Who’s up for an adventure? We are – always – and here are nine of our favorite Iowa adventures, the best you can take in the state. Each of them, in our opinion, is well worth the journey from anywhere in the Hawkeye State.
- Visit eight waterfalls in a single weekend.
J. D. Adelmund / Flickr Visit eight beautiful Iowa cascades in a weekend for a scenic, peaceful, nature-inspired adventure. Learn more here.
- Book a stay at Lost Island KOA.
Lost Island Waterpark / Facebook The most fun, most unique campground in Iowa is island-themed! You’ll feel like you’re at the beach at this lakefront campground. Learn more here. Waterloo / Lost Island Waterpark KOA Resort, 4550 Hess Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
- Explore the world’s largest grotto.
Carl Wycoff / Flickr Iowa’s Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is the largest man-made grotto in the world. It’s a work of art, a sort of crystal castle, and it doesn’t cost a dime to tour! Learn more here. Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, USA
- Stroll along the nation’s longest glow-in-the-dark trail.
Nathan’s Miles Glow Trail / Google Maps The Nathan’s Miles Trail in Vinton, Iowa is a two-mile path dotted with 3,000 pounds of solar-powered glow-in-the-dark rocks. Learn more here. Nathan’s Miles Glow Trail, 701 East A Street, Vinton, IA 52349, USA
- Bowl a game at an ocean-themed bowling alley.
Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill / Facebook Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill in Altoona is a one-of-a-kind bowling alley and restaurant that transports you under the sea! You have to see it to believe it. Learn more here. Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill, 1000 Bass Pro Dr NW, Altoona, IA 50009, USA
- Float through a beautiful underground cave kingdom.
Jo G / Tripadvisor Spook Cave in McGregor, Iowa is a stunning natural wonder that you can only tour by boat. Learn more here. Spook Cave Road, Spook Cave Rd, Iowa 52157, USA
- View thousands of migrating water birds and hundreds of thousands of artifacts from an old shipwreck.
CraftBeers / Tripadvisor DeSoto Wildlife Refuge boasts a double attraction. The remains of the shipwreck Bertrand - all 250,000 artifacts of it - can be viewed at the Desoto Visitors Center. Not only that, but a plethora of wildlife thrive here at this refuge, including flocks of as many as 50,000 waterbirds. Learn more here. Desoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1434 316th Ln, Missouri Valley, IA 51555, USA
- Ride a scenic, historic train.
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum / Facebook Opt for a dinner train ride or a holiday-themed train ride or a scenic train ride. The Bass Point Creek High Bridge is the tallest single-track bridge in the country! Learn more here. Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad | James H. Andrew Railroad Museum, 225 10th St, Boone, IA 50036, USA
- Tour a beautiful botanical garden, complete with butterflies.
Scott McLeod / Flickr The Reiman Gardens in Ames is filled with a beautiful variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sights. The world’s largest concrete gnome even lives here! Learn more here. Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011, USA
J. D. Adelmund / Flickr
Visit eight beautiful Iowa cascades in a weekend for a scenic, peaceful, nature-inspired adventure. Learn more here.
Lost Island Waterpark / Facebook
The most fun, most unique campground in Iowa is island-themed! You’ll feel like you’re at the beach at this lakefront campground. Learn more here.
Waterloo / Lost Island Waterpark KOA Resort, 4550 Hess Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
Carl Wycoff / Flickr
Iowa’s Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is the largest man-made grotto in the world. It’s a work of art, a sort of crystal castle, and it doesn’t cost a dime to tour! Learn more here.
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, USA
Nathan’s Miles Glow Trail / Google Maps
The Nathan’s Miles Trail in Vinton, Iowa is a two-mile path dotted with 3,000 pounds of solar-powered glow-in-the-dark rocks. Learn more here.
Nathan’s Miles Glow Trail, 701 East A Street, Vinton, IA 52349, USA
Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill / Facebook
Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill in Altoona is a one-of-a-kind bowling alley and restaurant that transports you under the sea! You have to see it to believe it. Learn more here.
Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill, 1000 Bass Pro Dr NW, Altoona, IA 50009, USA
Jo G / Tripadvisor
Spook Cave in McGregor, Iowa is a stunning natural wonder that you can only tour by boat. Learn more here.
Spook Cave Road, Spook Cave Rd, Iowa 52157, USA
CraftBeers / Tripadvisor
DeSoto Wildlife Refuge boasts a double attraction. The remains of the shipwreck Bertrand - all 250,000 artifacts of it - can be viewed at the Desoto Visitors Center. Not only that, but a plethora of wildlife thrive here at this refuge, including flocks of as many as 50,000 waterbirds. Learn more here.
Desoto National Wildlife Refuge, 1434 316th Ln, Missouri Valley, IA 51555, USA
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum / Facebook
Opt for a dinner train ride or a holiday-themed train ride or a scenic train ride. The Bass Point Creek High Bridge is the tallest single-track bridge in the country! Learn more here.
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad | James H. Andrew Railroad Museum, 225 10th St, Boone, IA 50036, USA
Scott McLeod / Flickr
The Reiman Gardens in Ames is filled with a beautiful variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sights. The world’s largest concrete gnome even lives here! Learn more here.
Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Have you experienced any (or all) of these uniquely Iowa adventures? Which one was your favorite? What would you add to this list?
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