Safe Iowa Vacation Ideas

Sometimes a vacation can be a visit to a nearby town or state. While a place like Iowa might not be a glamorous vacation spot in many people’s list it still has very affordable and safe attractions for Americans who want to stay at home or for visitors who want to get off the beaten track and explore some of the less advertised places in the USA for a safe family vacation.

Iowa has many historical sites and activities for individuals wishing to vacation in the state. A diverse range of interesting vacation destinations is available for you to enjoy. Des Moines is home to several excellent vacation spots.

Adventure Land Park located at 305 34th Ave NW in Altoona and is an exciting place to visit with the plethora of rides, games of chance, food, and entertainment. Several roller coasters provide the thrill of traveling very quickly up and down slopes and around curves.

Some well-known attractions for thrill seekers are The Monster, The Storm Chaser, Splash Over & Sidewinder.

Living History Farms is located at 11121 Hickman Road in Urbandale. This is on the northwest side of Des Moines with the exit located just off the Interstate 35/80. Once on Interstate 80, exit at 125 and follow the signs to Living History Farms. Living History farms provides the public with Indian lodges, riding in a tractor cart, visiting and seeing numerous farm animals, walking the trails, and both seeing and touching the history inside the museum buildings.

Madison County is home to 19 covered bridges and the birthplace of John Wayne. Several of these bridges were used in the movie “The Bridges of Madison County” starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep and in the novel by Robert James Waller titled “The Bridges of Madison County. While in Madison County enjoy walking through the historical site of John Wayne’s birthplace. Madison County is located just southwest of Des Moines and well worth the drive to visit the area.

The Little Brown Church in the Vale is located at 2730 Cheyenne Avenue in Nashua. Nashua is halfway between Waterloo and Mason City. The Avenue of the Saints Highway is located only three miles from the church. Take exit 220 and proceed 1 mile east of Nashua on Highway 346. This church is known for the many marriages that it has seen. Church services are held on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am but be early as it sits at the most 10 people.

Bily Clocks Museum and Antonin Dvorak Exhibit is located at 323 S. Main Street in Spillville located just southwest of Decorah. The museum houses the many handmade clocks that two brothers created. Frank and Joseph Bily enjoyed clock making and created handcrafted a wide selection of clocks. The clocks take an individual back in time to relive history along with enjoying the art, culture, and religion of the area. The clocks range in sizes with some standing over 9 feet tall.

Pella Historical Village is located in Pella just southwest of Cedar Rapids. The annual Pella Tulip Festival is held during the first week in May. The village is loaded with Dutch ancestry with several tours available throughout the area. Local artists provide a large selection of Iowa made art for your enjoyment.