Top Things to do in Iowa
Top Hotels in Iowa
- 1. Des Lux Hotel
- 2. Stoney Creek Hotel
- 3. Hampton Inn West Des Moines Lake Drive
- 4. Drury Inn & Suites West Des Moines
- 5. Drury Inn & Suites Iowa City Coralville
- 6. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Cedar Falls, IA
- 7. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Ames, IA
- 8. Hotel Julien Dubuque
- 9. Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Forest City
- 10. Hotel Renovo
Top 10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Iowa, United States
History and monuments dot this landscape almost as often as the golden farmlands. Learn about America’s 31st president at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch. In northeast Iowa is the Effigy Mounds National Monument, a group of prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds. This part of Iowa is also home to the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage. The 37-county region tells the story of American agriculture, agribusiness and farm life and is affiliated with the National Park Service. In addition, there are five national wildlife refuges here. If you love history, imagine seeing the Amana Colonies, consisting of seven historic villages in 1855 by German immigrants as a religious communal society. Here you can also buy antiques, hand-woven baskets, furniture and clocks and locally made wine and beer. In Ames, take the family to see the Christian Petersen Art Museum, a newer structure that exhibits works of art by Christian Petersen and contemporary artists. You won’t want to miss the state capital of Des Moines, home to Blank Park Zoo with its naturalistic exhibits and more than 800 animals from five continents. You also should enjoy the Brenton Skating Plaza, an outdoor family entertainment venue.
Restaurants in Iowa
1. Historic Park Inn Hotel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By 734liciap
Every person we encountered from guests to staff were friendly. Very clean! This is the ONLY Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel still in existence in the entire world. That alone is worth the stay! But also the people of Mason City cared enough to restore this hotel and preserve this historic site! I love that we spent our money on something so special. The rooms are unique—small, very quaint, all restored to the period. Bed was comfy. No room has a king bed, and now I understand why. The queen we slept in filled the room. Our son slept on the pullout couch in the small living room area. I tried the couch bed out and it was not comfortable at all. But what couch bed is? The restaurant attached was delicious and super good service. I can’t brag this place up enough. If you value art, history, or local small business, you won’t want to miss this!
2. Grant Wood Window in Veteran's Memorial Auditorium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By RetiredTravelerTN - Nashville, United States
We found metered parking (15 minutes per quarter) on the street in front of the Veteran's Memorial building -- a large, imposing building. The beautiful stained-glass window designed by Grant Wood is just inside the front of the building and is definitely worth a stop. A nearby room contains a small history museum where we spent a short time and made a donation. A friendly fellow told us of an airplane models display on an upper floor, so we checked that out too. Leaving the Veteran's Memorial building, we walked to the park across street -- watch out for geese droppings. Cedar Rapids is a small, walkable town, so we dropped another quarter in the meter and took a stroll on a pretty day.
3. Iowa Firefighters Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By 9Buffalolady20
We were driving back to our hotel from West Branch, Iowa when we saw the sign for the Firefighters Memorial. We got off the exit to take a look. We were so glad we did! It is located just off I-80 at exit 242. The memorial is beautiful. The visitor's center was open and was very well done honoring firefighters from Iowa. We really enjoyed the memorial. It is a free attraction, but there are envelopes inside the Visitor's center to make a donation.
4. Fenelon Place Elevator Co.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,136 reviews
Historic cable car. Also known as the Fourth Street Elevator, this funicular railway has been called "the world's steepest, shortest scenic railway." Great view of downtown Dubuque, the Mississippi River and 3 states. Buses should go to the bottom of the bluff. Please use 4th and Bluff Streets for GPS. Narrow streets with parking on both sides at the top of the bluff. Open 8 AM to 10 PM daily April 1 though November 30. Closed Thanksgiving. We do not accept debit or credit cards.
Reviewed By kris0812015 - West Des Moines, United States
Great view of Dubuque downtown from the top and will definitely recommend to take this shortest and steepest railroad in the world .The address in google will take you to the top of the Fenelon elevator unless to want to take the trip from the bottom then search with 4th street elevator.The elevator is nice and clean and operated from top. The rates are cheap and they only accept cash..no debit or credit cards accepted. there is option to take round trip as well as single side trip. People taking their trip from bottom has to get into the elevator and ring the bell and they will be answered and payment has to made at the top of hill. Car parking is on the streets.No toilets available and people with walking difficulties with wheel chairs may avoid this trip as it has some effort in getting into and off the elevator Bicyclist have option to take their bicycle in
5. National Farm Toy Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
Check out the place where agricultural history is on a roll! The National Farm Toy Museum in Dyersville, IA, houses memorabilia and farm toys of today and yesterday. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of agriculture through farm toy collecting. The whole family will enjoy discovering how farming has changed throughout the years and the history of the tractors that make successful harvests happen. The National Farm Toy Museum is open daily. Admission: Adults $7, Seniors $6, Juniors 6-17 $5 and Kids 5 and under are free.
Reviewed By rwmoreau - Austin, United States
Having grown up on a family farm in the 40s 50s and 60s, I am very familiar of the family farm of the past. I have owned and operated many of the tractors and equipment that is now considered to be "antique". I now am retired and my wife and I travel all over the US and are enjoying seeing the country, especially the farming country. I am a collector of diacast farm models and have a pretty good little collection of the things that I used to use on our farm. We live in Texas and travelled all the way to Iowa to visit the Farm Toy Museum the Froelich museum (where the Froelich Tractor began) and The John Deere Museum at Waterloo. If you are a collector of model farm equipment, this museum is a MUST. It is very well presented and organized. I spent several hours there and could have stayed all day. Don't miss this place.
6. Brucemore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 265 reviews
Brucemore is a living landmark that charts the history of Cedar Rapids. The 26-acre, park-like estate invites exploration of its history, gardens, grounds, and 21-room mansion. Each season, nature's changing beauty entices visitors to the estate offering new experiences. Concerts, theater, festivals, garden walks, holiday celebrations, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of the community.
Reviewed By Traveler-Greg555
This place is a must-see if you are in Cedar Rapids.Tucked away on a gorgeous piece of property just minutes from downtown is a complex of interesting buildings that have been constructed over a period of decades by a number of prominent civic figures. It is free to walk the spacious grounds which has a pool, a pond, an expansive front lawn and agricultural & botanical structures. A modest fee is charged for a wonderful guided tour through most rooms in the mansion. But first one can get oriented to the estate by visiting the ticket office/musum/gift store where the story of Brucemore is told through photos and short movies. I would highly recommend a visit.
7. Plane Crash Site of Buddy Holly
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By GaryBergman - Ottumwa, United States
I went to the Surf and looked around. Then I drove out to the crash site. It's just Noth of town only a few miles. GPS will take you there and the entrance is marked by a giant pair of Buddy Holly glasses. It is a walk no vehicles allowed. It's a half mile out and a half mile back. It is worth the exercise!
8. Soldier's Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By 115edwinr
This monument is a tribute to the Men who served the Union Cause during the Civil War. It is well done, and stands in the middle of Main Street across from Central High School.
9. Historic General Dodge House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
Built in 1869 on the frontier, no expense was spared on this sublime Second Empire Victorian home. The fourteen room, three story mansion stands on a high terrace overlooking the Missouri Valley, and displays such architectural features as parquet floors, mansard roof, cherry, walnut & butternut woodwork, and a number of "modern" conveniences quite unusual for the period: central heating and hot & cold running water. The house was designed by William Boyington, a famous Chicago architect. It has been painstakingly curated with period items, many of them original to the home and the Dodge family.
Reviewed By Lapolla
Our tour guide, Cindy, was an excellent source of information and enthusiasm as she guided us through the historic General Dodge House. General Dodge has history in both the civil war and the building of the railroads, and so a visit to the General Dodge House includes a broad range of history. Beautiful home - nicely presented - leisurely pace - several items in the home are original to the home. I am so glad we included this home tour on our recent visit to Omaha/Council Bluffs.
10. Snake Alley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 277 reviews
This local landmark was constructed in 1894 to help connect the residential district at the top of the bluff with the commercial district down below. Snake Alley consists of five half-curves, two quarter-curves and drops 58 feet over a distance of 275 feet. Test your driving, walking or bicycling skills on what Ripley's Believe It or Not! calls “Unbelievably Crooked!" Designated as #1 in Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’s Odd Spots Across America campaign.
Reviewed By JonH652 - Fort Myers, United States
If you are near Burlington, do take the time to drive down this old, historical street. Good views and homes along the route make this short drive well worth your time.
