Iowa is known as an American Midwestern state as
it’s located in the heartland of the country. It’s ranked 26th
in size and 30th in population out of the American states with
just over three million residents. It was the 29th state to join
the Union when it was admitted back in 1846. Des Moines is both
the largest city and the capital. Some of the other major cities
are Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City, Waterloo,
Council Bluffs, Dubuque, and Cedar Falls.
Iowa was inhabited by Native Americans for
thousands of years and was then discovered by European explorers
in 1673. It then became a French colony and part of New France
until 1763 when it was transferred to the Spanish. The USA took
control of the land following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
The land is excellent for farming and Iowa is often referred to
as the Food Capital of the World. But, both the land and the
economy are pretty diverse.
There are some major rivers flowing through Iowa
as the Mississippi is on the east with the Missouri and Big
Sioux Rivers to the west and the Des Moines River in the south.
The landscape is made up of scenic rolling hills,
valleys, lakes, tall grass, prairie, dense forest, and
wetlands. The climate is like most of the American Midwest as it
can feature extreme heat and cold.
Most of the city action takes place in Des
Moines as it’s the economic, cultural, and political center of
the state. You’ll find quite a few things to see such as the
State of Iowa Historical Museum, the Science Center of Iowa, Des
Moines Botanical Center, and De Moines Arts Center. The city
also hosts several cultural events such as the Iowa State Fair,
the World Food Festival, and the Des Moines Arts Festival.
There’s a great amusement park for the kids called Adventureland,
which is in the town of Altoona.
In the town of Ames, you’ll come across the Iowa
State Center, Reiman Gardens, the Christian Petersen Art
Gallery, and Brunnier Art Gallery, and in the Meskwaki
Settlement there’s a huge annual Pow-wow held. Another
interesting attraction is the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in
Winterset. Iowa City has a lot to offer as it’s the home to the
Iowa Writers' Workshop, the Iowa City Englert Theatre, the old
Capitol Building, the Landlocked Film Festival, the Herbert
Hoover National Historic Site and the Hoover Presidential
Library and Museum. The Amana Colonies is also popular as it’s a
group of seven villages that is listed as an American cultural
National Historic Landmark.
There are many other interesting places to see
in the state and you might want to check out the Cedar Rapids
Museum of Art, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, the
Brucemore Mansion, the Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum, the
Davenport Skybridge, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, the Bix
Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, the Sanford Museum and
Planetarium, the Danish Immigrant Museum, the Fort Museum and
Frontier Village, the Sergeant Floyd River Museum, the Orpheum
Theater, and Trinity Heights.
There are three casino resorts in Council
Bluffs, along with the Western Hills Trails Center, General
Dodge House, and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. The city of
Dubuque features the National Mississippi River Museum and
Aquarium and the Diamond Jo Casino.
When flying into Iowa, most passengers will land in Des
Moines. However, there are several smaller regional airports
spread out around the state. The Amtrak rail service makes daily
stops in Burlington, Creston, Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, Fort
Madison, and Osceola.
Iowa offers a good choice when it comes to
accommodations. You can find hotels, motels, and inns that suit
any budget. Restaurants can also be found in all price ranges in
all of the towns and cities. The Iowa Great Lakes is home to
several resort s such as Arnolds Park, the Okoboji Lakes, and
Spirit Lake. There are over 70 wineries in the state along with
five wine tasting trails. You’ll also be able to shop for some
fine food at farmers' markets throughout the state in the
summers.
There are numerous minor-league pro sports teams
in Iowa as well as college athletics, but there are no major
league franchises. However, the Annual Great Bike Ride Across
Iowa is very popular as it attracts thousands of cyclists every
year.
The sheer amount of interesting attractions to
visit in Iowa is mind boggling as there’s more than enough to
see and do for people of all ages at any time of the year.
About Iowa