Iowa Things to Do

  Iowa City Mansion near College Green...
by atufft
 
  • Iowa City Mansion near College Green Park
      Iowa City Mansion near College Green...
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  • Old Downtown Iowa City, IA
      Old Downtown Iowa City, IA
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  • Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, IA
      Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, IA
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  • Old Iowa State Capitol, Iowa City, IA
      Old Iowa State Capitol, Iowa City, IA
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  • University of Iowa College of Medicine Buildings
      University of Iowa College of Medicine...
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The State Capitol Building

by traveldave

Completed in 1886 and built of limestone, granite, and sandstone, the Iowa State Capitol Building is one of the largest statehouses in the nation. It was built on the site of an earlier small brick building that housed the state legislature. Front and back porticos are supported by six Corinthian columns each. The central dome rises to a height of 275 feet (84 meters) and is covered with 23-karat gold. The four corner wings of the building are capped by small domes, so the Iowa state capitol building is the only one in the United States with five domes.The capitol building houses Iowa's Legislature, Supreme Court, Law Library, and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor. Among the many historical items on display in the building are the Iowa Constitution, a scale model of the battleship U.S.S. Iowa, original battle flags carried by Iowa regiments, and a...

The Des Moines Botanical Center

by traveldave

The Des Moines Botanical Center opened in 1979, although a city-owned greenhouse occupied the site since 1939. The grounds of the 14-acre (six-hectare) botanical garden contain trails which wind among beds of native and other temperate-climate plants; conifers and deciduous trees; rose gardens; herb gardens; water gardens; and a cascade. Indoor exhibits include seasonal displays of plants; flowers; a pond stocked with goldfish, catfish, and turtles; and free-flying birds under one of the largest geodesic domes in the nation, at 150 feet (46 meters) in circumference. There are over 15,000 tropical, subtropical, and desert plants on display under the dome.Its collection of Japanese bonsai trees is one of the ten best in the nation, and its outdoor display of cactus is the largest cactus and succulent garden in the Midwest.

Living History Farms

by traveldave

Founded in 1970, the 600-acre (243-hectare) Living History Farms is an open-air museum which tells the story of Midwestern agriculture during four different time periods, including the Ioway Indian Village (1700), the Pioneer Farm (1850), the Town of Walnut Hill (1875), and the Horse-Powered Farm (1900). The displays are concentrated around two sites: one featuring farms, and the other featuring towns. Tractor-drawn carts transport visitors between the five different farms, although all the exhibits are within easy walking distance of each other. On each farm, the buildings, planting methods, and livestock are authenic to their respective time periods. The displays are explained by interpreters in period costumes, who also reinact such daily routines of early Iowans as cooking, caring for the animals, blacksmithing, and gardening. Visitors are also invited to try their hand at such...

Field Of Dreams

by reon80

It's the site of the movie!When we were there (several years ago), they told us that half is owned by one family and half by another family. So they have competing souvenir shops and will only let you play on their part if you are using their equipment. It's really funny:)

Okoboji

by grayfo

Okoboji is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, and has the deepest natural lake in the state, it is crystal clear and one of only a handful of lakes in the world that is classified as a true blue water lake.June 2008

Visiting the Colonies

by DueSer

A visit to the Amana Colonies can easily fill an entire day. There is much to see and do (and eat) but it's all done at a relaxing pace.The Amanas were founded about 150 years ago by a group of German people seeking religious asylum in America. They originally lived in a communal setting but in the 1930s abandoned that for more individuality. However, you can still hear some of the older people speaking about working in the communal kitchen or things like that. There is a museum about the history of the community located in Main Amana.Main Amana is the largest of the colonies and has the most businesses and sights for tourists. It is also the busiest area though. The visitor's center is here as well as the RV Park and a motel. Also at Main Amana: an ice cream shop, quilt shop, chocolate shop, winery, candle shop, most of the restaurants, lace shop, Christmas shops, bakery, basket shop,...

Just one example of the old-style buildings
MORMON TRAIL

by mtncorg

Following the death of the founding prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1844, the vast majority of the Mormon population of Nauvoo, Illinois responded to the leadership of Brigham Young and set out to establish a new Zion in the parched lands of the Great Basin around what is today Salt Lake City. The actual trek began in early 1846. A trail was established across the southern reaches of the Iowa Territory (Iowa didn't become a State until December 1846) by advance parties. These advance parties were not to reach Utah until the summer of 1847 and it would not be until 1850 when the bulk of the 12000 pioneers would reach their new home. The Iowa section of what became the Mormon Trail only makes up about a quarter of the total length but in many ways it comprised some of the most trying times the pioneers were to face due to inexperience, lack of roads/trail and poor weather conditions....

Monuments at Mt Pisgah State Park on the Trail
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A first visit to Iowa... where is that?

by cochinjew

When I had to visit Iowa for the first time, none of my friends could help me! and i looked up old issues of National Geographic to find some information. Like the other poster said: it is a long drive out to visit nearby places. On my first visit to Iowa, to visit a group of Native people living near Des Moines, I used to just drive around, and come across quaint towns and antique stores and rolling hills.I would rate the towns and cities i have visited in Iowa as:Ames university town, worth while, cosmopolitan in a wayDes Moines the capital city, things to see, eating is okay, cattle show during summer (sorry cant remember the official name for it)( please read the humouristic description of Des Moines in Bill Bryson's: Fat girls of Des Moines)Sioux City: boring, uninteresting people and townThere is a area on the eastern part of Iowa where there is a group of fundamental christians (...

Caucus Rally in December: Running for President IA

by ljtheraingirl

The presidential selection process begins in Iowa. Presidential hopefuls descend upon the state and begin campaigning heavily in December before the Iowa caucuses are held in January. On December 27, 2007, I heard Bill Clinton speak on behalf of his wife Hillary.This is an amazing time of year to hear the next president of the United States speak in my own Iowa backyard.We do have a rather odd election process in the United States, and sometimes it feels as if the presidential campaigning drags on for much too long, but it is quite the event in Iowa.

Bill Clinton campaigns for Hillary in Iowa
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MASON HOUSE INN

by mtncorg

Built in 1846 by Mormon craftsmen who were en route to Utah from nearby Nauvoo, Illinois - they were earning money to buy needed supplies for the large Mormon emigrant wagon trains that rolled through the area between 1846-1851. The Inn was built to serve steamboat passengers on the Des Moines River, the Mason House was purchased by the Mason family in 1857. That family ran the inn for 88 years and it is the oldest steamboat hotel along the Des Moines in continuous operation. There are 5 guest rooms furnished with 19th century antiques.

Mason House Inn facing the bridge at Bentonsport
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Iowa Things to Do

Reviews and photos of Iowa things to do posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Iowa sightseeing.
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Things to Do: Cities in Iowa
  1. Des Moines Things to Do
  2. Iowa City Things to Do
  3. Dubuque Things to Do
  4. Cedar Rapids Things to Do
  5. Muscatine Things to Do
  6. Sioux City Things to Do
  7. Waterloo Things to Do
  8. Kalona Things to Do
  9. Council Bluffs Things to Do
  10. Amana Things to Do
  11. Pella Things to Do
  12. Ames Things to Do
  13. Winterset Things to Do
  14. Okoboji Things to Do
  15. Bellevue Things to Do
  16. Cedar Falls Things to Do
  17. Clear Lake Things to Do
  18. Davenport Things to Do
  19. Clinton Things to Do
  20. Decorah Things to Do
  21. West Bend Things to Do
  22. Mason City Things to Do
  23. Ottumwa Things to Do
  24. Effigy Mounds National Monument Things to Do
  25. Pocahontas Things to Do
  26. Cedar Rock State Park Things to Do
  27. Eldon Things to Do
  28. Independence Things to Do
  29. Fairfield Things to Do
  30. Mount Pleasant Things to Do
  31. Postville Things to Do
  32. West Branch Things to Do
  33. Lamoni Things to Do
  34. Sutliff Things to Do
  35. Waverly Things to Do
  36. Glenwood Things to Do
  37. Le Mars Things to Do
  38. Mary Hill Things to Do
  39. Walcott Things to Do
  40. Orange City Things to Do
  41. Urbandale Things to Do
  42. Adair Things to Do
  43. Dyersville Things to Do
  44. Elkader Things to Do
  45. Osceola Things to Do
  46. Solon Things to Do
  47. Spencer Things to Do

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