Time
If you’re traveling to Audubon by car…
- Des Moines, IA – 1 hour, 15 minutes drive time
- Minneapolis, MN – 4 hours, 30 minutes drive time
- Kansas City, MO – 3 hours, 15 minutes drive time
- Chicago, IL – 6 hours, 15 minutes drive time
If you want to travel to Audubon via plane, fly into Des Moines International Airport, rent a car, and make the 1 hour, 15 minute drive.
Plan Your Visit to Audubon County, Iowa
When you’re looking for a destination to go with lots to do, great food to eat, and options for shopping, plan a trip to Audubon County! With all they have to offer, you’ll experience big city amenities but enjoy the calm and quiet (plus the oh so friendly people) of a small Iowa town! It’s a great place to make your homebase while visiting all of Western Iowa! Make sure to tell them that the Flints sent ya!
PIN it for Later
Those cheese curds look amazing!!
I heard rave reviews from those around me!!!
Sounds like a fun place…and those cheese curds look delicious!
It really is! It’s the epitome of a cool small town/community!!
Oh, I love finding a good deal! What a neat town in Iowa. 🙂
There were definitely some good deals there! It’s such a great community!!!