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Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Iowa! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Iowa. Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I do not make any profit from this website, and you will see no ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.  OVERVIEWTOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN IOWA✮ See the six covered bridges of Madison County ✮ Cycle the High Trestle Trail, a fantastic 25-mile paved rail trail with a series of diamond-shaped steel structures to ride through ✮ Marvel at the art sculptures found at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines ✮ Stop at the world's largest truck stop on I-80 in Walcott ✮ Walk among 200 prehistoric Native American mounds in Effigy Mounds National Monument ✮ Step on the famous baseball field shown in the Field of Dreams ✮ Go deep into a cave and see a natural bridge at Maquoketa Caves State Park ✮ See more than 200 motorcycles on display at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa ✮ Score great views of the Mississippi River from Pikes Peak State Park ✮ Visit the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, believed to be the largest grotto in the world If I could select only one place to visit in Iowa, I would select one of Iowa's amazing rail trails and cycle it. Maybe the High Trestle Trail? For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here. 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN IOWAWestern Iowa (including Sioux City and the Iowa suburbs of Omaha, NE) ✮ Albert The Bull, Audubon - supposedly the world's largest bull statue; arguably Iowa's greatest roadside attraction ✮ Danish Windmill, Elk Horn - authentic 1848 windmill in the largest rural Danish settlement in the U.S. ✮ Horseshoe Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs - arguably Iowa's best casino ✮ Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Sioux City - one of several great Lewis & Clark museums in the U.S.; on the banks of the Missouri River ✮ Sauk Rail Trail - excellent 33-mile paved rail trail that travels between Lake View & Carroll ✮ Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City - a top-rated regional history museum ✮ Smiley Face Water Tower, Adair - one of several water towers in the U.S. that is painted yellow with a smiley face ✮ Trinity Heights, Sioux City - giant statues of Jesus (33ft) and the Virgin Mary (30ft) ✮ Wabash Trace Natural Trail - a top-rated, partially-paved 63-mile rail trail that travels from Council Bluffs to Blanchard Central Iowa (including Des Moines, Pella, and Winterset) ✮ Adventureland, Altoona - Iowa's best amusement park ✮ Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines - the only accredited zoo in Iowa ✮ Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, Boone - one of the best scenic railroads in the Midwest ✮ Capitol Building, Des Moines - impressive gold-domed state capitol building; the building "shines like a Renaissance palace" ✮ Covered bridges of Madison County - visit six covered bridges made famous by a Hollywood movie (e.g. Roseman, Imes, Cedar, Hogback, etc.) ✮ Des Moines - the capital and largest city in Iowa has an impressive state capitol building and also a few great museums and green spaces ✮ Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines - one of the best art museums in the Midwest ✮ Des Moines Art Festival, Des Moines - a famous three-day arts festival that is typically held in June ✮ Elwood the Gnome, Ames - the world's largest concrete gnome; a great photo-worthy roadside attraction ✮ Greater Des Moines Botanical Center, Des Moines - beloved indoor and outdoor botanic garden ✮ Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend - supposedly the largest grotto in the world ✮ High Trestle Trail - fantastic 25-mile paved rail trail that includes a section with 43 diamond-shaped steel structures ✮ Historical Village Museum & Vermeer Mill Museum, Pella - rumored to be tallest working grain windmill in the U.S. ✮ Iowa State Fair, Des Moines - one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the country ✮ Ledges State Park, Madrid - state park renown for natural beauty and several Civilian Conservation Corp structures (e.g. arch stone bridge) ✮ Living History Farms, Urbandale - interactive working agricultural history museum ✮ Matchstick Marvels Museum, Gladbrook - quirky museum with impressive art pieces made of matchsticks ✮ Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines - small but impressive outdoor sculpture park in downtown Des Moines ✮ Pella - a very small city known for its Dutch-style architecture and huge windmill; has a historic downtown area ✮ Rail Explorers, Boone - one of several areas in the U.S. for "rail biking" (ride a pedal-powered machine on a railroad track) ✮ Raccoon River Valley Trail - 89-mile paved rail trail from Jefferson to Clive; considered one of the premier long-distance rail trails in the U.S. ✮ Reiman Gardens, Ames - lovely indoor and outdoor gardens ✮ Winterset - a small town close to the six remaining covered bridges of Madison County; location of the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum Eastern Iowa (including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo) ✮ Amana Colonies, Amana - visit seven rural villages and 1850's-era buildings ✮ American Gothic House, Eldon - the gothic house used in a famous 1930 painting ✮ Dubuque - a medium-sized city where you can ride one of the world's steepest scenic railways, visit the National Mississippi River Museum and score views of the Mississippi River from Eagle Point Park ✮ Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Dubuque - large and currently free botanical gardens ✮ Dunning's Spring Park, Decorah - green space with natural waterfall ✮ Eagle Point Park, Dubuque - offers great views of the Mississippi River and three states (IA, IL, and WI) ✮ Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harpers Ferry - see over 200 prehistoric Native American mounds ✮ Fenelon Place Elevator Co., Dubuque - one of the shortest & steepest railways in the world ✮ Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville - famous baseball field from beloved Hollywood movie ✮ Figge Art Museum, Davenport - one of the best art museums in the Midwest ✮ Heritage Trail - excellent 29-mile partially paved rail trail from Dubuque to Dyersville ✮ Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, West Branch - library and final resting place of the 31st U.S. president ✮ Iowa 80, World's Largest Truck Stop & Trucking Museum, Walcott - supposedly the world's largest truck stop; good museum on site ✮ John Deere Tractor Assembly Plant, Waterloo - tour one of the U.S.'s most famous manufacturers ✮ Lost Island Water Park, Waterloo - one of the best water parks in the Midwest ✮ Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge, Columbus Junction - walk across a famous suspension bridge that is 260+ feet long ✮ Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa - excellent guided cave tours ✮ Mines of Spain State Recreation Area, Dubuque - rugged, wooded blufflands & burr oak trees ✮ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque - arguably the best of several Mississippi River-focused museums in the U.S. ✮ National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa - more than 200 motorcycles on display ✮ Nile Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City - beloved stadium that is home to the University of Iowa's college football team (Hawkeyes) ✮ Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor - score great views of the Mississippi River from 500ft tall bluffs; there's also a good seasonal waterfall ✮ Riverboat Twilight, Le Claire - offers one and two-day riverboat cruises along the Mississippi River ✮ Sitting Man, Iowa City - large limestone sculpture of a 20-foot-tall Buddha sitting on a bench; one of Iowa's best roadside attractions ✮ Snake Alley, Burlington - one of the world's most crooked streets; similar to Lombard Street in San Francisco Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Iowa? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com. For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links: IL | MN | MO | NE | SD | WI BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN IOWA✮ Des Moines - the capital and largest city in Iowa has an impressive state capitol building and also a few great museums and green spaces ✮ Dubuque - a medium-sized city where you can ride one of the world's steepest scenic railways, visit the National Mississippi River Museum and score views of the Mississippi River from Eagle Point Park ✮ Pella - a very small city known for its Dutch-style architecture and huge windmill; has a historic downtown area ✮ Winterset - a small town close to the six remaining covered bridges of Madison County; location of the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum My favorite city in Iowa is Des Moines - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 1-2 nights there Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S. WHAT IS IOWA FAMOUS FOR?✮ agriculture industry (e.g. corn, pork, soybeans) ✮ Amana colonies ✮ covered bridges (e.g. Madison County) ✮ farms / farmland ✮ political caucuses ✮ rivers (e.g. Mississippi River, Missouri River) Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for. NATIONAL PARKS IN IOWANational Monuments ✮ Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harpers Ferry - over 200 prehistoric Native American mounds National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties ✮ Herbert Hoover National Historic Site ✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail ✮ Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail For more information on Iowa's national parks, visit the Iowa page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here. STATE PARKS IN IOWA✮ Ledges State Park, Madrid - state park renown for natural beauty and several Civilian Conservation Corp structures (e.g. arch stone bridge) ✮ Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa - excellent guided cave tours ✮ Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor - score great views of the Mississippi River from 500ft tall bluffs; there's also a good seasonal waterfall To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here. BEST WATERFALLS IN IOWA✮ Beulah Falls in Spook Cave Campground, McGregor ✮ Bridal Veil Falls in Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor ✮ Malanaphy Springs in Malanaphy Springs State Preserve, Decorah ✮ Woodman Hollow Falls in Woodman Hollow State Preserve, Otho For a listing of all known waterfalls in Iowa, visit the World Waterfall Database. BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN IOWA✮ Covered Bridges Scenic Byway - a 82-mile mostly-paved route in the famed Madison County that visits six covered bridges ✮ Great River Road - a 2,069-mile paved route along the Mississippi River that travels from Minnesota to Louisiana; 328 miles are in Iowa ✮ Loess Hills National Scenic Byway - a 225-mile paved route from Sioux City, Iowa south to St. Joseph, Missouri I haven't driven them yet, but the Driftless Area Scenic Byway, Grant Wood Scenic Byway, Historic Hills Scenic Byway, and/or Western Skies Scenic Byway may also be worthy of inclusion in the list above. I can't tell from my research whether or not they have scenery that is notable on a national scale. Madison County publishes a great guide of the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway. Click here for that PDF guide. For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here. BEST RAIL TRAILS IN IOWAWestern Iowa (including Sioux City and the Iowa suburbs of Omaha, NE) ✮ Sauk Rail Trail - 33-mile paved rail trail ✮ Wabash Trace Natural Trail - 63-mile partially paved rail trail; often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. Central Iowa (including Des Moines and Winterset) ✮ Chichaqua Valley Trail - 27-mile paved rail trail ✮ High Trestle Trail - 30-mile paved rail trail; often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. ✮ Raccoon River Valley Trail - 89-mile paved rail trail; often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S. Eastern Iowa (including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo) ✮ Heritage Trail - 29-mile partially paved rail trail For detailed information on all known rail trails in Iowa, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website. BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS / THEME PARKS IN IOWA✮ Adventureland, Altoona ✮ Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Arnolds Park ✮ Huck's Harbor, Burlington ✮ Lost Island Waterpark, Waterloo BEST MUSEUMS IN IOWAWestern Iowa (including Sioux City and the Iowa suburbs of Omaha, NE) ✮ Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Sioux City - one of several great Lewis & Clark museums in the U.S.; on the banks of the Missouri River ✮ Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City - a top-rated regional history museum ✮ Squirrel Cage Jail, Council Bluffs ✮ Union Pacific Railroad Museum, Council Bluffs Central Iowa (including Des Moines and Winterset) ✮ Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines - one of the best art museums in the Midwest ✮ Historical Village Museum & Vermeer Mill Museum, Pella - rumored to be tallest working grain windmill in the U.S. ✮ John Wayne Birthplace & Museum, Winterset ✮ Matchstick Marvels Museum, Gladbrook - quirky museum with impressive art pieces made of matchsticks ✮ National Spring Car Hall of Fame & Museum, Knoxville ✮ Stockman House Museum, Mason City Eastern Iowa (including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo) ✮ Amana Colonies, Amana - visit seven rural villages and 1850's-era buildings ✮ Figge Art Museum, Davenport - one of the best art museums in the Midwest ✮ Iowa 80, World's Largest Truck Stop & Trucking Museum, Walcott - supposedly the world's largest truck stop; good museum on site ✮ Iowa Children's Museum, Coralville ✮ John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, Waterloo ✮ National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids ✮ National Farm Toy Museum, Dyersville ✮ National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque - arguably the best of several Mississippi River-focused museums in the U.S. ✮ National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa - more than 200 motorcycles on display ✮ Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport BEST DAY HIKES IN IOWAWestern Iowa (including Sioux City and the Iowa suburbs of Omaha, NE) ✮ Brent's Trail, Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area ✮ Hitchcock Nature Center trails ✮ Loess Hills State Forest trails ✮ Mincer Trail & Sunset Ridge Trail Loop, Waubonsie State Park Central Iowa (including Des Moines and Winterset) ✮ Canyon Road and Table Rock Loop, Ledges State Park ✮ Lost Lake Loop, Ledges State Park Eastern Iowa (including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Dubuque, and Waterloo) ✮ Catfish Trail, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area ✮ Effigy Mounds National Monument trails ✮ Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area ✮ Maquoketa Caves Loop, Maquoketa Caves State Park ✮ Pikes Peak State Park trails ✮ Wildcat Den Trail, Wildcat Den State Park ✮ Yellow River State Forest trails The highpoint of Iowa is Hawkeye Point (1,670'), located in the northwestern section of the state. A short walk is required to reach the top. BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN IOWA✮ Backpack Trail in Yellow River State Forest ✮ Preparation Canyon State Park ✮ Stephens State Forest CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN IOWABackpacking the Backpack Trail in Yellow River State Forest Bouldering in the Ozark Wildlife Area Canoeing/kayaking the Boone River Canoeing/kayaking the Lower Des Moines River Canoeing/kayaking the Maquoketa River Canoeing/kayaking the Raccoon River Canoeing/kayaking the Upper Iowa River Cycling the High Trestle Trail Cycling the RABGRAI event (cycling the entire state from west to east) Cycling the Raccoon River Valley Trail Cycling the Wabash Trace Natural Trail Mountain biking the Decorah MTB trails Mountain biking the Sunderbruch Park trails Mountain biking the Whiterock Conservancy trails Rock climbing in Backbone State Park Rock climbing in Indian Bluffs State Wildlife Management Area Rock climbing in Pictured Rocks County Park Skydiving in Brooklyn and Winterset Tubing the Des Moines River Tubing the Nishnabotna River Tubing the North Fork of the Maquoketa River Tubing the Raccoon River Tubing the Upper Iowa River Tubing the Wapsipinicon River SKI RESORTS IN IOWA✮ Mt. Crescent - 11 trails ✮ Seven Oaks - 11 trails ✮ Sundown Mountain - 21 trails IOWA TRAVEL TIPSUNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN IOWA✮ breaded pork tenderloin ✮ chili with cinnamon rolls ✮ cinnamon rolls ✮ corn dogs ✮ fried pork chops ✮ ham balls ✮ loosemeat ✮ pickle wraps ✮ puppy chow ✮ scotcharoos ✮ snickers salad ✮ sour cream raisin pie ✮ steak de burgo ✮ sweet corn on the cob ✮ taverns ✮ tenderloin ✮ turkey and dressing sandwich For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Iowa (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website. For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here. For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Iowa (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website. OTHER KEY IOWA INFORMATIONDes Moines Major Airports: Des Moines International Airport (DSM) Largest Cities: Des Moines (216,273), Cedar Rapids (139,986), Davenport (102,132), Sioux City (86,419), Iowa City (76,222), Ankeny (72,347) Primary U.S. Interstates: I-29, I-35, I-80 State Highpoint: Hawkeye Point (1,670') in Sibley in northwestern Iowa; a short walk is required to reach the top Professional Sports Teams: None Funny or Unique Town/City Names: Beebeetown and What Cheer Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here. Albert the Bull in Audubon, Iowa ROAD TRIP GUIDEBOOKSIn addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.  
 
 
 
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