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I was driving on I 29 north to the Indian Reservations from Omaha, I saw this sign at the rest stop. Wire Less Internet. Sure enough there is free wire less Internet at high way stops in Iowa. Good On you, Iowa.. i am writing this and adding this to virtual tourist from a highway stop along 1 29 near Onawa turn off I think, around exit 112.. what a luxury indeed..thank you state of Iowa..
Sioux City has several interesting sights, including the Fourth Street Historic District, the Sergeant Floyd River Museum, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, and the War Eagle Monument (pictured below).The War Eagle Monument has a splendid vista overlooking the Missouri River, providing views of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
We rednecks are really big into our racing and you just can't come to Iowa in the summer without going to one race. I have grown up going to races but haven't been to one in a couple of years. It is the most thrillign thing to watch. I personally love the smell of burning alcohol (instead of gas racecars burn alcohol). The one track to definitely check out is Knoxville, the Sprint Car Capital of World. (Sprint cars are the little ones with wings on the top). And it is probably one of the better kept track in Iowa. But if Knoxville isn't in the area for you, don't fret. There's at least one race track in each county.
You can see from across the river some of the old buildings of the 19th century. It is easy to imagine back when steamboats plied the river and mills puffed away. Today, the only sound is the rustle of the waters of the Des Moines River.
Another former thriving riverport town along the Des Moines River, Bonaparte, with its 458 people, seems to be a metropolis when compared to Bentonsport. The little downtown section has been recognized as the smallest Main Street community in the US – don’t ask me what the criteria is ;-] – and the National Trust for Historic Preservation includes Bonaparte as one of 12 Distinctive Destinations within the country. Several gift, specialty and antique shops, as well as a well-known local restaurant – Bonaparte Retreat, found in an old flour/grist mill – attract lots of regional tourists.
Transcendental meditation has discovered rural Iowa here. The movement started by Maharishi Mahesh Yoga – guru for the Beatles and countless others – first came to nearby Fairfield, Iowa to transplant the Maharishi (pronounced ma-HAR-shi) University of Management from Santa Barbara, California to the vacant grounds of the defunct Parsons College. Almost 30 years later, Vedic City – soon renamed Maharishi Vedic City – became Iowa’s newest city and the Global Capital of World Peace. Utopias are alive and well among the cornstalks of Iowa.See my Vedic City tips for more.
If you drive I-80 across the State, you might be surprised at the roller coaster nature of the route – up one hill and down another. The hills are never very large – Iowa’s highest point is only 1670 feet high up in the far northwest next to the Minnesota border – but compared to the drive through Illinois or much of Nebraska, Iowa’s hills seem Himalayan. The hills originate from the river distribution – roughly north-south in orientation, paralleling the Mississippi in the east and the Missouri in the west. I-80 runs east-west at right angles to many of the rivers. The interior of the State is dominated by two river systems: the Iowa and Des Moines. These rivers provided early settlers with power and as a transportation alternative.
Built in 1882, this one-lane iron bridge is the oldest standing truss bridge crossing the Des Moines River. It served vehicular traffic until a newer bridge was completed a few years ago a short distance upstream. Today, the bridge – renovated in the mid 1990’s - serves the occasional pedestrian who wants to wander out and ponder over the rustling waters below.
Not everything in Iowa is near I-80. Bentonsport is a quiet village of less than 40 people sited along the north bank of the Des Moines River in the far southeast section of Iowa. The town began in 1839 – before Iowa was even a State – and grew to over 1000 people as different mills were built here to take advantage of the river’s power. For awhile the railroads extended no further than here. A lock and dam complex allowed river traffic to push up and downstream from here. Times change, though. The railroad extended on into the West and the dams were abandoned. Today you can find a couple of shops left here, along with a couple of bed and breakfast establishments working to give a traveler a bit of rest from the bustle of the World beyond. The river still runs beside the quiet town, just as it always has.
Standing beside Herbert Hoover’s grave – the 31st President of the United States – you can make out the low rumble of traffic on the nearby I-80, but it is easy to ignore while you contemplate on the 90-year life of this remarkable man. His birthplace, grave, other buildings that shaped his early life are all preserved here in this small Iowan town as part of the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum is also found here and covers a lifetime of public service. For more see my West Branch tips.
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...
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...
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...
Reviews and photos of Iowa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Iowa sightseeing.
More Cities in Iowa
Q: Hi I am thinking of visiting a friend who resides in Iowa and to visit the surrounding cities. What would be a suggested...
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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