8 Most Relaxing Iowa Towns
Iowa, also called The Hawkeye State after its indigenous bird, has no shortage of relaxing towns for exploration and rest. A part of the Union since 1847, many consider Iowa the quintessential Midwestern state. Straddling the mighty Mississippi River, the state has a welter of celebrated small towns where locals as well as out-of-state tourists can look around, slow down, and take it easy. These eight towns offer an appetizing menu of places to go and things to see and do when travelers need a place to unwind.
Clear Lake
The name alone suggests possibilities for relaxation. Clear Lake, just below Iowa's northern border with Minnesota, has around 7,600 inhabitants who know how to enjoy the local offerings outdoors and in. The town hosts a number of marinas and other boating options for those who enjoy getting out on the water. Other outside choices include the McIntosh Wildlife Management Area, and the town's City Park, both of which lie along the water, too. Live music fans will enjoy the Surf Ballroom and Museum, a historic performance space that first opened its doors in 1933.
Dyersville
The postcard-pretty town of Dyersville, with about 4,600 residents, is the stuff that (baseball) dreams are made of. Sitting west of Dubuque, the town served as the film location for "Field of Dreams," a 1989 feature about baseball, small towns, and dreams that might have been.
Aside from baseball and movies, Dyersville hosts a history reaching much farther back in time. James Dyer, an English immigrant from whom the town gets its name, built the Clarondon Hotel here in 1857, joining other settlers from Bavaria, Germany. An agricultural area, the town offers kids of all ages the National Farm Toy Museum, which takes its name and inspiration from the miniature farm-themed toy industry that started in Dyersville in the 1940s. These days, most visitors head for the Field of Dreams movie site east of town; other attractions include Westside Park and the historic Saint Francis Xavier Basilica Catholic Church.
Eldora
In north-central Eldora, population 2,600, the traveler will find a true slice of quiet Midwestern life. The restored Grand Theatre, first built in 1913, offers shows and entertainment, while outdoor fans will find their bliss on the town's promontory above the Iowa River. Adventurous types can go backpacking, fishing, inner-tubing, and rafting, all in or near town. Visitors needing a caffeine fix should head to Love a Latte or the Sunshine Cafe, both set along Edgington Avenue, the town's main drag. Fans of local and regional history will find lots to ponder at the Hardin County Historical House and the Eldora Welcome Center and Railroad Museum, reflecting the former importance of railroad activity in the area.
Elkader
Elkader, population of around 2,600, is a charming hamlet with a name drawn from a faraway history. Elkader is a simplification of Abd el-Kader, a mid-19th-century hero of the Algerian struggle against French colonial rule. The northeast town, set along the Turkey River, Elkader, forms part of Iowa's "Little Switzerland" area, so named for the immigrants who came her during the 19th century.
Elkader's downtown features local history museums, an opera house, and stately homes, and a stone bridge said to be the largest west of the Mississippi. Fun fact: Elkader holds the record as one of two locations of Iowa's lowest recorded temperature, of -47 degrees Fahrenheit, in Elkader's case in January 1996.
Fairfield
Fairfield, a town of 9,300 in southeast Iowa, offers a wide range of outdoor activities. The Fairfield Loop makes for a pleasant walking path, while the town's numerous parks offer everything from urban gardens to wildlife preserves and bird sanctuaries. A separate network of "water trails" invites those who prefer kayaking, paddleboarding, and similar outdoor activities. For arts fans, the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts promotes music, dance, and other lively forms of creative entertainment. A robust set of private art galleries dot the town's urban core.
LeClaire
LeClaire, with 4,700 residents, lies on the western bank of the Mississippi. Its name deries from Antoine LeClaire, a French-Canadian trader of mixed European and Native American origins, who once owned land here. The town's Cody Road Historic District, and the Buffalo Bill Museum, both celebrate the fact that "Buffalo Bill" Cody, a famous cowboy showman and precursor to Hollywood westerns, was born in the town.
Today, visitors can relax by the riverside, or ride the Riverboat Twilight, a steamboat refurbished to offer tourists a glimpse of bygone days along America's most famous river. Tourists in Le Claire needing a snack can find one at Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream, or at Shelley's Sweet Sensations, both in town.
McGregor
McGregor, with a population of just over 700, offers relaxation beyond its small scale. Lying on the west bank of the Mississippi, just over the Wisconsin state line, the town takes its name from a Scottish settler and descendant of legendary fighter Rob Roy McGregor. The latter Scot built in 1847 a ferry landing for crossing the river, and a town was born at this spot. Stories like these await the visitor at the McGregor Historical Museum in town. A more recent, light-hearted history stems from the circus wagon on display downtown, where the Ringling Brothers are said to have put on their first show.
For food and fun, head to the Old Man River Restaurant and Brewery near the Mississippi. North of McGregor, in neighboring Marquette, those with a gambling spirit can try their luck at the Casino Queen Marquette, a boat that hosts slot machines, card playing, and other games of chance, as well as live entertainment and more food.
Winterset
Winterset, a town of around 5,400 souls, is located in south-central Iowa and draws visitors through its various claims to fame. The town's Covered Bridges Scenic Byway has attracted readers, roadtrippers, and hopeless romantics ever since the hit romance novel-turned-movie The Bridges of Madison County, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, was released in 1995.
Winterset can also boast of being the birthplace of John Wayne, the legendary Hollywood film star, born here as Marion Robert Morrison. A nearby museum allegedly offers the 'largest diversified collection of John Wayne artifacts in existence.' Whether that's a hard fact or pure Hollywood, the town's Old Hollywood film fans keep returning to this charming town.
As these towns show, Iowa's list of relaxing locations runs long. Whether as the sites of famous films and stars, locally famous outdoor options, or the simple quiet of village-like places, Iowa's towns promise ample relaxation for visitors in need of a break. If Iowa is, for many, the most Midwestern of US states, it may play a second role as a magnet for tourists seeking peace, quiet, and a strong sense of place. It's no wonder why immigrant settlers chose Iowa and why so many visitors continue to find rest and repose in the Hawkeye State today.
