7 Must-Visit Small Towns In Iowa
Iowa claims a wholesome chunk of the American Midwest. It's not the rowdiest of places, and all four seasons descend firmly upon it, but for many travelers, this is precisely what they crave. While there are some substantial cities, the Hawkeye State specializes in small towns – and there are a lot of them dispersed across its 99 counties. Today, we'll be looking at seven that cannot be skipped. These towns highlight the more modest, pleasant sides of nature. There are no snow-capped mountains or colossal desert canyons, but there are countless manicured parks, freshwater lakes with cute beaches, and river valleys that are ripe for adventure. And amidst the quiet beauty are sociable communities happy to greet first-timers into their independent businesses and rotating festivals. Let's take a closer look.
Eldora
Hardin County's Eldora is a humble city with a population of about 2,663 people (as of the 2020 census). This centralized community was built primarily on the West side of the Iowa River and now sits right next to Pine Lake State Park, with its two large swimming holes (i.e., Upper and Lower Pine Lake), the Pine Lake Country Club, a public campground, and multiple children's camps. Connected just South on the Iowa River via a pleasant hiking trail is Eldora City Park, home to a disc golf course and river tubing rental site (plus an additional drive-in campground). The exquisite exterior of the Hardin County Courthouse acts as a natural focal point for the town, with a handful of cute cafes and other flavorful local businesses hovering in its vicinity.
Pella
Down in Iowa's South-Central region, just 45 miles Southeast of Des Moines (the state capital), Pella is blessed with a distinct Dutch influence, owing to the immigrants from the Netherlands who founded it in 1847. This essence can be felt at Pella's Sunken Gardens Windmill and the Pella Historical Village & Vermeer Windmill (both in the heart of town), as well as Brinkhoff Park's windmill on the Central College campus, in conjunction with the hundreds of beds of tulips that are fostered each Spring (be sure to visit the three-day Tulip Time Festival at the beginning of May to see them at their peak). Just West of town, Iowa's largest lake (15,000 acres) provides an excellent summer outlet. The additional 35,000 acres of surrounding land include such highlights as Elk Rock State Park, Whitebreast Park, the Red Rock Dam, North Overlook Beach, the Cordova Observation Tower, and several campgrounds.
Decorah
In Iowa's Northeastern corner (an area known as "the Driftless" because it was skipped over by the glaciers of the last Ice Age), the Winneshiek County city of Decorah enjoys the beautiful scenery of the Upper Iowa River and its many surrounding parks. The natural decor of the hills and limestone bluffs is perfectly complemented by the community's Middle America, small-town vibe, and spiritual/creative side. Around the concave bend of the river, Chattahoochee Park, Will Baker Park (with its dazzling Pulpit Rock), Decorah Community Prairie, Dunning's Spring Park, Ice Cave Hill Park/Barnhart-Van Peenan Park, and Palisades Park (among other smaller ones) offer residents and tourists amble green spaces to explore. On the North side of the river, Luther College dominates the remaining acres, offering faith-based education, sporting venues, the Center for the Arts, and the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music. On the South side, the Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School is another unique educational outlet – this time boasting the works and tales of the early Norwegian immigrants.
Orange City
Over in Iowa's Northeastern corner, Orange City is another colorful college town with a palpable Dutch heritage. Orange City is the seat of Sioux County, which is not only a growing, family-friendly enclave but also ranks as the healthiest county in Iowa. The soul of the centralized liberal arts college propagates out into the community. Orange City nourishes theater, music, dance, and fine art and loves to pepper orange accents all around its crisp, otherwise green setting. Once again, a mosaic emerges just in time for the annual Tulip Festival, which in these parts draws over 100,000 visitors each May.
Okoboji
It may surprise some visitors to learn that Iowa has its own (self-proclaimed) Great Lakes region. There are seven natural lakes clustered in the Northwest, totaling 12,687 acres of watery goodness. Dickinson County's Okoboji stretches along much of the Eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake, as well as the first chunk of the Northern shore of East Okoboji Lake. Center Lake also sits just North of town, next to the Center Lake Wildlife Management Area. Sprawled amongst the Western lake are Pikes Point State Park, Gull Point State Park, and Emerson Bay State Recreation Area. Okoboji also has a simple lakeside beach and a full public golf course, as well as a string of entertainment venues (i.e., a movie theater and two performing arts theaters) on the East side of town.
Spirit Lake
Adjacent to Okojobi is another stellar summer resort lake-town. Spirit Lake capitalizes on the Western shore of East Okojobi's Northern arm, as well as the Southern aspect of the rotund Big Spirit Lake, which connects to Minnesota's Southwestern border. Either small city within Dickinson County makes for a perfect outlet for boating, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, hunting, and then shopping and dining at the end of the day. Big Spirit Lake offers even more attractions than its Southern peers. Visitors can set up camp (literally) in their preferred spots, such as Templar State Recreation Area, Marble Beach State Recreation Area, Mini-Wakan State Park, or a half-dozen public beaches equitably spaced around the lake.
Winterset
The seat of Madison County is known as the "Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa." Though a somewhat niche claim to fame, the six wooden-tunnel river crossings really do inject a delightful dose of quaintness. They also inspired the setting for the romance novel/film The Bridges of Madison County. The 5,000-resident-strong city of Winterset is also home to America's favorite cowboy (or rather, actor, known for portraying cowboys), John Wayne. Fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood can tour the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, which is just South of the Iowa Quilt Museum (for those with softer sensibilities). On the East side of town, a long string of North-South parks helps meet anyone's outdoor recreation quota. Try taking the paved/looped path down to the Clark Tower Historical Landmark on the Southern end. While seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Winterset is actually less than a 40-minute drive from Des Moines.
Iowa is exactly the type of under-the-radar state that many Americans need. If the raucous coastal beaches or jam-packed national parks of the past summer have you feeling a little world-weary, then an extended visit to Iowa will serve as a breath of fresh air. These seven small towns deliver an essential sense of community without ever encroaching on the lighter side of life. So, for your next couple's vacation or family road trip, get outside, get away from it all, and even experience an unexpected dose of European culture by driving through Iowa.
