Wondering if there are any cool things to do in Iowa? Is it really just a bunch of cornfields? Well, yes mostly… but there is more to Iowa then just corn. In between the crop fields lie cute towns filled with character, interesting history, and some unique geologic places to visit too.

See our Iowa bucket list below to organize your travels through the state and get some ideas on best things to see and do on your road trip.

Iowa Bucket List

1. Maquoketa Caves State Park

Maquoketa Caves is Iowa’s most unique state park and contains more caves than any other state park in Iowa. The park’s interesting features allow visitors to step back in geological time by viewing thousand year-old caverns, limestone formations, and rugged bluffs.

The caves range from very large with walkways inside them for visitors to enter and explore, and other caves that are so small that access is only possible by crawling into them.

The most popular cave is called Dancehall Cave which has a lighting system installed to help with viewing but you may want to bring a flashlight with you to explore some of the other caves.

Start your visit at the informative Visitors Center where you’ll find detailed information on the area’s geology, history and background on early inhabitants. There are also interpreters onsite that provided guided tours.

2. Amana Colonies

The Amana Colonies are a cluster of seven villages located in Iowa County found in the eastern half of the state. The colony and villages which are listed as a National Historic Landmark were built and settled by German Pietists who migrated to the United States in 1842.

Today, the Amana Colonies is a tourist attraction famous for its unique history but most popular for its German craft stores and restaurants.

The best place to start your visit is at the Amana Heritage Museum to learn a little bit about their past. Then explore German culture by stopping by a few of the local craft shops and obviously don’t miss any of the authentic restaurants and bakeries.

Some of the eateries not to miss include the Hahn Bakery which features an original hearth oven that remains from the communal era. This is where you’ll find delicious coffee and fruit cakes along with fresh baked bread.

Another specialty shop not to miss here is the Amana Meat Shop which offers a variety of German sausages, bratwursts, and tasty jerky.

3. Ackerman Winery

While you’re visiting the Amana Colony, be sure to stop by the Ackerman Winery. Especially if you have a sweet tooth!

Ackerman Winery has been specializing in handcrafted fruit wines since 1956. Their fruity wines consist of flavors that include blackberry, raspberry, and more exotic kinds such as mango and rhubarb.

These wines are on the very sweet side so if you prefer a dry wine of the grape variety this may not be the place for you.

However the store is super cute and there are a range of fine cheeses, tasty jams, and a retail store selling unique home decor that make the Ackerman Winery still worth a visit.

This winery is open daily. Complimentary free wine tasting is on offer and unlimited! The outside patio is a good place to enjoy your refreshment.

4. Fireside Winery

Fireside Winery is an award winning winery located less than five miles from the Amana Colony. The grapes grown here have been carefully selected to endure the extremely cold Iowa winters and have more of a sweeter note than California varieties.

The winery itself is quite beautiful with row upon row of rolling vineyards which are a nice change to the surrounding corn fields. Even the fences and posts follow the pattern of the rolling hills here making it even more aesthetically pleasing.

One of the best things about visiting this winery is the great job they have done with the outdoor seating arrangement. You can sit out on the sunny patio or cozy up by the outdoor fireplace. You can even borrow a picnic rug and enjoy your wine and snacks on the lawn or down by the vineyards.

So whether you’re traveling through Iowa or are a local looking for a fun weekend activity, be sure to consider stopping in at Fireside, not only for their great wine selection but the lovely atmosphere too.

5. Iowa State Capitol

The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines is the only five-domed capitol building in the USA. Constructed between 1871 and 1886, the building not only serves as the house of legislative branch of Iowa government, but serves as a living museum too.

The architecture follows the traditional pattern of 19th century planning for public buildings and is designed in a renaissance style.

The building’s exterior is made entirely out of stone, brick and limestone from Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois. Granite cut from glacial boulders near the Iowa prairie were used for the building substructure.

A total of 12 Corinthian columns support the front and back porticoes, but the most prominent feature is the central towering dome constructed of iron and brick which is covered with thin sheets of pure 23-carat gold! A protective layer seals the gold from weathering.

The Iowa State Capitol’s location atop a hill offers panoramic views of the downtown area. Free self-guided and guided tours are available six days a week between Monday and Saturday.

6. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is teeming with thousands of plants and gardens that celebrate horticulture in the Midwest.

Inside the conservatory you will find a tropical atmosphere complete with exotic orchids, flowers, and palm trees. The outdoor garden showcases the different seasons of the Midwest; from the first winter snow to autumns colors, and spring bloom.

No matter what the weather is, the Botanical Gardens are a great place to visit for all ages where visitors can appreciate plants and learn more about horticulture.

7. Living History Farms

Living History Farms is an interactive outdoor museum which educates and connects visitors to Midwestern rural life experiences.

At the museum, you can learn about how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world.

While at the 500 acre open-air museum, you’ll travel through historical time periods spanning 300 years. On-site interpreters provide seasonal activities and demonstrations.

Learning opportunities at Living History Farms include seeing how the Ioway Indians farmed in the 1700s, which was much different from European methods. At the Ioway Indian Farm, you will be able to view the tools used, food processing methods, and other fascinating aspects of their way of living.

The Ioway farmers raised mostly corn, beans, and sqaush, and their farming techniques practiced in 1700 pre-dated written history.

8. Shrine Of The Grotto Of Redemption

The Grotto Of Redemption is a conglomeration of nine separate grottos depicting scenes in the life of Jesus Christ.

Located in West Bend, Iowa, and listed on the National Register of Historical Places, it is the largest man-made Grotto in the world!

But that’s not the only impressive thing about the Grotto Of Redemption, it also contains the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere else in one location!! These precious stones are actually valued at over four million dollars.

You can see the large gem collection inside the grotto’s museum along with tools used in the construction of the monument.

Father Paul Dobberstein who was behind the construction of the Grotto, wished that noone be excluded from being able to visit the Shrine due to finances — therefore there is no admission fee.

A minimum of three hours is recommended for visiting to allow for enough time to tour the Grotto, visit the museum, church and gift shop. A campground is located nearby with 53 available sites if you’d like to stay in the area.

9. Lost Island Water Park

If you’re looking to cool off from the Iowa heat, head to Lost Island Water Park in Waterloo!

This water park which was listed as the second best water park in the nation, offers multiple slides and swimming pools. Once you’ve had enough of being wet, you can enjoy the park’s go-kart track and mini golf course.

If you want to stay nearby, check out the KOA campground which offers cabins in addition to their campsites. The island-themed campground is located directly behind Lost Island and even includes discounted admission tickets into the water park.

10. National Czech & Slovak Museum

The National Czech & Slovak Museum is a museum and library of Czech and Slovakian history and culture which was established in 1974 by a group of second and third generation descendants of Czech immigrants with the purpose of preserving their heritage and culture.

Located in Cedar Rapids, this museum presents cultural artifacts in permanent and temporary exhibits. One of their most popular exhibits is the “Immigrant Home” where you can step back in time to the 1800s to imagine what life was like for these early American immigrants.

Impressively, the NCSML has been designated a Smithsonian affiliate that shares the resources of the Smithsonian Institution.

11. Arnolds Park Amusement Park

Arnolds Park Amusement Park is located in the center of the Iowa Great Lakes resort region. This historic amusement park is believed to have the 13th oldest wooden roller coaster in the USA. It carried its first riders back in 1927!

While the amusement park is not huge, its location on West Okoboji Lake is very beautiful. Besides the amusement park’s facilties, you can also enjoy loads of on-water activities here including jet skiing, parasailing, paddle boarding, boating and more.

12. American Gothic House

The American Gothic House is the subject of the second most recognized painting in the world. It was depicted in a now famous painting entitled “American Gothic” which was created in 1930 by artist Grant Wood.

He came across the house during his travel through Iowa. The house which is located in Eldon, was intended to be a satire on rural small-town life.

The house was originally built in 1881-82 by Charles Dribble, a Civil War veteran and his wife Catherine, who lived in the house with their eight children. It was built in the Carpenter Gothic-style farmhouse with an arched window in the gables of each end of its steeply pitched roof.

After a thirty year preservation effort, the house was donated to the State Historical Society of Iowa. Tourists love stopping by to replicate the original painting in their own humorous version. It’s certainly is a fun roadtrip stop in Iowa!

13. Snake Alley

Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa has been listed as the number one odd spot across America by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

This winding street is recognized as “unbelievably crooked”, and somewhat resembles San Francisco’s ‘Crookedest Street’.

The road was constructed in 1894 to connect the residential district at the top of the bluff with the commercial district below. It consists of five half-curves and two quarter-curves, dropping 58-feet over a distance of 275-feet!

You can find Snake Alley between Columbia and Washington Street. Composed of limestone and blue clay bricks, it truly is an unusual sight in Iowa.

14. John Wayne Birthplace Museum

The John Wayne Birthplace Museum is a mecca for fans of movie legend John Wayne. Since the museum’s establishment in 1982, more than a million visitors have made the pilgrimage to historic Madison County to tour the actors birthplace home!

Even Ronald Reagan and Maureen O’Hara have made the pilgrimage to this museum!

The museum sits adjacent to Wayne’s childhood home and features original movie posters, film wardrobe, scripts, film contracts, and other movie memorabilia. There is also a movie theater complete with original seats from Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood showing a documentary on the ‘Duke’s’ film career.

John Wayne was born in the small central Iowa town of Winterset on May 26, 1907. His family later moved to Palmdale and then eventually to Glendale in California.

He achieved world-wide fame for his roles in western films, and was among the top box office draws for three decades, starring in over 142 films over his career!

In his final screen performance in 1976, he starred as an aging gunfighter battling cancer in ‘The Shootist’. Oddly enough, the cause of his death in 1979 was due to stomach cancer.

The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $15. All tours are self guided but staff are available to answer any questions you may have.

15. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum

Learn all about the American company that grew to become a global leader in agricultural equipment at the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum.

At the museum you can explore interactive displays, see classic machines, and experience the evolution from horse-drawn power to horsepower. Visitors can discover how innovations from the past have helped shape future designs in farming machinery.

The museum is located at the site of the very first John Deere tractor factory in Waterloo, Iowa.

16. Villisca Axe Murder House

In the early 1900s, Villisca, a small mid-western town of 2,500 people was flourishing. Businesses lined the streets and several dozen trains pulled into the depot on a daily basis.

Little did the community know that the name Villisca was named after the native American word Wallisca, which means evil spirit.

On June 10th 1912, the close-knit community learned of the horrific murder of eight people under the one roof. The Moore family including their six children were all found dead in their beds. The killer to this day is unknown.

A documentary has been made about the brutal murders and the house now serves as a creepy tourist attraction known as the Villisca Axe Murder House. Hanging from the decrepit front porch is a weather-beaten sign warning visitors that they are entering the “murder house”.

The walls still protect the identity of the murderer (or murderers) who bludgeoned to death the entire family of Josiah Moore, over and over.

17. Pottawattamie Squirrel Cage Jail

Pottawattamie Squirrel Jail is one of the only three remaining three-story rotary jails in the world.

The design and size of the Historic Pottawattamie County Squirrel Cage Jail is a one-of-a-kind structure. It was one of 18 revolving jails built, and the only three-story one ever built. Constructed in 1885, it was in operation until 1969.

So why the odd design? Well, it helped to minimize the interaction between the jailer and criminals. Unfortunately, the design was prone to becoming frequently stuck so they eventually stopped constructing this stype of jail.

After the closure of this particular jail, the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County took it over and declared it a museum site. Today, visitors can tour the old jail in Council Bluffs, but unfortunately the cages no longer turn.

18. Bridges Of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County was the inspiration behind the beloved film of the same name. Originally there were nineteen bridges in total. Today, only six of them remain, and all of them have been placed on the National Historic Register.

Visit these 19th-century structures on a road trip along the 82-mile Covered Bridges Scenic Byway which travels through Winterset. This drive will take you through some very picturesque countryside.

19. Iowa State University

Iowa Bucket List: 20 Places You Must Visit

The Campanile is a handsome belltower located on Iowa State University’s central campus which is just outside of Des Moines.

It was constructed in 1898 and is widely seen as a symbol of the university, and is even featured on the university’s official ring.

Campanile folklore states that an ISU student is not a "true Iowa Stater" until having been kissed underneath the Campanile at the stroke of midnight. This rite of passage lives on during "Mass Campaniling" at Homecoming and other occasions during which time hundreds or even thousands of students gather near the campanile to continue this tradition.

Plan A Trip To Iowa!

Car Rentals

If you need a rental car for your trip, we recommend Enterprise who are our preferred car rental company. But if you would prefer to shop around, use rentalcars.com to look for the best rates on car rentals in Iowa.

Hotels

To find the best rates on hotel rooms, search hotels.com who have the largest inventory of rooms at the lowest rates! Alternatively you can use VRBO to find a vacation homes in Iowa to make your trip extra special.

RVs & Campervans

Would you prefer to rent an RV or campervan for your Kansas road trip? Check out Outdoorsy where you’ll find a huge selection of vehicles across the U.S. that you can sleep inside. Save money by not having to stay overnight in hotel rooms!

Road Trips

If you’re not experienced with taking road trips, have a look at a few of these articles that will help you become more familiar with what to expect on your great American road trip adventure: