Finding the Best in Midwest Weekend Getaways
The northeast area of Iowa is known as the Driftless area due to its terrain that was caused by it not being glaciated and now it offers beautiful landscape of bluffs and valleys. Nestled in the center of this area is the community of Decorah, Iowa. From the great outdoors to delicious food, breweries, and much more there are many things to do in Decorah and we’re highlighting our favorites!
We are always looking for new and fun things to try and thankfully, the Midwest is FULL of these types of things! One of the most recent and best additions to Midwest fun is Rail Explorers in Boone, Iowa! Check out why!
Boone, Iowa, is a community that has a rich history in the railroad dating back to 1893. Since then there has always been a railroad in the community. There is still an active cargo rail through town but also the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad. The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum was originally constructed in 1984 using a lot of interior materials from a historic depot in Rockwell City. The first dinner train ran along the rail in 1999. Its been offering entertaining train rides ever since!
Covered bridges and the John Wayne Birthplace might be what Madison County, Iowa, is known best for, but the hidden secret?! They have an abundance of great wineries & breweries to enjoy! After spending a weekend in their beautiful countryside recently, we can safely say that you and your special someone need to plan a winery & brewer tour of Madison County, Iowa.
*Special thanks to the Madison County Chamber of Commerce for arranging samples, food, and accommodations for our visit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and our own. For more details, please check out the Disclosure Tab.
Madison County is located in southwest Iowa, about 30 minutes from West Des Moines and offers beautiful rolling landscape. It is a booming community, but not overpopulated, so we’re sure you’ll enjoy the opportunity to slow down, relax, and enjoy your visit. Winterset is the county seat and the hub of all activities (and very centrally located), so it’s a great place to book a room and make it your home base for your trip.
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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
Micro and local breweries are booming everywhere and Iowa is no different. In fact, there are so many of them that we’ve visited and love. So, I thought it was necessary to create the Ultimate Guide to the Best Iowa Breweries! We threw in a couple cideries too because we love them too! (They are listed alphabetically for organization!)
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.
Fall is my very favorite season. I love the warm days, crisp nights, and all things fall like pumpkins & more! I also love all things fall recipes. To me, nothing is better than when the air is cooler and you can have the windows open while baking and cooking with delicious smells wafting through the air! With my love for all things fall, it seemed only right that gather up all my favorite and best fall recipes into one place!
Honey, maple syrup, pepitas, and dried cranberries all come together with gluten-free oatmeal to make this delicious fall flavored granola! It’s homemade so you know exactly what’s in and you can customize to your liking!
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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…
“Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa”. We all know that line from “Field of Drams”, right?! But, after a visit to Dyersville, Iowa. We know it’s really true! We always enjoy finding great treasures in Iowa and love sharing about them too!
Traveling doesn’t always have to be week long vacations and with our busy lives we have come to enjoy day trips and weekend getaways. Dyersville, Iowa is perfect for both of those!
*Thank you to Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce for inviting us and hosting our visit. All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own! For more details, please see the Disclosure Tab.
Continue “5 Reasons to Visit Dyersville, Iowa”
Iowa is full of all sorts of great places to visit for a weekend or even just a day. I’ve put together a list of 15 Iowa Day Trips that should be on your “to do” list this summer!
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Traveling is different for everyone. Some people consider traveling to be out of the country for a long period of time. Others consider it within the US for a week. Of course, there are those who look for weekend trips and day trips!
Iowa day trips are a great way to see the state without having to dedicate an entire weekend or week to exploring! So, here are 15 fantastic day trips that you can enjoy with your girlfriends, spouse, significant other, or the entire family. These are no particular order!
A plethora of downtown shops, biking on the Volksweg Trail, or exploring one of the many nearby parks makes Pella great spot for an Iowa day trip! Make sure to check out the Vermeer Windmill and Pella Historical Society Museums!
