8 Most Scenic Small Towns in Iowa
Located in the upper Midwestern region of the United States, Iowa is a place of rural landscapes and breathtaking beauty. It is also the only state bordered by two navigable rivers: the Mississippi River on the east side and the Missouri River on the west side. One of the more rural states in the country, Iowa, has a scattering of scenic large and small towns. Its small towns come with beautiful scenery alongside its rural communities, with numerous lakes and lush wilderness consisting of steep hills and mountainous valleys.
Spirit Lake
Part of what is known as "the Great Lakes of Iowa," this small town in Iowa is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, with a population of just over 5,500. The scenic lake also borders with the state of Minnesota. There is something to do every season of the year in this beautiful small town.
There are more than 100 miles of walking trails in the county Spirit Lake is located in. Ten miles of those trails are within the town itself. These trails offer a beautiful and safe place for those who use them to walk, run, bike, rollerblade, or cross-country ski.
One of the most gorgeous parks in the area is Isthmus Park. A total of 5 acres with 1,000 feet of the east upper Lake Okoboji’s shoreline comes with a boardwalk, two floating docks, a canoe ramp, and a fishing dock. There is also an RV camp, a lovely walking trail, picnic tables, several grills, and handicap-accessible bathrooms.
For delightful food and wonderful service, check out the Pizza Ranch. A small franchise that got its start in Hull, Iowa and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021. This pizza place boasts delicious hand-made dough and an option for a buffet meal.
One place to stay with adults traveling without young ones is the Oakwood Inn. An older-styled estate located on the shores of the Great Lakes of Iowa. Each room offers breakfast, and beautiful views of the grounds and landscapes and also boasts a fireplace.
Decorah
A town to delight any outdoor enthusiast, this charming small river town has a population of just over 7,500. There are places to kayak, go bicycling, and view the gorgeous nature. Decorah has become the center of Norwegian-American culture with its Norwegian settler history. Every July, the town hosts and celebrates the Nordic Fest. With the first festival taking place in 1967, Decorah has seen nearly 60 years of this wonderful festival. It is an event for the family to enjoy delicious food, homemade traditional crafts, a lively and colorful parade, various entertainment, several sporting activities, and a mesmerizing fireworks display. It takes place at the end of July, starting on a Thursday and ending with the fireworks on Saturday night.
A unique staple of this town is the Kanpai Soda Shop. The shop offers a wide variety of soda choices, specialty candy, Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins popcorn, and Sprecher’s Root beer on tap. There are even more than 30 varieties of root beer! For a hidden local wonder, check out the restaurant Bambino's, just a short drive from Decorah. It's home to the best burger in Iowa. Considered to have an at-home type of atmosphere, the restaurant is a wonderful place for filling food and delicious soup and to have fun with a game of pool.
To have a souvenir to remember your trip by (other than the pictures of the gorgeous landscapes), or to have amazing hand-made crafts, be sure to check out Heavenly Made. It’s considered to be the original Gnome shop in the area, and it’s filled with a large variety of gift items. These include home decorations, garden art, ceramics, jewelry, and wind spinners, as well as ceramic, fabric, wood, and metal gnomes. They also welcome custom orders.
Algona
There is a lot of history to be found in this gorgeous town. The population of Algona is nearly 5,500. The town is mostly known for the part it played in World War II, where it housed an internment camp that housed more than 8,000 Germans and Italians, with a museum that houses historical artifacts. However, as it moves past its history and into the present, it has become the place for several local delights and festivals. The highlights of this community include the Founders’ Day Celebration and the Band Day festival. The 76th Band Day Festival will take place on October 5th, 2024. The festival will be host to a variety of floats, vehicles, and school marching bands parading, followed by a field competition.
The 138-acre Ambrose A. Call State Park can be found a short two miles southwest of the city. The park is located by the east fork of the Des Moines River. There is biking and/or walking with the Algona Recreational Trail, with more than two miles. A log-style cabin built in 1928 is within the park for reserved group get-togethers. There is also an 18-hole golf course winding through wooded areas and open prairies within the park.
The Train Wreck Winery is a local winery where some of the state's best wines are created. The name is a tribute to a historic train accident that occurred in 1924 on the land adjacent to the Vineyard, the Clark Century Farm. It is now owned by NFL Superbowl champion, Dallas Clark. The rural landscape of this winery is something to enjoy while sampling locally created wine.
Pella
Known also by its local nickname "Little Holland," this scenic small town has a population of just over 10,000. It’s a place to experience history and its founding influences.
It is home to the Vermeer Mill, the largest working grain windmill in the United States, and it also has a replica of a Dutch square named Molengracht, which is complete with a canal and is located right off Main Street. The Square is home to various shops, restaurants, a hostelry, a movie theatre, and a full-size working drawbridge, many of which are housed in beautiful historical-looking buildings. The Pella Opera House which is located within the Molengracht replica square was built in 1900 and was renovated in 1990. It’s a common local and tourist destination. It features gorgeous stained-glass windows and ornate tin ceilings.
Every year, the Tulip Time Festival takes place in Pella during the early days of May. It is a celebration of Pella's Dutch heritage. The three-day festival includes tulip gardens, performances, music, food, and daily parades.
Lake Red Rock is a reservoir in part of the Des Moines River. The completion of the reservoir created the largest lake in Iowa in 1969. It is a beautiful place full of wonderful scenery to take in, with options for walking, biking, and hiking. Fishing can also be enjoyed on this scenic lake!
Elk Horn
A town full of Danish influences, this town has a staggeringly small population of 601. It houses an authentic, operational Danish Windmill, the only one in the United States. It was purchased from Denmark itself, from the town of Norre Snede, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, and reconstructed in Elk Horn in 1976 by 300 volunteers. It has become one of the more popular tourist destinations in Iowa in the last 40 years.
Elk Horn has a number of seasonal outdoor exhibits to visit, Vikinghjem, Morning Star Tiny Chapel, and Ebeltoft Village just to name a few. The small town is also home to the Museum of Danish America which is three stories full of constantly revamped exhibits.
There are also several local parks to enjoy. The Elk Horn City Park houses a swimming pool on its grounds, along with a playground, a putt-putt golf course, and areas to play tennis, basketball, and volleyball.
A popular event in Elk Horn is the annual Tivoli Fest which happens every Memorial weekend at the end of May. This anticipated festival has the annual Tivoli Fest parade, the Official Iowa Craft Beer tent, multiple entertainment stages, fireworks, and craft vendors.
Waverly
With a population of just over 10,000, the town of Waverly is a vibrant, and beautiful place to live and visit. It is the home of Wartburg College. This college town boasts a wonderful local community, with its business district located alongside the Cedar River and a number of recreational assets located throughout the town.
The Waverly Golf Course is a scenic 18-hole course located within the town. It can be a fun and pleasurable experience for all ages and skills.
One of the parks in Waverly is Kohlmann Park. Many go to this park for a number of events and outdoor entertainment. The Shades of Rhythm Amphitheater, built in 2014 on the banks of the Cedar River, offers an open gathering space for people to enjoy public and private events. Several concerts and the Waverly Oktoberfest take place in this scenic location.
The cutely named Wild Carrot is a local restaurant café, and gift shop. This place offers an atmosphere of community with its eclectic souvenirs and home-cooked food.
For an enjoyable trail to walk or bike, check out the Waverly Rail Trail. It starts at the scenic downtown Cedar Bridge in Waverly and passes over eight bridges and underneath two roads. This trail, or rather, series of trails, offers a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Orange City
First called Holland, then renamed in honor of Dutch Royalty for Sir William of Orange, this town houses a population of 6,200. This small town is another in Iowa that shows off its Dutch influence and heritage, including an annual tulip festival.
A historic building in Orange City is the Sioux County Courthouse, which was finished construction in 1904. It is in the architectural style of a Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse. This gorgeous piece of architecture and history is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Orange City also has a gorgeous specialty gift shop named Hands Around the World. It is a fair-trade store with many items to choose from. With unique decorative items, beautiful jewelry, special coffee blends, and chocolate imported from several third-world countries, there is no shortage of something to find in this shop.
To show off its Dutch heritage, Windmill Park has six replica windmills. It also has a Dutch-style bridge, and water pump with a canal. The park's picnic shelter is designed with Dutch architecture influence as well. It is a wonderful place to sit and relax, to appreciate the atmosphere the park offers.
Eldora
Located on the eastern edge of the Altmont Moraine, a glacial moraine, Eldora has a population of 2,600. The town's claim to fame is to be the filming location for the 1996 movie Twister. The climatic part of the movie with the F5 tornado was filmed at the Old Follett house in Eldora.
Alongside the Iowa River is the Pine Lake State Park. It houses 668 acres with a beautiful mix of the river, lake, and woodland within its boundaries. The park was dedicated in 1926, which makes it one of the oldest and earliest state parks in Iowa. Visitors can enjoy a number of buildings that were built during the 1930s. There are several walking and biking trails located in the park, which range from smooth and easy, to rough and difficult. There is a picnic shelter and several campgrounds and cabins to utilize.
The local community and its tourists can also check out the Backwoods Gallery, a wonderful gift shop located in the town. It offers everything from home décor to candles, to food and pillows.
Before you go, do not forget to check out the Hardin County Farm Museum. It is an older farm that has been restored to house a museum where the area’s agricultural past has been preserved to educate the future. It’s a beautiful site that can be enjoyed at any age.
Iowa is a state full of beautiful scenery, delightful influences from those who settled in the area, and a wonderful history to explore. There is no shortage of places to see and visit, events to participate in, and history to learn about in the most scenic towns. There is always something to do in this gorgeous landscape.
