The Iowa Bucket List

While I have been through Iowa a few times, I’ve never stopped to fully appreciate all that it has to offer. Below is my bucket list of what to see and do, as well as where to stay and dine.

Jump To:

Amana

Cedar Rapids

Decorah

Des Moines

Iowa City

Mason City

Pella

Amana

Kind of Visit: Historical - It was built by German Pietists in the 19th century. It’s great for a weekend trip.

Where to stay

• Die Heimat Country Inn B & B

• Hotel Millwright

• Modern Farmhouse with Farm Animals

• Rawson’s Bed and Breakfast

• Village Guest Suite

• Zuber's Homestead Hotel

where to dine & drink

• Amana Colonies Bakery and Cafe

• Hahn Bakery

• Millstream Brau Haus

• Ox Yoke Inn

• Serena’s Coffee Shop

• The Ronneburg Restaurant

Things to see & do

• Ackerman Winery

• Fireside Winery

• Henry Moore Barn Museum

• Heritage Designs Quilting & Needlework

• High Amana General Store - Virtually unchanged since 1895.

• The Chocolate Haus

• The Village Winery and Gift Gallery

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Cedar Rapids

Kind of Visit: Historical - Great for a weekend.

WHERE to stay

• Belmont Hill Victorian B & B - Built in 1882, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places

• Burnett Cottage Pine NewBo District

• The Hotel at Kirkwood Center - The only AAA 4-diamond hotel in the city

WHERE to dine & drink

• Bari Italian

• Black Sheep Social Club

• Cobble Hill Restaurant

• Moniker 86 Social Club (Speakeasy)

• R.G. Books Lounge (Speakeasy inside Vino’s Italian Ristorante)

• rodina

• The Edison Pub & Eatery

• The Lost Cuban

• The Map Room

• Zeppelins

Things to see & do

• Brucemore Mansion

• Cedar Rapids Museum of Art - Home of the “American Gothic” painting

• Czech Village - New Bohemia Main Street District

• Iowa Masonic Library and Museums

• Paramount Theatre

• Ushers Ferry Historic Village

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Decorah

Kind of Visit: Outdoor adventure, historical - It was founded in 1840 by a group of Norwegian families. It’s good for a weekend getaway.

WHERE to stay

• B&B on Broadway

• Cabin

• Craftsman Bungalow

• Hotel Winneshiek & Opera House

• Leytze's Corner Historical Bed and Bath

• The Barn House Lodge

• Twin Springs Lodge

Where to dine & drink

• Dixie's Biergarten

• Good Times Grill

• Impact Coffee

• Kozi Pie Shoppe

• La Rana Bistro

• Magpie Cafe & Coffeehouse

• Rubaiyat Restaurant

• Sugar Bowl

• The Landing Market

Things to see & do

• Porter House Museum

• Trout Run Trail - An 11-mile trail.

• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum

• Winneshiek Wildberry Winery

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Des Moines

Kind of Visit: City, Historical - Great for foodies!

WHERE to stay

• Des Lux Hotel

• Hotel Pattee

• Hotel Renovo

• Revel Hotel Des Moines Urbandale, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

• Surety Hotel

WHERE to dine & drink

• Alba

• Aposto at the Scala House

• Black Sheep DSM (Speakeasy)

• Bread by Chelsea B.

• Chicago Speakeasy (Speakeasy)

• Django

• Harbinger

• Jesse’s Embers

• La Mie Bakery

• Mi Patria

• Mulberry Street Tavern

• Pie Bird Pies

• Proof

• Simon’s - Open since 1952!

• Snookies Malt Shop

• St. Kilda

• The Bartender’s Handshake

• The Cheese Shop

• Trellis Cafe

• Vibrant Coffeehouse + Kitchen

Things to see & do

• Center Grove Orchard

• Chocolate Storybook

• Des Moines Art Center

• Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

• Hoyt Sherman Place - Built in 1877

• Jasper Winery

• Living History Museum

• Pappajohn Sculpture Park

• Salisbury House & Gardens - Built in 1928 by Carl Weeks - a cosmetics magnate.

• The State Capitol

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Iowa City

Kind of Visit: Historical - Home to the University of Iowa.

WHERE to stay

• A Bella Vista Bed and Breakfast

• Element

• The Brown Street Inn

• The Buford House Inn

• The Highlander Hotel

WHERE to dine & drink

• Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

• Brix Cheese Shop

• Chez Grace - Nouveau French Cuisine

• Clinton Street Social Club

• Gene’s

• Hamburg Inn No. 2 - Was opened in the 1950s and has been visited by Presidential Candidates, even featured in an episode of The West Wing.

• Joseph’s Steakhouse

• Orchard Green

• St. Burch Tavern

• Wilson's Ciderhouse & Venue

Things to see & do

• Devonian Fossil Gorge

• Englert Theatre - Opened in 1912,

• Gaslight Village - Some of the buildings were built in 1860.

• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum - Herbet Hoover is buried on-site.

• Johnson County Historic Poor Farm

• Old Capitol Museum

• Plum Grove Historic Home

• World’s Largest Wooden Nickel

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Mason City

Kind of Visit: Historical - It’s a small town with some great history - great for a weekend!

WHERE to stay

• Cupola Inn Bed and Breakfast

• Decker House Bed and Breakfast

• Historic Park Inn

• Larch Pine Inn

• Wright on the Park - A hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

WHERE to dine & drink

• Bill’s BBQ

• Lorados

• Northwestern Steakhouse

• Suzie Q Cafe

• The Hungry Mind

• The Quarry Restaurant & Tapas bar

Things to see & do

• Cannonball 457 - Built in 1912, the Cannonball 457 is the last remaining Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway steam locomotive.

• Charles H. MacNider Art Museum

• Music Man Square

• Rancho Deluxe

• Stockman House Museum

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Pella

Kind of Visit: Historical - A Dutch colony that’s great for a weekend!

Where to stay

• Cheesemaker’s Inn

• The Dwelling Place

• The Parsonage Bed and Breakfast

Where to dine & drink

• Dutchfix - There’s a speakeasy hidden in there.

• Frisian Farms Cheese House

• Liberty Street Kitchen

• Nana’s Table Cafe and Mercantile

• The Bread Board

Things to see & do

• Amsterdam School

• Cordova Observation Tower

• Klokkenspel

• Molengracht Canal

• Pella Historical Museum - Check out the exhibit on Wyatt Earp!

• Scholte House Museum & Gardens - Reserve a tea time in Maria’s Tea Room!

• Tassel Ridge Winery

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