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COVID-19 Advice: If you do plan on traveling, please be smart and responsible for yourself and others.  Practice social distancing and wear a mask when deemed necessary.  Be respectful of other's well being and stay safe.

Iowa

Updated: April 24th, 2021

Below is a list of the best places I would visit on a trip to this location. My picks fit my personality and interest. Everyone has a different interest so you may not like everything I listed which is fine.  If you like a place, I recommend saving it to Google Maps for a future trip down the road. I made sure to include the address or GPS to make it easier to find.  You can find out more about me in the "About Me" section to see if we share common interests.

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​In the info below, the yellow cost number is just an estimated amount at the time I checked their website; over time, the amount could change.  With the cost of a hotel room, I'm pricing a queen bed for two people for a night on the weekend, and the amount shown is before taxes.  These figures are just a rough estimate of what places could cost, so if incorrect, I apologize.

Breakfast

- Mahalo's Coffee

4800 Mills Civic Pkwy #105, West Des Moines, IA 50265

- ChuChu Donuts

580 SW 9th St #116, Des Moines, IA 50309

- Daylight Donuts

1681 S 1st Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240

- Jimmy's Pancake House

2521 18th St, Bettendorf, IA 52722

- Lightworks Cafe

501 7th Ave SE Suite B, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

- Donutland

4307 Center Point Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

- South Shore Donut Co.

1205 S Shore Dr, Clear Lake, IA 50428

- Central Perk Coffee House

12 S 6th St A, Estherville, IA 51334

Activities

- Figge Art Museum

225 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52801

Adult Admission: $10

- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

350 E 3rd St, Dubuque, IA 52001

Adult General Admission: $19.95

- Effigy Mounds

151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146

Entrance Fees: FREE

- Adventureland Park

3200 Adventureland Dr, Altoona, IA 50009

Single Day Regular Admission: $50.00

- Iowa State Capitol

1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319

x

- High Trestle Trail

41.73257, -93.60992

Biking

x

- Maquoketa Caves State Park

9688 Caves Rd, Maquoketa, IA 52060

x

- Iowa 80 Truckstop

755 W Iowa 80 Rd, Walcott, IA 52773

x

- Arnolds Park Amusement Park

37 Lake St, Arnolds Park, IA 51331

Over 42 Inches Day Pas (Online): $29.95

- Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA 52358

Adult Admission: $10.00

- Science Center of Iowa

401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309

Adult Admission: $11.00

- Iowa Gold Star Military Museum

6107 NW 78th Ave, Johnston, IA 50131

Admission: Free

- The Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

900 Larsen Park Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103

Admission: Free

- Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Adult Admission: $8.00

- Sioux City Public Museum

607 4th St, Sioux City, IA 51101

Admission: Free

- Wildcat Den State Park

41.46655, -90.86853

Hiking

Lunch/Dinner

- Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

- Saucy Focaccia

5100 Fountains Dr NE #100, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411

- Fong's Pizza

223 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309

- Pagliai's Pizza

302 E Bloomington St, Iowa City, IA 52245

- Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe

304 W 2nd St #8578, Prairie City, IA 50228

- Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack

1940 Lower Muscatine Rd, Iowa City, IA 52240

- The Machine Shed

7250 Northwest Blvd, Davenport, IA 52806

- Luna Valley Farm

3012 Middle Sattre Rd, Decorah, IA 52101

- Jethro's BBQ

3100 Forest Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311

- The Map Room

416 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

- B&B Grocery, Meat & Deli

2001 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50315

- Gianna's Italian Beef

375 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

- Lopiez Pizza

429 E 3rd St Suite #1, Davenport, IA 52801

- Whitey's Ice Cream

3515 Middle Rd, Bettendorf, IA 52722

- Granny's Sweet Freeze

3417 Hubbell Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

Places to Stay

- Hotel Grinnell

925 Park St, Grinnell, IA 50112

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $179 (Oct 20': $202)

- The Black Hawk Hotel

115 Main St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $132 (Oct 20': $152)

- Hilton Des Moines Downtown

435 Park St, Des Moines, IA 50309

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $159 (Oct 20': $156)

- AC Hotel Des Moines East Village

401 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $176 (Oct 20': $149)

- Hotel Pattee

1112 Willis Ave, Perry, IA 50220

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $192 (Oct 20': $162)

- The Inn Hotel

15 Dam Rd, Arnolds Park, IA 51331

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $130 (Oct 20': $129)

- Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection

200 E 3rd St, Davenport, IA 52801

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $316 (Oct 20': $212)

- The Current Iowa, Autograph Collection

215 N Main St, Davenport, IA 52801

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $216 (Oct 20': $179)

- Cambria Hotel Bettendorf - Quad Cities

5061 Competition Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $161 (Oct 20': $110)

- Graduate Iowa City

210 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Average cost a night on a weekend in May $332 (Oct 20': $111)

21 and Up Fun

- Alluvial Brewing Company

3715 W 190th St, Ames, IA 50014

- Clock House Brewing

600 1st St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

- Textile Brewing Company

146 2nd St NE, Dyersville, IA 52040

- Crawford Brewery

3659 Devils Glen Rd, Bettendorf, IA 52722

- Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.

1600 Prosperity Rd, Decorah, IA 52101

- Firetrucker Brewery

716 SW 3rd St, Ankeny, IA 50023

- Confluence Brewing Company

1235 Thomas Beck Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315

- El Bait Shop

200 SW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50309

- Analog Arcade Bar

302 Brady St, Davenport, IA 52801

- The Quarter Barrel Arcade & Brewery

616 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

 Again these are my picks that fit my personality and interest. If you feel that I left one-off that may interest me or other people, message me on Facebook about the location.  I value a person's opinion and never just discard the information.  Always looking forward to learning about new places to add to my Google Map. ~ Shawn

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