Finding the Best in Midwest Weekend Getaways
Things to Do Charles City, Iowa offers so many great things to do! It is a great destination for a day trip or weekend getaway! Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities, great eats, shopping, historical stops, or more, you’ll find
Outdoor fun, historic stops, locally owned shops, a brewery, and more makes Charles City, Iowa, a great destination for a day date! We love weekend getaways and vacations as much as the next couple, but sometimes life happens and those kinds of trips just aren’t possible, which means its time to plan a day date. Thankfully, Charles City, Iowa, is a great place to have a day date full of activity with your special someone. And, lucky for you, we have just the itinerary for you!
Thank you to Charles City Chamber of Commerce for hosting our day date in Charles City. All thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For full details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Situated in the middle of North Central Iowa is Franklin County. This rural community with a population of about 10,000 may not be your first choice of places to spend a weekend, but we think they offer some great things! Slow down and enjoy a day or weekend here. Check out what we think the top things to do in Franklin County area!
Franklin County is home to one of the most photographed dams in Iowa and maybe the Midwest. Beeds Lake is not only home to this spillway, but also offers a campground, great fishing spots, hiking trails, and more! My personal favorite thing to do at the lake is to walk the trail around the lake and across the causeway! It’s a great spot to spend some time!
Continue “The Top Things to Do in Franklin County”
Clear Lake, Iowa is known for being a quintessential Iowa lake town during the summer months! But, it’s not the only time to visit Clear Lake and Lakeside Inn, which is located on the south shore of Clear Lake. It is the perfect place to stay while you explore this community regardless of what time of year you visit!
Thank you to Lakeside Inn for hosting us during our stay. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
The Lakeside Inn was built several decades ago and instantly became known as a staple to the Clear Lake community! For the next several decades, it saw many friends & families use this great lakeside location to make memories. But, lets be real…after more that many years and visitors, it was tired. Thankfully, the newest owners of the Lakeside Inn saw the potential and decided to give it new life!
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Who wants a weekend getaway with a big-city feel, but not the big city crowds or traffic?! Well, we think a weekend in Mason City, Iowa, is just what you are wanting then. We have 6 stops that will make for a great weekend with your special someone. Check them out.
** Special thanks to Visit Mason City, Iowa for hosting us during our visit. All thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and our own. Please see the Disclosure Tab for full details.
We all know those communities that we’re familiar with, but never spend time being a tourist in! Thankfully, after a weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa, we’ve changed that!
I’ve spent my entire life traveling the one hour from our home area to Cedar Falls for shopping purposes, but never spent any time exploring the rest of the community. So, recently, when our friends at Cedar Falls Tourism invited us to spend a weekend exploring, we jumped at the opportunity! And what we found was a pure delight!
Thank you to Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitor’s Bureau and the Black Hawk Hotel for hosting us during our stay. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For full details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Getting to Cedar Falls is very easy thanks to its location along Highways 20 and 218. If driving isn’t for you, then you’ll find the Waterloo Regional Airport super handy!
If you’re traveling by car….
Des Moines, Iowa – 1 hour, 54 minute drive time
Minneapolis, Minnesota – 3 hours, 8 minute drive time
Chicago, Illinois – 4 hours, 24 minute drive time
Kansas City, Missouri – 4 hours, 35 minute drive time
We are all about staycations, especially in the winter because you never know what the weather is going to do here in the Midwest!! Thankfully, Iowa is full of great staycation destinations including the Highlander Hotel in Iowa City. And with it’s modern funky vibe, it’s extra special!
A special thanks to the Highlander Hotel for hosting us on our staycation. All thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and my own! For full details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Continue “Book a Funky Staycation at the Highlander Hotel in Iowa City, IA”
Road trips are one of our favorite things and road trips along scenic drive make them even better! So, of course we know some of the Best Places along the Mississippi River to stop at! You can imagine how much we love traveling along the Great River Road which traverses Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and more along the Mississippi River! Check out these stops for an epic road trip!
This unassuming cidery is a great place to spend some time! Get to know the owners, learn their story, and taste their ciders & wines. Plus, stroll through their gift shop and we’re sure you’ll find some extra special treats.
We’ve been visiting Fort Dodge, Iowa for a couple years now and we know how many great places there are to explore, so we thought it was only right to put together a Passport for you to follow to make the most out of your visit! There are so many things to do in Fort Dodge that we challenge you to check off each stop on the passport! Make sure to snag the FREE download at the end of the post to make the most of your trip!
We’d like to thank Fort Dodge Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Brookstone Inn & Suites, and Community Orchard who hosted portions of our trip to Fort Dodge. Regardless, all thoughts & opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Looking for great fun, year round? Studio Fusion is the place to stop! Paint your pottery, fuse glass into different creations, or attend one of their painting classes! It’s a great way to spend a couple hours and the staff and owner are super helpful!
No matter time the year that you visit Fort Dodge, a stop by the Painted Silos is a must. Painted by Guido Van Helten, this mural is larger than life and the detail is unreal! Pictures don’t even really do it justice. Take time to walk around and examine the entire thing. Take it in close and from further away!
Osage, Iowa, is a town around 3,500 people located in northeast Iowa. It may not be the place that you would typically seek out for your weekend getaway. But, I guarantee that there is plenty of things to do in Osage, Iowa, that will make your travels worth it!
A huge thank you to the Osage Chamber of Commerce for hosting our visit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For more details, please check out the Disclosure Policy tab!
As previously mentioned, Osage is located in northeast Iowa and is situated along 2 state highways making it easily accessible. It’s also relatively close to a couple regional airports. This means you can fly in and road trip there and back, enjoying the Iowa countryside!
If you’re traveling by car…
