Dexter Sign Photo by Jody Halsted www.havekidwilltravel.com
About 30 miles west of Des Moines is the “one horse town” of Dexter. It’s a small town, easy to bypass; if you did detour through you wouldn’t think much of it.
Which would be a shame. Within this town lies history, entertainment and some of the country’s best chocolates. Let me show you around… Read More »
The Amana Colonies may be one of Iowa’s best kept secrets. Founded in 1855 by the Inspirationists, the six villages positioned a mile or two apart- and no more than an hour by ox cart- would go on to become on of the longest lived and largest communal societies in America. In 1861 the village of Homestead (known today as the place Ashton Kutcher grew up) was added to give the communities access to the railroad.
The Amana Colonies are west of Iowa City, just off Interstate 80. For a bit of “Amana Light” stop in Little Amana, just off the interstate. Here you will find two great German restaurants, a gift shop filled with amazing Amana wines, fresh meats, woolens, woodworks and crafts, the Wasserbahn Waterpark at the Holiday Inn and an Iowa original restaurant: Maid Rite.
But to really enjoy the community of villages plan a weekend.
You will want to begin in Amana (the other villages are Middle Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana) as the visitor’s center is located in the center of the village. Housed in an old corn crib and refinished by the amazing artists from the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop the exterior gives no indication of the beauty inside. Here you can rent bikes to explore the colonies, book a room at one of the many B&Bs, find out about events, get maps and information. You won’t get out of here easily; the staff are full of information and eager to share as much information as you’re willing to receive. Before you leave be sure to climb to the top and view the village from the cupola. Read More »
By Jody at Have Kid Will Travel
“Our state fair is a great state fair…”
The Iowa State Fair is legendary: with a book, movies and musical written about it millions of visitors descend on Des Moines, Iowa every year in August for the 10 day ag-stravaganza.
Iowa State Fair Butter Cow 2008
Whether you’re coming to see the butter cow- sculpted from 550 pounds of butter- or the largest bull, to ride pulled by a soy diesel powered tractor or glide over the treetops, or to eat food on a stick, the Iowa State Fair has something for everyone.
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Capital of the World
by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children
Did you know that more ice cream is made in LeMars, Iowa, than anywhere else in the world? The people of LeMars do, and Blue Bunny, the manufacturer of all that ice cream, is proud of the fact. They’ve created a museum and visitor center that tells the Blue Bunny story.
Blue Bunny Factory Simulation
At the Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center, the history of the family-owned company is told through artifacts and films that tell of the beginnings of the company, how it got its name, and the history of ice cream itself. Visitors then enter a mock-up of the factory line. Although not an actual factory tour, the sights, sounds, and even smells give visitors a feel for the ice-cream-making process. Then it’s on to an interactive computer area, before exiting through the gift shop to the best part of the place–the old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor
Our kids enjoyed choosing what flavor of cone they were going to have. Some of the concoctions on the menu were mouth-watering, but we stuck with simple on this trip. Pictures from the old days of Blue Bunny entertained us while we waited for our ice cream to arrive.
The Ice Cream Capital of the World Visitor Center is worth a stop if you’re ever in the area of LeMars, Iowa.
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
