11 Incredible Trips In Iowa That Will Change Your Life

After scouring the state, we picked out eight of the very best waterfalls that offer relatively easy access, and then we mapped them out in an easy to follow route. The total trip is 434 (incredibly scenic) miles with an estimated eight and a half hours drive time. You can find more info here.

The Iowa Great Lakes are a group of natural glacial lakes, and with some of the best water recreation, beaches and tourist activities for summer fun in the area, it’s easy to see why we love it. West Okoboji Lake, especially, is known for its pristine blue waters and exceptionally high water quality. This beautiful natural destination is a great way to have a memorable beach getaway. You can find more info here.

Who in the world would have thought it possible to walk on a 375 million-year-old ocean floor anywhere, let alone in Iowa? Well, you can do exactly that. A visit to the Devonian Fossil Gorge will reveal to you wonders you’ve never seen before, like fossils and limestone bedrock that date back to 200 million years before dinosaurs roamed the earth. You can find more info here.

The Loess Hills is a natural oasis that takes you beyond the usual Iowa landscape. Located along the western border of Iowa, the unique, stunning scenery will take your breath away. If you’re looking for a peaceful place full of natural wonder, Loess Hills is sure to deliver. You can find more info here.

There are so many beautiful places in Iowa, but most of the state’s landscape doesn’t bring to mind the lush fantasy world of Tolkien’s Middle Earth in Lord of the Rings. However, you’d be surprised that there is a state park right here in Iowa that might fool you into thinking you’ll run into a Hobbit around every corner. Maquoketa Caves State Park will definitely make you think you fell asleep and woke up in Middle Earth. You can find more info here.

Even if you’re a born and bred Iowan, you may not know that there is actually a real island hiding right here in the state. The tiny island town of Sabula, Iowa, is situated right on the Mississippi River and is home to roughly 600 people. You can find more info here.

Iowa has some pretty amazing "world’s largest" attractions, from a giant strawberry or ball of popcorn, to Albert the Bull, in Audubon. One of the most interesting and fun "world’s largest" attractions that Iowa has is the Iowa 80 Truckstop, the world’s largest truck stop. You can find more info here.

There’s a place in Iowa that feels like the ruins of an ancient civilization: The Shrine of the Grotto of Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. It consists of nine collective grottos depicting the life of Jesus Christ and is the largest man-made grotto in the world. The Grotto of Redemption contains over $4 million in minerals, and is visited by over 100,000 people annually. You can find more info here.

Just driving through Iowa, you’ll see acres and acres of thriving, beautiful farmland. In fact, Iowa is probably best known throughout the world for its farming industry. One of the most famous dairy farms in the world is actually located right here in Iowa, and they’re the makers of the incredibly delicious Maytag blue cheese. If you haven’t yet, you’ll definitely want to visit. You can find more info here.

The Fenelon Place Elevator, also known as the Fourth Street Elevator, is one of the most interesting and breathtaking attractions in Iowa. This small railway car (it’s only about 3 ft.) is located in Iowa’s oldest city, Dubuque. This elevator claims to be the shortest and steepest railroad in the world (although there are several others who also make this claim). It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is definitely worth the trip to Dubuque. You can find more info here.

Iowa boasts a healthy population of small towns. They’re scattered across the state, and they’re really what makes Iowa unique. Each community has an atmosphere that sets it apart from all of the others. The beautiful town of Pella, Iowa, is one of the most interesting and charming towns in the state, and you’ll definitely want to visit. You can find more info here.