13 Once-In-A-Lifetime Adventures You Can Only Have In Iowa

RAGBRAI, or Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is a long-held Iowa tradition. It’s a non-competitive bike ride that takes riders several hundred miles across Iowa. And every town that hosts overnight RAGBRAI participants holds local events and festivities, so if you’re not into the actual ride, you can join in on the party at any number of small towns across Iowa.

Pay your respects at the crash site in the farm field where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson were killed in a plane crash in 1959. Then, get a fascinating history of music at the Surf Ballroom and Museum in Clear Lake.

A real butter sculpture in the shape of a cow! This is an Iowa State Fair tradition and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see 600 pounds of actual butter in one place. Did you know you could butter roughly 19,200 slices of toast with the contents of the butter cow? That's a lot of toast! And, when you’re done checking out this unique attraction, go and visit the rest of the rides and events that the fair has to offer.

This is the real set of the academy award nominated film, Field of Dreams, in Dyersville, IA.

The Living History Farms are a rare opportunity to experience what Midwestern rural life was like during different time periods throughout history. Among many interesting and educational interactive exhibits, you can visit a general store, blacksmith, schoolhouse and more.

You can tour the museum and library to learn about Hoover’s life and presidential legacy, and visit his birthplace cottage and grave, as well.

This brand new roller coaster will definitely give you a thrill, and when you’re done, you can ride many of the other rides and attractions at Adventureland theme park and water park.

Scheduled for July 29th - August 6th this year, you can take part in all kinds of fun activities, including music, fireworks, and more. However, the star of this show is an actual hot air balloon ride, where you can gaze out over the beautiful Iowa farmlands from high up in the sky.

The National Motorcycle Museum was founded in 1989 and features exhibits from around the world. In 2010, the museum moved into a larger location which has allowed the museum to expand its visitor capacity and its exhibits.

While the Riverside Trek Fest is over for 2016, you can catch it next year, as it’s an annual tradition. At the future birthplace of Captain Kirk, you can participate in many activities, such as a parade, trivia contest, carnival and much more.

In 1912, an entire family in Villisca was brutally murdered with an axe. To this day, the murder has never been solved. It has since become a regular investigation site of paranormal investigators, and many have reported that the house is haunted by a dark spirit. If you’re looking for a bone-chilling adventure, you can rent out the house for $428 a night and sleep in the rooms where the murders took place.

Hopefully you’re not afraid of heights, because the Fenelon Place elevator is the world’s shortest, steepest railway. At 296 feet in length, it lifts its passengers 189 feet from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place. It’s worth it, though, because when you get to the top, you’ll have breathtaking views of Dubuque and the Mississippi River.

On the Boone and Scenic Valley Railway, you can choose from many different journeys, from basic rides to trips that serve dinner, or dessert, or even picnics. Make sure to visit their website to make reservations first!