11 Prettiest Small Towns In Iowa
Iowa is often associated with its rolling fields of golden corn and other agricultural goods, yet within this sea of cornfields that the Hawkeye State is famous for fostering thrive some of the prettiest small towns in Iowa suitable for everyone’s vacation time. These charming destinations boast breathtaking scenery, rich history, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere that will captivate and astound you with its multitude of attractions. Whatever your tastes or preferences in small towns, you will undoubtedly find the many small towns in Iowa some of the prettiest destinations that offer a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Burlington
Burlington, about 78 miles from Davenport on the Mississippi River, was originally a Mesquakie village called Shoquoquok where Native Americans harvested flint to make their tools and weapons. Between the period of 1837 to 1838, Burlington served as the territorial capital of Wisconsin; however, between 1838 to 1840, the small town became the territorial capital of Iowa. Although Des Moines is now the state capital of Iowa, Burlington preserves many of its industrial and commercial buildings which you can tour at the Heritage Hill National Historic District. Snake Alley, whose architecture is similar to snaking vineyard paths found in France and Germany, functioned as a route for many horse-drawn carriages in the past, and was featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not for being "Unbelievably Crooked" and the Number One Odd Spot in Ripley's Guide to the Curious Corners of America. On Memorial Day, you can watch the Snake Alley Criterium where a bike race goes through the winding path of Snake Alley.
Dyersville
“If you build it, they will come” is the most popular quote from the iconic film "The Field of Dreams," whose real-life setting can be found in the small town of Dyersville. Its vast surrounding cornfields and baseball plots continue to captivate and fascinate visitors to this beautiful small town. Additionally, visitors to Dyersville can be interested in other quaint and accommodating oddities such as the National Farm Toy Museum, home of a collection of scale-model farm tractors from the Ertl Company. The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, likewise, is a welcoming destination that can accommodate over 1,000 individuals for communion. Only about 70 miles north of Iowa City, you fulfil your own dreams and aspirations within the cornfields and baseball-themed attractions of Dyersville.
Decorah
Nestled in the Driftless Region of northeast Iowa, Decorah is an exquisite and rejuvenating vacation retreat for those enthusiastic for the breathtaking sceneries of Iowa. In a region which the last ice age and its glaciers formed, the town is located on an ancient impact crater formed approximately 465 million years ago when a football-stadium-sized meteor crashed on Earth in central Winneshiek County. The Decorah Impact Crater is one of 200 recognized impact craters on the entire planet, and in 2010 the fossilized remains of a 6-foot sea scorpion, Pentecopterus decorahensis, were discovered a hundred feet underneath Decorah. These days, Decorah’s modern landscapes include picturesque limestone bluffs and the meandering Upper Iowa River, making it a pristine destination for kayaking, hiking, and panoramic drives. One of the town’s most stunning natural features is Dunning’s Spring Park, a bountiful and bucolic haven with a picturesque waterfall for you to photograph. Decorah’s vibrant heritage from Norway is on full display at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, where several artifacts from one of the Scandinavian countries in Europe can be admired and perused. Whether admiring the breathtaking scenery, delving into the town’s prehistoric or more recent history, or simply enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, Decorah accommodates newcomers from all over with its pretty attractions.
Pella
Stepping into the pretty town of Pella feels like being transported to a small village in Europe, due mainly to Pella’s cultural connections to the nation of the Netherlands. Many of the Old World architecture and Dutch heritage you will find in Pella have remained unchanged since immigrants from the Netherlands moved to the New World in search of a new home. Every spring, the famous Tulip Time Festival sees thousands of vibrant tulips bloom, and even the residents bloom in vivacious colors as they don traditional Dutch attire to celebrate their ancestry. At the Vermeer Windmill, the tallest working windmill in the US, you can take selfies and groupies of an iconic Dutch structure in the middle of America. Meanwhile, at the Vermeer Museum & Global Pavilion, you can learn more about the history of Pella and how the immigrants persevered to build a new home in the New World. For those who enjoy outdoor recreation, the nearby Lake Red Rock is a plentiful space for picnicking and boating for anyone’s benefit. Visitors to this adorable and admirable small town will not regret their vacation in the pretty village of Pella.
McGregor
Tucked alongside the Mississippi River where Iowa meets with its neighbor Wisconsin, McGregor is a splendid small town neighboring the city of Marquette. To the north of McGregor lies the Effigy Mounds National Monument, a Native American burial mound with over 14 miles of trails and treks for you to go wandering about. To the south are Pikes Peak State Park and the Sny Magill North Cedar Creek Wildlife Management Area, the former containing dramatic bluffs where one can get exquisite views of the majestic flow of the Mississippi River. McGregor’s well-preserved 19th-century buildings make travelers feel as if they are traversing a location in the bygone past, and several antique shops, cozy cafés, and boutique inns line the streets for all to sample. For more recreational tours of McGregor’s wilderness, you can head over to the Bloody Run Wildlife Management Area to the west of town, or head east to explore the many small islands and lakes within the Mississippi River and within the state border separating Iowa from Wisconsin.
Elkader
The town of Elkader, whose name is inspired by Emir Abd el-Kader, a renowned Muslim leader from Algeria, is the only destination in the US that is named after a Muslim hero. Only about 20 miles from McGregor, the town is set against the backdrop of the exhilarating Turkey River Valley and has cultural connections with its sister city of Mascara in Algeria. The town’s historic Keystone Bridge, a well-maintained stone arch bridge from the 1800s, crosses over the Turkey River and offers great spots for photography in one of the prettiest small towns in Iowa. At the Earthmoving Legacy Center, you can marvel at a vast collection of historic earthmoving equipment which spans from the 1880’s to 1940, focusing primarily on the structural development of the Caterpillar. Meanwhile, at destinations like the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge and the Elkader City Park, you can go sojourning through some of Iowa’s impeccable and impressive wilderness. There are many more delights and spectacles to enjoy in the unique small town of Elkader, so consider yourself blessed upon your arrival to this pretty little village in Iowa.
Le Claire
Perched along the beautiful Mississippi River where Iowa meets with the state of Illinois, Le Claire is a worthy destination brimming with secrets and splendid discoveries worth investigating. Best known as the birthplace of legendary showman Buffalo Bill Cody, the town affectionately honors its hero with exhibits and the life story of the man at the Buffalo Bill Museum. Every year on the month of January, the townsfolks soar with amazement as flocks of bald eagles migrate to Le Claire to make the town their winter home, and the Le Claire Eagle Festival assures both the eagles and visitors alike with a good balance and harmony between man and bird. In December, on the other hand, you can attend the equally beloved Le Claire Buffalo Stampede Sweepstakes where you are encouraged to take selfies or pictures of bedecked bison and similar statues all over Le Claire. The Mississippi River itself plays a central role in the town’s appeal, where one can undertake river cruises aboard the Twilight Riverboat. At Antique Archaeology, the shop made famous by the TV show American Pickers, you can find a variety of goods worth purchasing at your leisure. There is no deficit of desirable attractions to savor in Le Claire, so give yourself this opportunity to see more of what this pretty small town has to offer.
Winterset
Famous for its covered bridges, Winterset is a wonderful and welcoming destination settled about 41 minutes from the city of Des Moines. Among the renowned covered bridges you can find in Winterset are the Bridges of Madison County, which you might be familiar with thanks to both the novel and movie that they are based on and which you can cross at your leisure. Other historic bridges and landmarks include the Historic Holliwell Covered Bridge, the Historic Cedar Covered Bridge, and the Clark Tower. Being the birthplace of American actor John Wayne, you can learn more about the man and his cinematic career at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. For those who appreciate the outdoors, the surrounding countryside beckons with numerous scenic drives through rolling hills and through the Pammel State Park and the Fellowship Forest. Winterset is definitely not the sort of town you should overlook on your memorable adventures throughout the prettiest small towns in Iowa.
The Amana Colonies
The Amana Colonies, a collection of seven historic villages which immigrants from Germany founded long ago, is a breathtaking and humble dwelling place for those excited for the laidback and simplistic lifestyle in Iowa’s prettiest small towns. This conglomerate of villages, so named from the word “amana” in the Song of Solomon 4:8 which means “remain true,” remains one of the best German-themed locations in Iowa to see beautifully preserved stone buildings, handmade crafts, and traditional German cuisine. Only about 19 miles from Cedar Rapids, visitors can explore a handful of museums which detail the community’s fascinating history, from German immigrants’ escape from persecution and economic depression in Germany to settling and governing a small plot of land in Iowa. Many tourists and newcomers to the Amana Colonies might be interested in a number of yearly festivities in this village congregation, among them the Wurst Festival on June 13th and 14th, the town’s version of an Oktoberfest, and Christmas celebrations within the Tannenbaum Forest. In any case, you will be having a merry and remarkable time in the beautiful Amana Colonies.
Bellevue
As its name suggests, Bellevue offers “beautiful views” of the Mississippi River and other scenic locations nearby. The main highlight you can enjoy in Bellevue is the Bellevue State Park, where newcomers can observe eagles soaring above the water of the Mississippi River. Elsewhere, both the Little Mill Wildlife Management Area and the Spruce Creek Park provide more bucolic ambiances for those wanting an escape into Iowa’s natural landscapes. Bellevue’s historic downtown area features charming storefronts, cozy cafés, and local boutiques, which are all perfect locations worth perusing. No matter the attractions or features you can find, there will always be beautiful views worth seeing in the pretty town of Bellevue.
Bentonsport
One of Iowa’s most picturesque historic villages, Bentonsport thrusts people back into the 19th century with its well-maintained and impeccably preserved historic architecture, notably an old-fashioned general store, artisan shops, and inns. Continuing to be a thriving steamboat port on the Des Moines River since the mid-1800s, Bentonsport sports a historic iron bridge and several riverside walking trails where you can roam around at your leisure. One can savor morning or afternoon walks through the Bentonsport River-Side County Park and along the Des Moines River. Furthermore, you can go sojourning through the lush outdoor landscapes of the Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. In this remote and remarkable small town, you can spend your lavish evenings in Bentonsport at quaint lodgings like the Mason House Bed and Breakfast or Alexander’s Cottage.
Each of these small towns showcases the Hawkeye State’s beauty and tranquility in a region that produces the most amount of corn in all of the US. Whether you are looking for breathtaking landscapes, learning more about the developmental and historic backstories surrounding Iowa’s prettiest small towns, or simply wanting to experience unforgettable moments in these splendid destinations, you will not be disappointed by your journey through the prettiest small towns in Iowa. This year, discover for yourself why places like Bentonsport, the Amana Colonies, Elkader, and more are considered by many the prettiest small towns in Iowa worth visiting.
