Iowa Things to Do

  Iowa City Mansion near College Green...
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  • 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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National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

by deecat

Jill and I decided after visiting the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium that we would have enjoyed it more if we had been with children.You are able to experience a trip down the Mississippi River via wide screen in the Journey Theater. The film is called "Mississippi Journey".There are artifacts about the Native American cultures, a simulated piloting of a towboat [National Rivers Hall of Fame), five big river aquariums, see "critters" that inhabit the Mississippi and its areas, and many living history demonstrations. My favorite inside the museum was called Catfish Planet [which was new in 2006]. There were over 100 species of catfishes. We walked through a 22 foot long catfish and learned about its insides as well as its outside. There are also interactive exhibits and a multi-media presentation.In the Wetland, there is a Native American wikiup, a working boatshop, and a...

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Victorian House Tour/Progressive Dinner

by deecat

One of the great experiences that Dubuque has to offer is called Victorian House Tour and Progressive Dinner. This experience includes a gourmet dining while touring several Dubuque historic sites.The way this works is you make a reservation for the tour and you will then have a five-course meal while you progress through the city. In addition, you will hear many interesting tales about events and families in the 19th century.This tour includes stops at the Mathias Ham House Historic Site, the Redstone Inn, the Ryan House, and Mandolin Inn. They also usually make another stop at the Old Jail Museum of Dubuque. At one stop, you will have wines; then you will move on for appetizers; at another stop, you will experience the main course meal; at the last stop, you will have dessert.The tour includes what they call Themed Entertainment It's really like a play where William "Hog" Ryan and his...

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Wonderful Cable Car Square

by deecat

One of the most delightful places [for Jill and I] in Dubuque is the Cable Car Square. It is filled with darling little one-of-a-kind shops, the Fenelon Place Elevator, and The Cotton Cabin Quilt Shop.As the previous tip indicates, we did ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator, which was great fun and historic as well. In addition, we visited many of the shops and marveled at the wonderful architecture.Cable Car Square is quite well known, enough for tour buses to visit! Bus parking is on the south side of 4th street between Bluff and Locust. Public parking is located on 5th and BluffThere are many annual events that take place here:Christmas Candle Walk [Friday evening after Thanksgiving]Cable Car Square Open House [1st weekend in November]Tri-states Largest Chili Cookoff [1st weekend in October]Riverfest [2nd week in September]Cable Car Flag Day Celebration Sale [4th weekend in...

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Fenelon Place Elevator Company

by deecat

Jill and I had such a good time seeing and riding the Fenelon Place Elevator. We learned that about 1882, a Mr. J.K. Graves [a wealthy former mayor and State Senator] lived in Dubuque on top of the bluffs. However, he worked at the bottom of the bluffs. At that time, everyone had one and a half hours for lunch. He hated spending so much time getting to and from his home. A world traveler, Mr. Graves had seen incline railways in Europe and thought that it would be a great idea to build a cable car. His private cable car was modeled after those in the Alps.After his original cable car burned down, he had it rebuilt; this time [1893], he opened it to the public and charged 5 cents a ride. Unfortunately, the cable burned again. He did not rebuild; however his neighbors [10 of them] formed the Fenelon Place Elevator Company and used a streetcar motor to run the elevator and used steel cable...

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Bricktown Brewery

by deecat

The Bricktown Brewery [located inside the Historic Cooper Wagon Works] is located right in the center of the historic downtown Dubuque. Inside this one building, you will find places to eat, to drink, and to just hang out and have fun. This is where A. A. Cooper built his legendary empire of wagons called "Old Reliable".There are four floors of dining and entertainment:The Blackwater GrillBricktown BreweryFat Kat Pizza PubUnderground Sports Bar & NightclubBricktown Banquet & ReceptionThe Blackwater Grill is Dubuque's only brewpub restaurant. It's located on the main level. Besides the hand crafted brews, they offer steaks, pastas, burgers, other sandwiches, and seafood. In addition, on Friday nights has live music with no cover charge from 9:00 p.m.-1:30 a.m.Fat Kat Pizza Pub offers fresh brewed beer and fresh brewed rootbeer. They have specialty, traditional, and "Fat Kat Deep Dish"...

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Disc Golf

by Zenpuppy2

Disc Golf is very big in Iowa. We have many excellent players, I live in Des Moines and we have 20 courses within a 30 mile radius. My favorites are Grandview, Walnut Ridge, and Ewing. Iowa has 88 courses in the state ranking it 3rd behind California and Texas (last time I looked). Go and try it its relaxing, sociable, and burns calories.

Dane Country

by sunchasers

The signpost driving into Kimballton, Iowa reads 'Welcome to Dane Country'. In the town park you will find a replica of the Little Mermaid, further down the road you'll find the Posthuset, and a 60 ft. wind mill that had been brought over from Denmark in 1975.Note: The mermaid is taken down during the winter season

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Amana Colonies

by sunchasers

Amana Colonies consist of seven authentic German villages founded as a religious commune in the mid-1800s. This preserved culture is a National Historic Landmark and one of Iowa's most famous travel attractions. Craft shops, wineries, bakeries, woolen mills, etc.

Holland...in Iowa?!?

by sunchasers

Can't afford a ticket to Amsterdam? Take a trip to Pella, Iowa. Granted you won't likely find a red-light district and 'coffee' houses in middle America, but you will find rustic, reconstructed Dutch buildings, a canal, a windmill, a tulip festival and great pride in the old country. So grab your wooden clogs and join the fun in wacky wacky Pella :)

National Mississippi Museum and Aquarium

by dlandt

The National Mississippi Museum and Aquarium was an unexpected find on a road trip. At first we thought it would be a bit hokey, but it turned out to be really well done and quite interesting. The aquarium features giant catfish and shovel-nosed gar along with alligator and turtles.As the greeter told me, "If it lives in the Mississippi, it's on display here." They even had ducks, though my wife and baby liked the turtles a lot. Far and away the best display was the catfish. They have the world's largest collection of catfish, and have made a semi-interactive, very child-friendly, exhibit. The staff is ot only helpful and friendly, but plentiful! The museum is spic and span, well cared for, and you can see loving care in the displays.

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Fun things to do in Iowa

Top 3 Hotels in Iowa

Fairfield Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport  Des Moines

 1 Review and 36 Opinions  I have been to Des Moines several times for business over the past few years. The distance from... 

 Hotels in Des Moines

Marriott Cedar Rapids  Cedar Rapids

 1 Review and 49 Opinions  A wonderful marriott with great service in a nice location north of town. The pool and work out room... 

 Hotels in Cedar Rapids

Sheraton Iowa City Hotel  Iowa City

 2 Reviews and 107 Opinions  my family stayed during Jazz festival..we were tickled to be staying at a Sheraton for the first... 

 Hotels in Iowa City

765 Hotels in Iowa
 
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Reviews and photos of Iowa attractions 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. Dubuque Things to Do
  3. Cedar Rapids Things to Do
  4. Iowa City Things to Do
  5. Sioux City Things to Do
  6. Waterloo Things to Do
  7. Muscatine Things to Do
  8. Kalona Things to Do
  9. Pella Things to Do
  10. Ames Things to Do
  11. Council Bluffs Things to Do
  12. Amana Things to Do
  13. Cedar Falls Things to Do
  14. Clinton Things to Do
  15. Decorah Things to Do
  16. Winterset Things to Do
  17. Okoboji Things to Do
  18. Mason City Things to Do
  19. Davenport Things to Do
  20. Independence Things to Do
  21. Clear Lake Things to Do
  22. Fort Dodge Things to Do
  23. Bellevue Things to Do
  24. West Branch Things to Do
  25. Fairfield Things to Do
  26. Lamoni Things to Do
  27. Pocahontas Things to Do
  28. Dyersville Things to Do
  29. Ottumwa Things to Do
  30. Waverly Things to Do
  31. Le Mars Things to Do
  32. Effigy Mounds National Monument Things to Do
  33. Mount Pleasant Things to Do
  34. Walcott Things to Do
  35. West Bend Things to Do
  36. Fort Madison Things to Do
  37. Clive Things to Do
  38. Malvern Things to Do
  39. Boone Things to Do
  40. Osceola Things to Do
  41. Postville Things to Do
  42. Urbandale Things to Do
  43. Eldon Things to Do
  44. Red Oak Things to Do
  45. Glenwood Things to Do
  46. Knoxville Things to Do
  47. Spencer Things to Do

More Cities in Iowa

 

Questions and Answers

oreo82 profile photo

Q:  Hi I am thinking of visiting a friend who resides in Iowa and to visit the surrounding cities. What would be a suggested... 

bocmaxima profile photo

A: You should figure out which cities you'd like to visit first. Iowa is actually pretty well-located as far as surrounding cities, so you have some choices. My list would... 

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