BE AMAZED BY SOME OF THE MOST FASCINATING AND BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN IOWA!
Known as The Hawkeye State, Iowa is located in the Midwestern US. It offers some of the most stunning, interesting sights and best places to visit!
From delicious food to adventurous state parks and more, Iowa is full of must-see attractions, activities, and more than you need to add to your bucket list.
Keep reading to find out more!
Table of Contents
Best Places to Visit in Iowa
1. National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
2. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
3. State Capitol
Best Places to Visit in Iowa
4. Amana Colonies
5. Backbone State Park – Dundee
6. The Bridges of Madison County
Best Places to Visit in Iowa
7. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
8. American Gothic House
9. Field of Dreams Movie Site
10. Grotto of the Redemption
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10 Best Places to Visit in Iowa
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1. National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
Welcome to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, where history and rivers come alive!
Part aquarium, part museum, and part science center, our goal is to inspire stewardship through engaging educational experiences.
Our 14-acre campus, nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River, boasts two separate two-story buildings and a sprawling outdoor plaza.
Explore a world of wonder with over 200 species of animals and thousands of fascinating historic artifacts.
Come visit us and discover the magic of the Mississippi!
Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this part aquarium, part museum, part science center is great for all ages.
2. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
The National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is home to many different exhibits.
It showcases the lives of Czech and Slovak people so guests can learn all about different cultures here.
Among extraordinary exhibits include a replicated immigrant home, Faces of Freedom, Revolution 1989 and many more.
Discover the “Inspirations of Art Nouveau” exhibit, showcasing 230 stunning pieces straight from Prague and London.
Two other galleries offer rotating exhibitions that delve into the rich culture, art, and history of Czechs and Slovaks.
And be sure to check out the charming 1880’s Czech immigrant house, which sheltered five generations!
3. State Capitol
The Iowa State Capitol, commonly called the Iowa Statehouse, is located in Des Moines.
This building serves as the seat of the Iowa General Assembly.
It houses the Iowa House of Representatives, Iowa Senate, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State.
This century-old building is a true gem, boasting a magnificent 275-foot gold-leafed dome, four charming smaller domes, a grand marble staircase, and exquisite woodwork.
The Capitol is set atop a hill. It offers a panoramic view of the city’s downtown and the West Capitol Terrace. You can also find the Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument and the Lincoln and Tad statue there.
10 Best Places to Visit in Iowa
4. Amana Colonies
The radical Pietists, primarily from Germany created, built and settled The Amana Colonies.
The Amana Colonies in Iowa, contain seven villages.
The Amanas moved west, to east-central Iowa (near present-day Iowa City) in 1856 to live out their beliefs in more isolated surroundings,
They lived a communal life until the mid-1930s. Because of this, they are sometimes mistaken for Amish.
5. Backbone State Park – Dundee
Here’s another beautiful state park you don’t want to miss visiting in Iowa – the Backbone State Park. It covers over 2,000 acres of interesting secluded land.
Right within Delaware County, the Backbone State Park is a popular destination if you want to catch a glimpse of wildlife and experience nature. From hiking trails and cabins to beaches and rocky staircases, Backbone is one stunning place worth seeing!
6. The Covered Bridges of Madison County
Andy Langager/Flickr
Madison County originally boasted 19 covered bridges, but only six remain today.
The National Register of Historic Places listed five of which.
To help preserve the large flooring timbers, the County Board of Supervisors ordered to cover the bridges.
The covered bridges are open to the public so if you want to travel, you can use a detailed map and do a self-guided tour of the structures.
7. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
If you’re a history buff, you will enjoy visiting The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. It’s located in West Branch, Iowa and managed by the National Park Service.
Built to commemorate the life of Herbert Hoover (the 31st President of the United States), the place itself won’t disappoint you. It’s gorgeous and picturesque.
So while you’re here, visit the museum and library to look inside Hoover’s life and humanitarian efforts.
You also don’t want to miss trekking along the prairie trail, which will add to the feeling of being transported back in time.
8. American Gothic House
The American Gothic House Center sits adjacent to the original American Gothic House, also known as the Dibble House.
This is the same house that inspired Grant Wood to paint the iconic “American Gothic” in 1930. While this painting is in Chicago at the Art Institute, the house remains in Eldon.
Thousands of people come each year to see this simple house.
Guests are welcome to peruse the exhibition gallery, watch a documentary in the audiovisual room, or even dress up in costumes and get their own “American Gothic”- style photo taken.
Places Must See in Iowa
9. Field of Dreams Movie Site
The Field of Dreams is located in Dyersville, Iowa, West of the Mississippi River.
The working farm and house were selected in 1988 for the site of the film based on the book, Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella.
If you’re planning a visit, pack the baseball equipment for a pickup game. Since there is no food available, you may want to bring a picnic lunch to eat on the bleachers. If you want to buy souvenirs, there’s a stand that sells a variety of licensed movie mementos.
We recommend a baseball cap and sunscreen for there is no shade on the field.
10. Grotto of the Redemption
Welcome to the largest man-made grotto in the world – The Grotto of the Redemption!
Located in West Bend, Iowa, this amazing place is frequently described as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is a series of nine grottos that each depict a scene from the life of Jesus.
To build this stunning structure, they used some $4 million worth of minerals and rocks. Jasper, quartz, topaz, calcite, stalactites, and stalagmites can all be seen here.
More than 100,000 people head to the grotto every year.
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What Places to Visit in Iowa
Certainly, Iowa has more to offer than many visitors might think, which place interests you? Let me know in the comments!
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