Travel Iowa Archives

Iowa

21 Places to Visit in Iowa in 2021

November 29, 2020September 1, 2021 — Katy Flint12 Comments

I can’t believe we’re already at the end of 2020, but that’s ok! We’re all ready to leave this year in our rearview mirror and move on to 2021. I’m also already planning where I want to visit, so I thought I’d share these 21 places to visit in Iowa with you, so you can make your plans too! I’ve included food, places to stay, outdoor activity, and indoor, so there is something for everyone!

1. Visit the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor

I love all things ice cream! The Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor is not only an ice cream parlor for experiencing the delicious treat, but also has an interactive experience to learn about ice cream and Blue Bunny!

2. Explore the Bridges of Madison County

Madison County is home to the iconic covered bridges which were featured in the Hollywood film “Bridges of Madison County”. Plus there is so much more to see!

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Iowa

4 “Must Do” Things in Dubuque, IA

February 3, 2020October 8, 2021 — Katy Flint4 Comments

Did you know that Dubuque, Iowa is “where Iowa started”? It’s true, back in 1785, Julien Dubuque landed here and established a colony. Ever since then it’s grown and bloomed into an important part of Iowa’s tourism and commerce systems. Whether you’re looking to spend a day or a weekend here, there is lots to do. To help you navigate it all, I’ve put together our 4 things that are the “must do’s” while visiting this river town!

1. Stay at the Hotel Julien Dubuque

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Iowa

Charles City, IA: Restaurants, Shopping, & Culture

January 13, 2019November 20, 2023 — Katy Flint16 Comments

Regardless of what season you visit Charles City, Iowa, you’ll find so much to do…from history to art, delicious eats, and more!

Charles City Restaurants

When bloggers gather, you can almost guarantee that there will be food. Lots and lots of delicious food! These Charles City restaurants didn’t disappoint either! This community offers several selections of delicious restaurants and food establishments

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Iowa

Spend the Holidays in Charles City, Iowa

December 11, 2018November 20, 2023 — Katy Flint4 Comments

If you’re looking for somewhere to get into the Christmas spirit this year, spend the holidays in Charles City, Iowa.

There’s something about Christmas in the City, or town, or small rural village! Really, there is something so special about Christmas and all that it entails! And this year, if you’re feeling less than jolly, I highly recommend spending the holidays in Charles City, Iowa.

Spending 36 hours in Charles City in December, it’s hard not to get into the holiday spirit. There are several ways to enjoy the holidays in North Central Iowa!

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Iowa

Waterhawks Ski Show

July 12, 2016April 19, 2020 — Katy Flint2 Comments

Free, family fun! How great is that combo? The Waterhawks Ski Show gives you just that! 4th of July weekend, T and I headed to Waterloo to camp again just like we did last year. I made the declaration that we were going to try something new, go somewhere new, etc. Thanks to the help of the Waterloo Convention & Visitor’s Bureau I learned about the Waterhawks Ski Show and I decided that it would satisfy my desire to “take in” something new and hopefully hold T’s interest!

Waterhawks Ski Show

So, Friday night we followed the directions from their website to their lake to see what this was all about. The Waterhawks Ski Show is free to the public to attend. You just drive in, park, and find a place to sit. You’re welcome to sit on their stands or take blankets and lawn chairs. We were there early enough (not knowing what to expect for a crowd) that we were able to back our truck up to the viewing area and set up our chairs in the back to get a perfect view! Then, we walked around and checked out the facilities and grabbed something to drink from their concession stand. While there is no charge to get into the event, make sure to grab a snack from their concession stand to help support them. You can pick from drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), candy bars, pizza, popsicles, and chips!

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Iowa

Racing for a Night of Fun at the Knoxville Raceway

September 4, 2015June 27, 2018 — Katy Flint6 Comments

T and I were lucky enough to win tickets to the Knoxville Raceway Sprint Car Nationals recently as a part of Travel Iowa‘s #HackMyHoliday contest this past winter! Thanks to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum we were gifted with 2 Clubhouse level tickets to the races Wednesday through Saturday! Honestly, we had no idea what this all involved, but T was especially excited as he’s always wanted to see the Sprint Car races.

Planning our Visit

Bob from the Hall of Fame & Museum emailed me early on to communicate with me and welcome me to the event (and when I say early, I mean in January). He gave me a run-down of how things went and graciously answered any and all questions I had…even though I’m sure he thought I was clueless at some point (which, I clearly was)! He helped point us in the direction of lodging and gave us a timeline for the events of the nights we would be attending! Unfortunately, due to lack of vacation days at work, we were unable to attend Wednesday & Thursday night, but we headed down on Friday (and had intentions of attending Saturday night, but I didn’t feel well, so we just hung in the camper)!

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