9 Small Towns in Iowa to Visit for a Weekend Getaway
Iowa is a midwestern state full of idyllic small towns that will win visitors' hearts far and wide. Broadly reputed to be an agricultural State, Iowa delivers so much more than farm country, although its farm country is some of the best around. Better still are the unique characteristics and charms of the communities that comprise this tranquil region, offering one-of-a-kind experiences sure to please. Whether seeking a family-oriented holiday or something a little more romantic, Iowa provides memorable experiences for everyone, including historical districts, outdoor adventures, and a variety of water-related activities, but that is certainly not all. The following is a list of 9 small towns in Iowa to visit for a weekend getaway.
Decorah
Proudly steeped in its Norwegian heritage, Decorah, Iowa is a haven for outdoor adventures, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway. Decorah’s Cardinal Marsh is the primary location to enjoy while visiting Decorah, as it offers a network of marshes and a winding river, prime for hunting deer, turkey, and pheasant, to name a few. Fishing in trout streams or birdwatching is also a good way to spend the day here. If you prefer to get up close and personal with nature, visitors can enjoy the region’s wildlife by kayaking the peaceful waters. In the evening hours, drop by the Convergence Cider Works to enjoy locally crafted pear and apple ciders. If vegan options are your preference, the Blazing Star Restaurant offers local food in a comfortable environment with vegan and vegetarian cuisine on the menu.
Accommodations are luxuriously provided at the B&B on Broadway within the setting of a Victorian-era home just two short blocks away from the downtown center of Decorah. Each room enjoys its own private bathroom, spa showers, and whirlpool baths, offering guests a sumptuous stay in a relaxing environment. Guests will be delighted to enjoy a full homecooked breakfast in the morning made with delicious organic ingredients.
Pella
Having a reputation of being America’s Dutch Treasure, complete with America’s largest functioning windmill, Pella, Wisconsin is a delight for visitors and residents alike. In keeping with their Dutch heritage, Pella is the home of the annual Tulip Time Festival in the month of May, featuring celebrations around the famous tulip flowers amidst a sea of colourful tulip blossoms. Dressed in full Dutch attire, residents welcome guests to join them as they celebrate their culture with food, street vendors, and a variety of free events. During the Christmas season, Pella hosts their annual Dutch Christmas Market, which is a truly delightful way to celebrate the season. In the summertime, a stroll through Brinkhoff Park is also a lovely way to spend the day as visitors enjoy the free public gardens on offer. Pella is also the home to the Cordova Park and Observation Tower, which rises 106 feet in the air. A trek up its 170 steps will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of Lake Redrock.
The Cheesemakers Inn is an excellent option for guests to enjoy their weekend stay in Pella, offering accommodations in a turn-of-the-century craftsman-style home. This highly recommended Inn offers modern amenities in uniquely themed rooms, and guests enjoy homemade meals and delicious, Dutch-style breakfasts during their stay at one of Pella’s premier places to inns.
Le Claire
Le Claire, Iowa, has the reputation of being a lively and inviting community. It is a small town that has thoughtfully provided potential visitors the option to tailor-design their visit on its website. This handy feature makes Le Claire a great destination for a weekend getaway, as it offers the chance to fine-tune your visit according to your interests. With categories such as History Lovers, Girl’s Trip, or Fans of the outdoors, folks from out of town can decide which option suits them best and dive right in, planning an unforgettable experience in one of Iowa’s most charming small towns. As a river-centric town, Le Claire’s prosperity is rooted in working along the Mississippi River, and Le Claire Levee hosts various water-related events to celebrate its heritage. The most attractive of them all is an excursion aboard the Riverboat Twilight. The Riverboard Twilight is a Victorian-era riverboat, offering an exceptional cruise experience along the mighty Mississippi River where guests experience the river environment more intimately, allowing visitors to take in its majesty up close and locals say it’s the best way to truly experience this magnificent waterway.
A stay at the Old Mill Guest House will also provide views of the river while offering comfortable accommodations in a cozy and intimate setting. In fact, this inn won a spot on the list of the Most Romantic Getaways by River Travel Magazine in 2019. The inn is a mere 175 steps away from a local distillery and the famous Antique Archaeology shop.
Okoboji
Famous for its proximity to several glacier-carved lakes, Okoboji, Iowa, is the perfect place to book a weekend getaway for those who enjoy being on the water. Okoboji’s West Lake is a beautiful and pristine lake with its own unique shade of blue. Visitors are welcome to visit the Fish House, which calls West Lake home, and is open year-round. Known as the largest fish house in the world, ice-skating is a prime activity here in the winter, and fishing is the main attraction in the summer months. Also, in the warmer months, the Fish House provides cruises around West Lake, a unique experience not to be missed. Indoor fun is provided by the Higgins Museum, where the history of the United States bank note is on full display. This museum proudly showcases the country’s largest permanent display of United States bank notes, in fact, offering a delightful journey through past designs and features that have been used on bills over the years. Family fun is on offer in spades at Okoboji’s Bridges Bay Resort. This waterfront event center offers zipline rides, an outdoor swimming pool, and a swim-up bar, to name a few of its attractions. Arnold’s Park Amusement Park is also nearby for even more family-friendly adventure.
The Oakwood Inn in Okoboji is a perfect place to stay while in the area. Offering sumptuously mouth-watering breakfasts in the morning and 11 guestrooms to choose from–all newly renovated and modernized for your comfort. The Oakwood is also situated in a tranquil country setting with beautiful gardens surrounding the property, making your weekend stay in Okoboji memorable and relaxing.
Mount Vernon
Offering all the amenities and attractions visitors desire, the small town of Mount Vernon, Iowa, is host to a variety of antique shops, art studios, boutiques, cafes, and dining options. What sets it apart from all the rest is the fact that it is also an academic town and home to Cornell College. Mount Vernon considers itself to be a fringe region, making it a hub for the creative types. Mount Vernon also features 3 historical districts, including the Downtown Commercial, Ash Park, and Cornell Campus districts. Walking tours are one of the best ways to see these areas while visiting Mount Vernon, which provides a chance to view the beautiful historic homes that populate the streets, built in eras ranging from 1895 to 1919 and showcasing architectural styles ranging from Victorian, Queen Anne to American Four Square.
The Brackett House Bed and Breakfast offers guests comfortable accommodations within walking distance to the downtown core. Bracket House is in close association with Cornell University and features rooms on the top floor and common areas on the second floor where guests can socialize around a cozy gas fireplace while watching television on the big screen, making it a great place to unwind after a busy day of exploring.
Coralville
Coralville, Iowa, tops the list for a weekend getaway for those who enjoy antique cars. Home to the Antique Car Museum, this establishment features over 80 automobiles from eras ranging from 1899 to 1965. Visitors will enjoy trips down memory lane as they get an up-close opportunity to see how the automobile has evolved and advanced over the years, sure to please any antique cars enthusiast. Suppose your weekend getaway is a family affair. In that case, the kids will be thoroughly entertained at the Iowa’s Children’s Museum where they will be given the opportunity to explore all things related to science. Art projects, hands-on science experiments, and the museum’s own science lab are on offer here, presenting children with hours of educational fun. For even more entertainment, The Coralville Performing Arts Center offers full-scale musical performances, orchestras, and dance academy performances, to name a few.
A stay at the Drury Inn offers comfortable family-friendly accommodations in a laid-back atmosphere. It offers budget-friendly rooms and is a short distance by car to the Children’s Museum. It is also within walking distance of local dining and shopping options.
Indianola
Indianola, Iowa, is a mecca for hot-air ballooning and for those who love to see the night sky populated with these marvels of creativity and engineering, Indianola is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Home to the National Balloon Classic, every year, over 100 hot-air balloons descend upon the region as they make their ascent into the evening sky, presenting a breathtaking display full of vibrant colors, offering an awe-inspiring scene against the backdrop of a clear night sky. Known as a vibrant but tranquil town, Indianola enjoys proximity to the Lake Ahquabi State Park. Here, visitors are presented with various activities to enjoy, from relaxing on the lake’s sandy beaches to kayaking or hiking the six miles of trails within the park’s interior. Fishing for largemouth bass, trout, catfish, and panfish is also an option for fishing enthusiasts.
As for accommodations, visitors who wish to eschew the hotels for an experience under the stars will enjoy camping in the park. Guests are welcome to enjoy a spot in the campground for a night or two while surrounded by the natural beauty of the region.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake, Iowa, is situated on a spring-fed lake in the northern part of the state and it enjoys the reputation of being a pleasant, welcoming small town. One of the best-known attractions in Clear Lake is the Surf Ballroom, which is an establishment classified as an American Cultural Icon and a historical landmark by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is also known as the site of the Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson plane crash, putting the town on the map as an integral part of the story of the evolution of rock and roll. If you are more intrigued by the natural history surrounding Clear Lake, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the splendour. The Lady of the Lake cruise ship offers excursions around the lake that last for 90 minutes. When the cruise is over, visitors are welcomed to enjoy a variety of water activities, such as boating and fishing.
The Larch Pine Inn Bed and Breakfast is a choice location for visitors spending the weekend in Clear Lake, offering highly praised accommodations within landscaped grounds and comfortable rooms designed with guests in mind. The Inn offers full breakfast every morning and comfortable beds to rest and relax in every night. It also features a wrap-around porch and is within walking distance to major attractions within the town limits.
Fort Madison
Life along the majestic Mississippi River is even better when experienced during a weekend getaway in Fort Madison, Iowa. This locale is home to the first military garrison ever to be built in the Upper Mississippi region and the Historic Iowa State Penitentiary. Both establishments offer a treasure trove of historical insight into the past, and the Penitentiary itself boasts over 175 years of preserved stories and history, but that’s not all. Fort Madison is also home to the Tri-State Rodeo, which is considered to be one of the best rodeos in the circuit by the Rodeo Cowboys Association. A day of free admission is offered to military personnel during the week-long event, and visitors can expect to enjoy seven full days of live music and entertainment.
Fort Madison also has its breweries and wineries for visitors to partake in and when its time to kick back and unwind a stay at the Kingsley Inn will be sure to please. The Inn is a multi-level brick building offering a variety of luxuriously appointed rooms in the backdrop of stunning historical architecture.
In conclusion, it is not difficult to see why Iowa is an excellent destination for a weekend getaway. Packed to the brim with charm and attractive things to do and see, these nine small towns in Iowa offer a great example of the diversity that exists in each unique community. Antique car enthusiast will quench their thirst for knowledge at the Antique Car Museum in Coralville. At the same time, children will discover nothing but pure delight as they explore the town’s Children’s Museum. History enthusiasts will drift away on a sea of nostalgia when visiting Fort Madison’s former State Penitentiary and military garrison. The region's proud Dutch heritage is on full display for all to enjoy while visiting the town of Pella and fishing enthusiasts will be delighted to cast their line while visiting Clear Lake. Whatever your preference may be, Iowa’s small towns have plenty to entice visitors on a weekend getaway.
