3 Iconic Places in Iowa That Look Way Cooler on Instagram

Have you ever seen a place online and thought, "Wow—I need to go to there." I definitely have, and most of the time, I am not disappointed. On occasion, however, the photos you see online may oversell, overhype, or fail to tell the whole story, which can result in a real-life letdown when you finally visit. Here's a trio of places in Iowa that I think are oversold in online images to illustrate my point.

1. Iowa 80 Truckstop - Walcott

Online photos of Iowa 80, the "World's Largest Truckstop" near Walcott, tend to portray the place in one of two ways: close interior shots of an interesting feature or exhibit, or wide exterior shots that attempt to illustrate the vastness of the place. What the photos often fail to capture is that, as large as it is, Iowa 80 is essentially just another truck stop or travel plaza. Outside, it's a massive field of concrete with an enormous expanse of real estate for truck parking, rows of gas pumps, and a large parking lot for passenger vehicles. Inside, you'll find a collection of familiar fast-food establishments, convenience shopping, and other services that travelers and over-the-road truckers may need.

There is a proper sit-down eatery, Iowa 80 Kitchen, which is a saving grace, because I do love a good truck stop diner. I would argue the truck stop's most unique feature is the on-site dentist's office—now that's something you don't see every day. The trucking museum, often photographed in conjunction with online pieces on the truck stop, isn't even connected to the truck stop itself—it's located on the far side of the massive parking lot. So, yes, it's big. However, don't let the online images deceive you; Iowa 80 is still just a very large truck stop, and it looks like one in real life.

2. Arnolds Park

I may catch some flak for this one, but all I'm saying is that Arnolds Park in real life doesn't live up to the influencer and promotional photos you see online. These images often portray the amusement park in aerial shots, or from the water, or at night when it's lit up like a shining oasis in a desert—and there's no denying Arnolds Park's beautiful setting. The park itself is often hyped as "vintage" and compared to Coney Island or nostalgic spots on the Jersey Shore. When you walk in, though, it feels like a collection of old rides, games, and food booths that have sprouted from a field of concrete (along with the occasional tree). Like Coney Island, though, it's a little rough around the edges, and seeing it in real life, the luster of those nostalgic, shiny, online images is quickly lost. Go to Arnolds Park, eat a funnel cake, ride a roller coaster, and definitely stroll the boardwalk. Just don't expect it to look like it does on Instagram.

3. Snake Alley - Burlington

If you read about Burlington's Snake Alley on the web or on social media, you'll see images of it at all these extreme angles and read an endless number of reasons why it's more [fill in the blank] than Lombard Street in San Francisco. Apparently, Snake Alley was mentioned by Ripley's Believe It or Not in the 1940s, a fact that locals still like to remind visitors about. The alley was originally constructed as a horse path offering a shortcut down Heritage Hill to the city's business district.

Once autos came along, it evolved into the curiosity it is today. And like Lombard Street, it's... fine. Unless you work really hard to exaggerate the angle—as you'll see in many online images—there's nothing particularly daunting about it. I mean, the total descent is something less than 60 feet over a drive that's shorter than a football field. In other words, it's not the Moki Dugway. I think the coolest things about Snake Alley are the brickwork pavers and how well the houses on the hill have been preserved. Definitely visit and have a look, but don't expect to find the alley's steep curves particularly dramatic.

I'm not saying you should skip these spots. Rather, when you visit, do so with an open mind and managed expectations—don't believe all the online hype. What are some other overhyped places in Iowa? We'd love to hear your thoughts on our Nomination page. And if you're ready to plan your next Hawkeye State adventure, try firing up Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner and see where it takes you.