Bellevue Travel Guide

4 more images

What sets Bellevue apart from some other small Iowa towns is the fact that it is located along the Mississippi River. The community has done a fine job taking advantage of that fact.

They have created a River Park and walkway that is not only beautiful but a delight to enjoy, especially on a warm day in May. The park has antique fixtures, old street lights, many convenient benches, a war memorial, and two beautiful lion statues.

Photographs:

1. Jill stating beside the beautiful Lions in the Riverfront Park that we enjoyed visiting.

2. A Memorial dedicated to the armed forces of our county that was done by the American Legion.

3. Upclose to see one of the quotes which reads, "Day is done, gone the sun. From the lake, from the hill, from the sky, all is well. Safely rest, God is nigh".

4. The much-needed shade trees which add beauty to the park.

5. Bellevue's Lock and Dam #12. We saw a huge tug boat & barge pass through the locks.

This is such an asset for this small town.

Although I usually don't even eat at fast foot restaurants, Jill and I could not resist eating at the Subway Restaurant in Bellevue, Iowa! It's location is really incredible: right on the Mississippi River where you can see Bellevue Lock and Dam Number 12!

The photograph shows the beautiful large deck that this restaurant has. Because Jill cannot sit in the sun; instead, we sat inside at the windows that look out over the River. I went outside to take the photo because I knew few people would believe that this location was from a Subway Sandwich Restaurant.

In addition, this was, indeed, the largest Subway Sandwich Shop that I had ever seen. No doubt, since I saw no other Fast Food restaurants in Bellevue, lots of residents stop here. It was around noon, and we had to wait in line.

Favorite Dish: Both Jill and I ordered A Veggie Subway Sandwich with our choices of vegetables and our choice of freshly-made bread. I had the Italian Cheese Bread, and Jill chose the Honey Wheat bread. In addition, we had the 75 calorie bag of potato chips that are low fat, and a cold drink with as many refills as we wanted.

We certainly enjoyed our meal; it was fresh, tasted delicious, and we loved the view!

2 more images

Be sure to check out all the photographs!

The Book Worm Books & Things Store is quite unique. Like other bookstores, they have a variety of books {fiction, non-fiction, mystery, cooking, historical, and children's books], and they also have "experienced" books that are still in great shape and much less expensive.

They have a very special "Historical to the Hysterical" section about the Bellevue War, ghost of the Mississippi River, and more. They claim to have the most extensive collection of Bellevue, Iowa, and Mississippi River history books in the Midwest.

You can also special order books or Historic Books of Bellevue, Iowa, and the Mississippi River. The proprietor is Sheila Hargrave.

Note: In the second photograph, you see a mosaic entrance with DR. LAMPE spelled out. He was the doctor who, at one time, practiced from this location

What to buy: They also sell antiques and collectibles. I noticed that they have a huge selection of hand painted signs, some of which are quite humorous.

In addition, they have a wide selection of scented candles. They also sell greeting cards by Leanin' Tree and Northern Exposure. I also saw neckwraps, memory stones, handmade craft items, humanity bracelets to name a few items. Some of their offerings are hand crafted by local artisans.j

What to pay: Prices were quite reasonable. Jill purchased a mystery that she had been wanting to read.

2 more images

One of the most fascinating activities on this trip was seeing and learning about the Lock and Dam System along the Mississippi River. The perfect place to observe the workings of the system is in Bellevue, Iowa. First of all, Bellevue is a picturesque river town with a wonderful riverfront park with swings and benches that are perfect for viewing the locking procedure. This is located on Highway 52 known as the Great River Road.

This particular lock and dam is located on the Upper Mississippi River. The parts of the dam that move start at the locks adjacent to the Iowa shore. There are seven "tainter gates" and three "roller gates". This all connects to a storage yard that continues toward the Illinois shore with three dikes. There is a Savanna Army Depot adjoining it on the Illinois side.

It is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Its construction began in 1934 but did not open until may of 1939. The Corps of engineers is responsible for the 1,017 acres that the Lock and Dam No. 12 covers plus a building and three other structures.

In 2004, the Lock and Dam #12 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places

Jill and I enjoyed sitting on the bench in the Riverside Park watching a Tug Boat and several barges pass through the Lock and Dam here in Bellevue.

3 more images

Bellevue State Park on the outskirts of Bellevue is located on 300-foot bluffs that overlook the Mississippi River.

This park was named for Bellevue, Iowa, which is to its north. The park has two tracts that are called Units. The Nelson Unit is to the north; the Dyas Unit is to the south. We were in the Nelson Unit.

This is a great park for families because you can camp, and there are several short trails for exploration. There are also three Woodland Period Indian mounds which are historic and unique.

In addition, There is The Bellevue Butterfly Garden Sanctuary [Open 4 a.m.-10:30 p.m.] that is designed to attract butterflies. They have planted nectar plants for adult butterflies, and they have planted host plants for the caterpillars. It's amazing, but they have more than 60 species of butterflies each year that visit this rather small garden. There is also a three-acre reconstructed prairie.

There are over 100 separate plots, and an area which we failed to see is supposed to be next to this garden to allow people a close-up view of the butterflies.

When we were there, the area had not had rain for a month, and it was quite dry. Also, it was too early for most of the plants to be in bloom. Thus, we were somewhat disappointed.

Favorite thing: The first thing that Jill and I did when we entered Bellevue was to find the chamber of Commerce. It's quite each since it's right on the main street, North Riverview Street.

The woman who helped us was so kind. She pointed out the Dam and Lock, the location for the State Park, information about the Butterfly Garden, Places to Eat, and the Riverside Park.
She was a good representative for Bellevue because she was so positive and enthusiastic.

It's obvious that she really loves this town and is proud to live here. Her dedication to helping us speaks well for the Chamber itself.

It's nice to see that The Chamber of Commerce believes in the community, and their Welcome Center is stocked with information on area businesses. They also have a great collection of postcards, pictures, and collectibles.

They also help to plan and fund many of the activities in Bellevue.

Fondest memory: After we ate our lunch, we went to the Riverside Park, and the woman from the Chamber of Commerce was on her lunch break. She stopped to talk with us and ask if there was any other information that we needed. That's just another example of the friendliness and commitment to service.

Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 12
210 North Riverview Street Across from the Lock and Dam #12]
Bellevue, IA 52031
(563) 872-5830
www.bellevueia.com
E-mail: chamber @bellevueia.com