Traveling About Iowa
A US state nicknamed The Hawkeye State
Iowa, The Hawkeye State is located in the Midwest.
The Grotto of Redemption is a religious grotto in West Bend and is known as the largest man-made grotto in the world. It has become a big tourist attraction. This grotto is a series of nine grottos that all depict scenes from the life of Jesus. This is a lovely place created with about $4 million worth of minerals and rocks. Since 2001 it has been on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Iowa River Valley offers breathtaking natural beauty, There are many miles of lovely horse trails to enjoy.
To spend a while here you can find the River Valley Lodge and Campground in Farmington.
Snake Alley in Burlington is by far the most crooked road in the world and the strangest thing to see. The road has seven curves and at night is lit by replicated Victorian lampposts. Snake Alley dates back more than 100 years and was originally created as a shortcut in the business district. Today it has become an impressive and odd tourist attraction,
You’ll find that Pikes Peak State Park is one of the most photographed places in Iowa. From here you can get fantastic views of the Mississippi River from the highest point in the park and great views of the surrounding scenery all from Pikes Peak, There are many hiking trails and campgrounds to enjoy.
The Mississippi River is one of the most impressive and beautiful natural attractions in the U.S. The best place to get really fantastic views of the river is at Keokuk, Iowa. The Keokuk Hamilton Bridge is one of the loveliest bridges spanning the Mississippi, The river borders Iowa for 300 miles, A popular activity at this spot is fishing. It is also home to the annual American Civil War reenactment. There are attractions to see like the Keokuk Veteran’s Memorial, the Miller House Museum, and the George M. Verity River Museum.
For train enthusiasts, a visit to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad is a must with plenty of locomotives and train cars. You can get a ride in an open-air car and special events are organized like dinner trips. The most common trip on the railroad takes one hour and forty-five minutes.
A lovely place to visit is the Dutch community of Pella. People come to see the natural beauty of Lake Red Rock, the largest lake in Iowa. Among the highlights here are Tulip Time when the Dutch community has many lovely tulips everywhere, the Sinterklass Christmas Parade, and the summer festival known as Kermis in July. Among the tourist attractions in town are the Pella Historical Village and the Scholte House Museum and Gardens.
For a wonderful scenic adventure head for The Bridges of Madison County in Winterset. These beautiful and impressive bridges have drawn many visitors and inspired numerous photographs. They have been featured in a best-selling novel and movie of the same name. These covered bridges were a part of daily life in the 19th century and today 19 of the original bridges remain and five are on the National Historic Register.
One of the best ways to see the bridges is to take the 82-mile Covered Bridges Scenic Byway. You can even get personal or group tours. In October you can join in the celebration of The Madison County Covered Bridge Festival.
See the Historic Town Square in Winterset.
The town is also the birthplace of John Wayne known as The Duke with a museum dedicated to him.
The small town of West Branch is the birthplace of the 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover. The Hoover Birthplace is a commemorative National Historic Site. In the surrounding park, you’ll find the gravesite of the former President and First Lady.
An interesting place to visit is the Presidential Library and Museum.
One of the most culturally significant artists of the 20th century, Grant Wood, is an Iowa native, born in Eldon. One of his most popular artworks is American Gothic, depicting a farmer and his wife. You can see the house that was the backdrop of this masterpiece located on American Gothic Street.
The American Gothic House Center offers information about the life of Grant Wood and the history behind the house,
About the Creator
Rasma Raisters
My passions are writing and creating poetry. I write for several sites online and have four themed blogs on Wordpress. Please follow me on Twitter.
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