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...
    by atufft
  • Old Downtown Iowa City, IA
      Old Downtown Iowa City, IA
    by atufft
  • Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, IA
      Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, IA
    by atufft
  • Old Iowa State Capitol, Iowa City, IA
      Old Iowa State Capitol, Iowa City, IA
    by atufft
  • University of Iowa College of Medicine Buildings
      University of Iowa College of Medicine...
    by atufft
 
Travelodge Official Site
Travelodge.com Book Direct at our Travelodge� Site And Get Our Best Available Rate.
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

KALONA HISTORIC VILLAGE

by mtncorg

Twenty miles west of Iowa City are the Amana Colonies and twenty miles to thhe south are the Amish Mennonite farms scattered about the town of Kalona. You will see Amish horsecarts sharing the road with you as if you were back in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Here in Kalona, you can find a collection of historic 19th century buildings brought together to give you a better feel for the area’s unique history. Along the old buildings is the Iowa Mennonite Museum and Archives – a great place to begin to make sense of who the Amish, Mennonites, Hutterites and Anabaptists are and how they are related.

Tip Photo
AMANA COLONIES

by mtncorg

The Amana Colonies, about 15 miles west of Iowa City and a little over 5 miles north off of I-80, are Iowa’s number one tourist attraction. Now, Iowa is not a State that one normally thinks of when they plan out their next vacation, but there are still plenty of tourists to be seen here. I would like to think that the unique history, culture and bucolic scenery is what draws people here and while that may have something to do with it, most seem to come for the shopping and the food – furniture, woolen products, smoked meats, etc.. I watched as a group of college students attended an introductory video at the Amana Visitors Center whose only question at the video’s end was were the people of Amana Amish – they aren’t. Their leader told the presenter that they hoped to spend their afternoon browsing the shops of Main Amana – there are a lot! - finishing with the brewpub at Millstream – the...

Tip Photo
The Amish

by BethStar83

The Amish are people who live simple, religious lives. They choose to separate themselves from the modern world, by riding in buggies pulled by horses, living in homes with no electricity or running water, and living by very strict religious-based rules.They are the most excellent craftsman, using techniques of generations past. They sell things that they make and grow, and though it might seem expensive, it is definately worth every penny.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

by DrewV

If your travels take you along I-80 between Iowa City and the Quad Cities, be sure to stop in West Branch to see Herbert Hoover's birthplace, now preserved as a national park.I know what you're thinking. "Herbert Hoover? Isn't that the bloke what started the Depression?" Well, yeah, sort of. Poor chap inherited a massively top-heavy economy just waiting to crash and a foolish Congress looking to protectionism as the answer. But if it weren't for Hoover's cataclysmically bad administration, there never would have been an FDR or a New Deal. There's a metaphor there.At any rate, the park is a lovely example of a 1880's prairie town. The tiny little Hoover house, Herbert's dad's blacksmith shop, and other buildings are lovingly displayed, as is Herbert's and his wife's tomb. The visitor center also supplies lots of groovy historical information about a misunderstood president.You can't help...

Effigy Mounds National Monument

by DrewV

Foolishly I forgot my camera on my Iowa roadtrip. It matters, because now I cannot show you the forested bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and the snow-covered mounds built here by an ancient Native American people.These mounds are superlative, because many of them are "effigies", shaped in the form of bears, eagles, and other animals. The mounds were the site of funeral rites and other ceremonies to honor the animal and bird spirits that this culture worshipped. Constructed between 600 and 1300 AD, these mounds still maintain an eerie stillness, especially in the cold February snow. I really wish I hadn't left my camera at home.

Bike Across Iowa in RAGBRAI

by JenNJohn

Ragbrai is one of the most unique experiences in Iowa. It's the Register (Des Moines paper) Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. 10,000+ bike riders begin by dipping their back tires into the Missouri river on the West side of Iowa and it doesn't end til they dip their front tires into the Mississippi River on the East border of Iowa.Bikers ride about 100 miles a day, then party and camp out at night. Each small local town along the way welcomes these bikers, opening their homes to tired bikers. Their front lawns become tentgounds, homes open for showers, all sorts of great food and concerts along the way. Sometimes the best gatherings are at the farms along the way that welcome bikers and break out a giant grill. One time a farmer set up 10 superslide on his lawn and bikers lined up by the dozens to cool off and have fun.

The DUKE!

by Granny_BRAT

If you are a John Wayne fan. You will find this place interesting.It is his place of birth, and lived here till he was bout 9 yrs old.It has a lot of memorabilia of his movie career. Plus furniture from his time period while in the home. There is a small fee and you get a tour guide, plus there is a good size gift shop.Not being a western movie fan, I even found this interesting.

Tip Photo
Bridges Of Madison County

by Granny_BRAT

If you have seen the movie, then this is a must.You can see the house and the bridges and the plus is, they are in a very nice town.The down side is, to tour the house it costs, but you can walk the grounds, see a little bit of the inside from the gift shop and take as many pictures of the place you like from the outside.At last visit, the truck was there also.

Tip Photo
Living Back In The Day

by Granny_BRAT

If you are in to life in the time of like the 1700 to the 1900's ,, Then Living History Farms is a good place. I found it very entertaining.Almost every building has someone to explain the ways back then. A plus for me was, You can go at your own pace and enjoy every little detail of each building.They have many event that go on there also.

Tip Photo
Iowa Link List

by KaiM

Iowa Office of Tourism:http://www.traveliowa.com/iowa_facts/Internet Data Resource:http://www.50states.com/iowa.htmCity of Des Moines:http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/Iowa State University:http://www.iastate.edu/University of Iowa:http://www.uiowa.edu/

Tip Photo
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
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Iowa attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Iowa sightseeing.

Experience Iowa
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. Council Bluffs Things to Do
  11. Ames Things to Do
  12. Amana Things to Do
  13. Clinton Things to Do
  14. Cedar Falls Things to Do
  15. Decorah Things to Do
  16. Winterset Things to Do
  17. Mason City Things to Do
  18. Okoboji Things to Do
  19. Davenport Things to Do
  20. Independence Things to Do
  21. Fort Dodge Things to Do
  22. Clear Lake 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. Waverly Things to Do
  29. Dyersville Things to Do
  30. Ottumwa 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. Malvern Things to Do
  38. Clive 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... 

Read 8 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for

Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Save up to 50% on hotels.
Hotwire.com Hotwire: Get a 4-star hotel for a 2-star price.
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Hotels Up to 50% off!
www.priceline.com Great Low Prices, Pictures, and Guest Reviews. Book Now!

Sponsored Links