9 Best Towns in Iowa for a Winter Getaway
Across all seasons, Iowa is adorable, homely, and always an exciting place to spend a weekend getaway or an extended stay. However, with winter comes a unique ambiance and scenery that combine to create unforgettable memories. During the season, the small towns of Iowa transform into winter wonderlands and serve as outdoor playgrounds for a range of winter sports. For these towns, winter is not a time to curl up indoors or sit by the fireplace. It is a season to get outdoors and play. So, without further ado, here are nine small towns to visit in Iowa this winter for an exciting getaway.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake is a city on the shores of a massive lake with the same name. The small city of approximately 7,600 people is centered around the lake and thrives in summer when its population dramatically increases. As a result, winter here is calm and uncrowded making a winter getaway here relaxing and magical. During the cold season, Clear Lake freezes and offers its icy landscape for fishing, while the surrounding areas become snowshoeing terrains. If staying for a while, visit the lake in the evening to catch picture-perfect sunset views. However, it would be worth the wait to visit in February when the town hosts its thrilling Color The Wind Winter Kite Festival. This sensational winter spectacle features a variety of colorful kites adorning the skies and complementing the frozen lake.
Lakeside Inn and Best Western Holiday Lodge offer prime accommodations for guests in this town.
Storm Lake
Storm Lake is a small charming town named after the lake of the same name in western Iowa. The town is particularly renowned for its lively winter season as it is home to attractions like a frozen lake, which offers skating and ice fishing adventures. In addition, areas around the lake are lavish with trails that set the stage for snowboarding and snowmobiling. If visiting in December, Santa's Castle is a must-visit as it features some of the world's largest collections of antique animated Christmas characters.
Choice accommodations in town for a getaway include Super 8 By Wyndham and King's Pointe Waterpark Resort.
Oskaloosa
For winter holiday lovers, there is no better place to be during the season than Oskaloosa - the famed city of lights. When visiting here in December, head to the downtown City Square Park and Courthouse to admire over 250,000 lights that twinkle like the stars and are even brighter. Next, be sure to attend the Oskaloosa Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, which is held in the weekend after Thanksgiving each year at the Oskaloosa Square and features several lighted floats. Outdoor enthusiasts can gear up for a thrilling winter adventure at the Oskaloosa Skate and Bike Park, where skating might be tricky but worth every attempt.
Fairfield Inn and EverSpring Inn and Suites are some of the best accommodations in Oskaloosa for a winter getaway.
Bellevue
Bellevue is naturally endowed with captivating landscapes that create postcard-perfect views. It is located by the Mississippi River on the east and sits in the valley between two bluffs on its North and South. With Mill Creek on the west, this small town is naturally blessed and stands tall on Iowa's tourism landscape. In winter, river and bluff views become magical, and visitors can enjoy these views with their eyes or create memorable photographs with picturesque backgrounds. Visitors to this town must not also miss out on the 788-acre Bellevue State Park, which is located on the shores of the Mississippi River. Here, the Dyas camping unit of the park boasts 4 miles of hiking trails that evolve into cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding trails in winter.
Mont Rest Inn and Offshore Inn and Suites offer some of the best stays in Bellevue.
Boone
Boone is just 45 miles north of Des Moines, the state's biggest city, and offers the perfect winter escape for any visitor. In this town, the best winter memories are created at Seven Oaks Recreation, a winter paradise for snowboarding, snow tubing, and skiing. The slope here comprises 11 runs, ranging from beginner to expert so that everyone can have a field day outdoors. And that’s not all this town has to offer. Ledges State Park is 4 miles to the south of Boone and is one of the most visited parks in Iowa. The park is famed for its most popular attractions: a sandstone gorge created by Pea's Creek, Canyon Drive, a one-way road down the hill and via the gorge. A visit here in winter reveals a fresh and scenic perspective of the gorge, and the frozen Pea's Creek becomes a playground for skiing when the fluffy snow descends.
Top accommodations in Boone for a winter getaway include Cobblestone Inn and Suites and Baymont by Wyndham.
Okoboji
Okoboji is a small town on the eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake with a population of just over 750. However, this population triples in winter as the town transforms into an icy paradise and playground. Visitors to this town during this season can start by visiting the frozen west and east Okoboji lakes surrounding the town for some ice fishing activities or visit the Fish House in Okoboji Boat Works where ice skating equipment and an outdoor rink are offered.
Okoboji has a few for beach lovers, like Arnold's Park Public Beach and Ainsworth-Orleans Beach, where visitors can build snow castles and admire the sunset even in winter.
Oakwood Inn and AmericInn by Wyndham are some of the best accommodations in town.
Cherokee
Cherokee is a town in Cherokee County that comes alive every other season, winter inclusive. Home to around 5,000 residents, the town is the perfect place to avoid the crowd. It is home to interesting attractions like the Larson Lake and Little Sioux River,, offering ice fishing opportunities and spectacular scenery. Cherokee also hosts Kosier Spring Lake Park which is a top destination to experience the finest snowy scenes while engaging in snowshoeing and cross-country ski activities. Away from winter sports, the city hosts a Jazz Festival every January, one of the fun ways to dance off the cold.
Cherokee Inn and Best Western La Grande Hacienda offer some of the best accommodations in the city.
Mason City
Centered around the Winnebago River in Cerro Gordo County, Mason City is endowed with imposing hilly landscapes, and scenic parks whitewashed in snow. On a winter getaway here, visitors will enjoy visiting East Park, which is home to two rivers, Winnebago and Willow Creek, and offers its gentle slopes for snow sledding. Georgia Hanford Park also invites visitors to enjoy sliding on its sledding hill and go hiking later. For even more adventures, visitors can head to the Lime Creek Nature Center, which has paved trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow biking.
The best accommodations include Days Inn by Wyndham, and Hampton Inn and Suites.
Decorah
Decorah, a small town as beautiful as its name, evolves in winter into a sensational wonderland, offering satisfaction for all types of visitors. This town is famed for its Nordic heritage, and in winter, it expresses more of this root with Nordic skiing. The town features an 11-mile Trout Run Trail, which offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities while featuring sculptures and LED lighting on its path. If this trail is not enough, Decorah also has the Palisade Park and the Nor-Ski Runs Ski Area, where winter activities are offered. In addition, the Upper Iowa River flows through the town, but that transition halts when it freezes in winter and becomes an ice-fishing hot spot. For something unique, visitors can delve into the town's Norwegian history at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum.
B&B on Broadway and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott are top accommodations in Decorah.
Winter is a great time to travel to Iowa and these towns in the state prove that. In addition to being super beautiful, these towns are also choked with a long list of activities for visitors. From the charming Clear Lake to the exciting Cherokee, each town on this list comes with so much winter magic and even features holiday cheer that will fascinate every winter visitor.
