Iowa has a bunch of cool stuff to do that you wouldn’t expect! There’s way more than just corn fields. You can check out awesome art museums in Des Moines, or go kayaking on the Mississippi River if you’re into adventure. If you like baseball, catch a Cedar Rapids Kernels game. There are also some pretty weird roadside attractions, like the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, which is actually kind of cool to see. The small towns around Iowa have local breweries and restaurants where they cook with fresh food grown right there in Iowa. You should also visit the Grant Wood Art Museum because it’s really interesting. Honestly, Iowa has way more fun stuff than people think it does.

Exploring Des Moines’ Cultural Attractions

Des Moines has lots of cool stuff to see if you like art or history. The city has a really active art scene with galleries that show modern art and work from new artists. You can see awesome pieces that show off Iowa’s culture and different types of art from around the world.

The old neighborhoods are worth checking out too. You should definitely go to the East Village, where old Victorian buildings stand right next to new shops and restaurants. Walnut Street is kind of the same way with old storefronts that have been kept up and lots of cool stuff happening around there.

Make sure you visit the Des Moines Art Center. It has an amazing collection of art that goes back hundreds of years. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is also really cool because it has outdoor art installations where you can just walk around and chill. These places show why Des Moines has become such a big deal for culture and art in the Midwest.

Outdoor Adventures on the Mississippi River

If you want to do cool outdoor stuff near Des Moines besides going to galleries and shops, the Mississippi River is definitely worth checking out. I found out that this natural area has amazing kayaking that will get you super excited. You can paddle through really pretty parts of the river and see bald eagles and other animals that live there.

You can also camp right along the river banks, which is a great place to stay while you explore. I think you should set up your camp near Marquette or Lansing because the views are awesome and you can easily get to the water.

Activity	Best Season	Duration
Kayaking Adventures	Spring-Fall	2-6 hours
Riverfront Camping	Summer	Overnight+
Fishing	Year-round	Variable

If you like doing exciting stuff like paddling or just want to chill out under the stars at night, the Mississippi River has something for everyone. You’ll have an amazing time that you’ll remember for a long time on your trip to Iowa.

Quirky Roadside Attractions and Landmarks

Iowa’s weird roadside attractions are pretty cool compared to all the natural stuff the state has. There are strange sculptures all over the place, and each one has its own interesting story about what someone creative was really into. You can see huge structures made from crazy materials, like twine and old cars that are nothing like normal art.

Funny signs on the highways tell you where to go to find odd attractions. The World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City is one example of how Iowa likes weird and different things. These landmarks show that Iowa has a fun side and people who don’t just follow what everyone else does.

If you want to find these cool places, you should drive away from the big highways. They’re great for taking pictures and give you something to talk about with your friends. These attractions prove that Iowa is interesting for more than just corn and rivers. They’re fun surprises for people who want to see real American stuff that’s actually entertaining.

Minor League Baseball and Sports Events

If you want to watch sports without spending a ton of money, you should go to Cedar Rapids to see the Kernels. They’re a minor league baseball team and the games are just as fun as the big leagues, but the tickets don’t cost as much.

Iowa also has lots of other cool sports stuff to do besides baseball. In the winter, you can check out the Iowa Winter Sports League, and all year long there are high school sports tournaments happening around the state that get people really excited.

Whether you love sports or just want to have a good time with your friends, you can find something fun to do.

Cedar Rapids Kernels Games

Want to watch baseball without spending tons of money like you do at major league games? Check out the Cedar Rapids Kernels stadium. You get real Minor League Baseball with fans who actually care and a chill vibe that the big leagues don’t have.

Feature	Details
Team	Cedar Rapids Kernels (Midwest League)
Season	May through September
Atmosphere	Family-friendly, affordable entertainment

Game day traditions are a big deal here. You can get classic baseball food; hot dogs, nachos, popcorn that taste way better when you eat them at the stadium under the lights. The Kernels’ home games let you actually connect with the players and other fans in a way you can’t at bigger stadiums.

Benefit	Description
Price	Budget-friendly tickets
Community	Local, intimate experience
Quality	Competitive, entertaining baseball

Get there early if you can so you can hang out before the game starts and get your snacks before everyone else does.

Iowa Winter Sports League

If you like watching the Cedar Rapids Kernels play baseball in the summer, you should definitely check out the cool winter sports stuff Iowa has to offer when it gets really cold.

Winter in Iowa is awesome for people who love cold weather activities. I think you should try ice skating at one of Iowa’s outdoor ice rinks. You can skate around on the ice while feeling the cold, fresh air on your face.

If you want to do something different, you could go snowshoeing on Iowa’s trails and nature areas. Both of these activities let you see how pretty Iowa is while getting exercise.

Iowa has a lot more than just solo winter sports though. Communities around the state put on competitions and leagues with all kinds of cool stuff like hockey and curling. Whether you just want to hang out and have fun or you want to watch really good athletes compete, Iowa’s winter sports give you tons of entertainment and fun memories all winter long.

High School Athletic Tournaments

Iowa has tons of cool sports tournaments all year long that are super fun to watch. There’s basketball games, track and field races, football playoffs, and cheerleading competitions happening everywhere. The best part is that these events are really competitive and get a lot of people excited.

Tournament Type	Season	Location	Attendance
Basketball Finals	Winter	Des Moines	8,000+
Track & Field	Spring	Various	5,000+
Football Playoffs	Fall	Regional	10,000+
Cheerleading Competitions	Year-round	Des Moines	3,000+

You should definitely go check out one of these tournaments if you get the chance. The atmosphere is amazing, and you get to see really talented teenagers showing off their skills in different sports. Plus, everyone in the crowd gets super into it and cheers really loud. It’s honestly one of the best ways to experience how much Iowa loves sports.

World-Class Museums and Historical Sites

If you like art and history, Iowa’s museums are pretty cool. You should check out the Grant Wood Art Museum first to learn about the American Gothic painter and his work.

Then go to the Hoover Presidential Library to see stuff about Herbert Hoover’s life and when he was president.

If you want something more fun and interactive, Living History Farms is awesome because it shows you what farming in Iowa was like a long time ago. They’ve real old buildings and people dressed up in old clothes to make it feel like you’re actually back in time.

Grant Wood Art Museum

Why should you check out Iowa’s coolest art museum? The Grant Wood Art Museum in Anamosa is all about Grant Wood, Iowa’s most famous artist. You should definitely go see the museum’s awesome collection of paintings that made American regionalism a big deal.

You’ll see really cool landscapes and portraits that show what rural Iowa looks like. The museum also has art classes throughout the year where you can learn to make your own art and study Wood’s techniques and what inspired him.

The galleries are small and cozy, which makes it easier to connect with the paintings. Whether you love art or just want to learn about Iowa’s culture, this museum gives you a real look at how Grant Wood created his art and changed American art history.

Hoover Presidential Library Exhibits

While Grant Wood painted pictures of Iowa’s farms and countryside, the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch shows off Iowa’s important political history through objects and hands-on exhibits. I think the stuff about the president is really interesting like letters and things that belonged to Herbert Hoover that help you understand his life and time as president.

The exhibits show you what Hoover did as a humanitarian, his job as an engineer, and what happened when he was president during the Great Depression. You’ll learn how his decisions changed American history during a really important time.

The library has cool displays that let you actually interact with history instead of just looking at it from far away. I’d say you should spend at least two hours there, because each part has a lot of cool stuff to see.

It’s a great thing to do after visiting Grant Wood stuff, since it shows what Iowa did to help shape America.

Living History Farms

When you go to Living History Farms near Urbandale, you get to see what farming was like in Iowa a long time ago. They’ve three different time periods you can visit. The people who work there wear old-fashioned clothes and show you how people actually farmed back then, using real farming methods from 1700, 1850, and 1900.

You can watch farmers do their work and see how farming changed over 200 years. I got to see people plow fields the old way, take care of animals, and cook food they grew themselves.

The 1700 Ioway Indian settlement is really cool because you learn about farming before settlers came to Iowa. Then you can check out the 1850 farm and the 1900 farm to see how machines and horses changed farming.

The people working there really know their stuff. They can answer questions about growing crops, raising animals, and what life was like back then. You should try to visit at different times of the year because you’ll see different things happening on the farm depending on the season.

The whole place teaches you a lot without feeling like you’re sitting in a classroom.

Charming Small Towns and Local Breweries

If you go beyond Iowa’s big cities, you’ll find cool small towns that show what the real Midwest is all about. Small towns like Pella and Decorah are awesome places to visit and do stuff you can’t do anywhere else. These towns have fun local festivals throughout the year where they celebrate things like tulips and old-fashioned crafts that bring lots of visitors.

If you drive between these towns, you’ll see really pretty rolling hills and beautiful countryside. I think you should definitely check out the Loess Hills area, where the curvy roads show off Iowa’s amazing nature.

The beer scene in these small towns is really cool. Breweries in places like Duluth and Burlington make special beers using local stuff and old family recipes. Most taprooms are super friendly to visitors and let you try different beers and see how they make them. You can talk to the brewers who love telling you about their beers while you hang out in cozy places that feel like real small-town friendliness.

Farm-to-Table Dining and Culinary Experiences

Iowa has a really cool farming history, and you can see it in the farm-to-table restaurants around the state. The chefs at these restaurants buy their ingredients straight from local farmers and producers. You’ll find some amazing places to eat that show off all the great food Iowa produces.

I think you should try visiting local farms. You get to meet the actual farmers who grow your food and learn about how they farm in ways that help the environment. A lot of restaurants offer food tours where they take you through their kitchens and out to the fields. This helps you understand where your food actually comes from.

These food experiences are way more than just eating, they’re like stories. When you eat super fresh food that people care about making, you can really taste the difference. The menus change with the seasons and feature things like Iowa corn and special pork, plus homemade cheeses. Everything on your plate shows that the restaurant really cares about quality.

If you go to farm dinners or help out during harvest time, you’ll understand why farming is such a big deal in Iowa. It’s actually a huge part of what makes the state and its food special.

Iowa is super cool and fun stuff to do is everywhere, not just in one place. I think you should start in Des Moines and go to a River Bandits game. Then you can drive to a small town called Pella where they have really cool Dutch buildings and you can tour breweries. You’ll get to see amazing museums and restaurants where they make food from local farms, and everything is pretty close together so you don’t have to drive forever. Iowa has a lot of different stuff to do, so you’ll never get bored. You can check out weird roadside attractions or go kayaking on the Mississippi River.

Recommended Travel Resources

These are my go-to tools for booking flights, stays, and planning smooth travel. I use them because they help me save money, stay flexible, and travel smarter.

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• momondo — Finds low-fare combos other sites miss.
• Hopper — App that predicts price drops and alerts you when to book.
• Booking.com — Huge selection of hotels & stays with flexible cancellation.
• Expedia — All-in-one booking: flights, hotels, rental cars, and packages.
• Airbnb — Perfect for unique stays and extended trips.
• Rome2rio — See how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry, or car.
• Agoda — Excellent hotel deals, especially across Asia.
• Hostelworld — Best platform for affordable hostels and social stays.
• TripAdvisor — Traveler reviews and booking options for hotels, tours & food spots.
• Amazon Travel Gear — Reliable place to shop for luggage, gadgets, and travel essentials.
• Faveplus Travel Tips — Discover stories, guides, and tips from travelers who’ve been there.