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Family Friendly Fun: Welcome to Iowa

1/7/2018

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When traveling to a new city, it is important to consider what the city and state has to offer for the entire family. Although the state of Iowa is not a traditional family vacation hot spot, it is a great place to gather with family. Located in the heart of the Midwest, most of the state is just a day’s drive from the major population centers of the region, think Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and more. 

Larger cities, such as Dubuque and Des Moines feature many of the same conveniences of major cities, but also offer the slower pace associated with smaller towns. Despite its reputation as an agricultural powerhouse, the state of Iowa has much, much more to offer. ​
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In Iowa City, Friday night is the night to be in the Pedestrian Mall for LIVE music. Bring a chair and a picnic basket or grab some food from a local cafe.

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Garp Fest @ Codfish Hollow

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Entertainment 

Though the “Hawkeye State” is known for its corn production, Iowa’s entertainment scene is nothing to scoff at.

The state offers music lovers of all types the chance to see a concert, with country, classic rock, hip hop and pop stars all making stops throughout the state.

Iowa has a few amazing family friendly venues, such as Codfish Hollow, which is a converted barn that hosts both local and national indie bands, as well as GARP Fest, a 2 day music festival with 30 bands that occurs each September.

​Located in a fairly rural part of the state, a visit to Codfish Hollow is an adventure in itself.
 
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Another top entertainment venue in Iowa is the Hoyt Sherman Place Theatre. The theatre hosts top music acts of all types, as well as dance and art performances. Located right in Des Moines, the venue is a must stop for families looking for a fun experience. The venue enhances listener’s experience is by the visually stunning and auditory enhancing architecture. 
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Iowa Cubs Taylor Davis is known for his long running "sight gag" and fans hope he makes it to the The Big Show soon.

Sports & Family Fun

Though Iowa does not have a major professional sports team, the state is home to a variety of college and semi-professional teams, each of which have a dedicated following. Iowa is home to a number of single A minor league baseball teams, such as the Quad City River Bandits, the Cedar Rapids Kernels, and the Burlington Bees.

​The Iowa Cubs are the Triple A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. An Iowa Cubs game is a great chance to catch top, young, up and coming Chicago Cubs prospects, as well as star players returning from injury.

Minor league baseball games are notoriously quirky, with many teams having specific game time traditions. Games are cheap and can be a great family bonding opportunity. 
At the college level, Iowa fans are notoriously passionate. The bitter rivalry between the University of Iowa and Iowa State is always a fun game to watch, no matter the sport. The school’s football teams have been meeting since 1894, which is one of the older rivalries in all of college football. Because the two schools are in competition so regularly, a traveling trophy, called the Cy-Hawk Trophy was created. It goes to the winner of the most recent athletic competition between the two schools, whether it be for soccer, basketball or football. If you’re unable to catch one of these amazing in-state rivalry games, don’t fret. Both schools have long running rivalries with out of state schools, such as the Minnesota/Iowa football rivalry, the Iowa State/Missouri or Iowa State/Kansas State rivalry, which always make for exciting contests in their own rights. 

Outdoor Recreation

​For families looking for a more wild experience in Iowa, the state does not disappoint. Iowa is home to an unexpected amount of mountain bike trails with everything from more extreme downhill tracks for experienced riders to crushed gravel paths for those just getting into the sport. Bike rentals are surprisingly affordable and are available at a variety of locations throughout the state. The state also offers miles and miles of paved and gravel bike paths that are perfect for a mellow family outing. 
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Check out Sidetracks Bike Trail RATINGS
Looking to cool off in the heat of summer? Look no further thanIowa’s Charles City Whitewater Park. Constructed in 2011, the park offers visitors lots of recreation options. From kayaking, to Stand Up Paddleboarding, to tubing, the park also has a few non-water related options as well. A disc golf course, art walk, amphitheater, and play area make this a must stop for families visiting the area. 
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No matter age or interest, Iowa has something for everyone. With lots of art walks and concert venues, families can find a few ways to enjoy Iowa’s entertainment scene. Sports fans can be treated historical rivalry games in nearly any sport. Adventurous families can head to the trails or the river to get their adrenaline fix at one of Iowa’s many outdoor recreation hotspots. Music lovers can attend live shows and immerse in a variety of genres. Although not a tropical destination, Iowa has everything you would want in a family vacation, and more!

​Contributed by: 
Haley Kieser
haleyskieser@gmail.com
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Top Iowa Wine Tours

9/23/2017

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by Haley Kieser
One of the greatest ways to spend an afternoon is by sampling new wine pairings at your favorite winery. There are plenty of things to do in Des Moines,  but finding a vineyard to talk about what your senses are taking in really does top the cake. Here is a list of wineries in and around the Des Moines area that offer wine tours, tastings, and other events. Travel to one winery for white wine, then another for red, and maybe even another into the night. Buddy up and travel safely: Lyft is your friend for this kind of adventure.
Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery

Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery is right in the Corn Belt, located in Swisher, Iowa. Not only does it have endless Iowa-grown grapes, but it also has never-ending bushels of corn straight from our fertile Midwestern soil. This ensures that there’s a personal touch to all of the wine and spirits at this place. They also age their whiskeys in a non-temperature controlled climate to make sure it tastes as natural as possible. Whether enjoying your favorite bottle of wine or some smooth dark liquor, Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery is a great place to unwind.

​Many wineries have special event calendars filled with music and community gatherings, as well as offering their facilities for weddings and private parties. If you love wine, what better venue to enjoy?
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Jasper Winery
Jasper Winery 

Located off of Fleur Drive, the Jasper Winery hosts weddings, tastings, and events. The Groben family owns the winery — they’ve been running it for almost ten years. Since everything is locally grown, their philosophy manifests itself in Iowa grapes in every bottle or glass they produce. That doesn’t mean they are behind on the times, of course — they use an innovative process to determine which grape varieties to use during fermentation and how to age the wine once it’s been barreled. Their dry wines are aged exclusively in French or American Oak casks. 

This winery offers a variety of different events that allow wine lovers to explore its grounds. Choose the “VIP Tasting Tour” for a 90-minute educational tasting that will teach you how to properly taste wine while you learn about Iowa history ($15), or the “Wine and Chocolate Pairing” session to learn how to best to take your chocolate with your wine ($15). The winery also offers a Bachelorette special for bridal parties that includes your own table, five bottles of wine, two cheese plates, and chocolates to share for only $100. ​
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There's plenty of things in Iowa besides corn and delicious wine. Atlas Obscura takes you on a tour of the unusual... from the future home of Captain James T. Kirk to Elwood, the worlds tallest concrete Gnome. Have a glass of wine and toast to the unusual... (visit)
Summerset Winery 
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The tasting room at Summerset Winery is open every day Tuesday to Sunday all year long. If you want to get in on a Monday though, make an appointment. They boast friendly and knowledgeable staff who is down-to-earth enough to understand amateurs and wine aficionados alike. Their formal wine tasting and tour package costs $20, and includes a taste of six wines and a cheese plate. This also includes a look at the wine cellars and a branded wine glass to take home with you. For a slightly larger fee, tours can be private and include your very own dedicated winery representative to show you the wine tasting ropes. It’s great for big groups of friends, but the undivided attention is also useful for curious first-timers too. 
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Tassel Ridge Winery 

The Tassel Ridge Winery offers many events aside from your traditional tasting and wine tour. Each week, they host a wine and small plates event, a wood fired pizza day, a wine and pasta night, and a series of other less regular special events. A hosted tour of the winery is free and includes a winemaking process tour as well as a tour of the grounds. Here, you’ll learn vineyard planting techniques and get a glimpse of the harvesting process, followed by the processing, fermenting, blending, and bottling of wine. If you’re with a group, you can book a ride on the Vineyard Grapemobile, an aptly named open-air trailer that will take you through the vineyard as well. It’s a great way learn all about the vineyard’s history and how to harvest grapes in Iowa’s semi-cold climate.​

Have kids ready for
​higher education?

Ames, Iowa was named "Best College Town in America."  Whether you are looking for a safe, top rated campus, OR for a future retirement home... you can't beat the ambience of Ames, combining small town charm with lots of cafes and cultural activities. 
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Fox Ridge Winery

If you’re willing to travel about forty-five minutes outside of Des Moines, the Fox Ridge Winery is one local spot you won’t want to miss. It’s located in gorgeous Northern Tama country just northwest of Traer, Iowa. Though the Fox Ridge Winery doesn’t offer tours, they make up for it in entertainment options. It’s the perfect place to go to enjoy live music on the lawn while enjoying their robust wine selection. Their wines are made exclusively from grapes from the region, and they encourage patrons to wander the grounds as they please. This is the place to go if you’re looking for a more independently led experience that allows you to choose your own itinerary.
La Vida Loca Winery 

The folks at La Vida know how to tell it like it is, and their wines don’t hide behind any pretenses either. They offer four wines, each variety harvested and bottled using the freshest grapes for superior quality. Their La Vida Loca Red variety won a silver medal in the Mid-American wine competition this year.  Though they don’t offer winery tours, they hold feature evenings where guests are served smoked pork loin or smoked St. Louis ribs. This more than makes up for it, especially when paired with the perfect wine. Be sure to check out their Murder Mystery Dinner nights, which involve an action-packed dinner theater experience and the opportunity to discover how loca la vida truly is.
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Beyond that, Iowa is a great community that thrives on partnership among its local wineries.

Check out the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail: they go out of their way to ensure every winery has visibility in the community. On their website, you can download a Passport and stop at each of the eight wineries in their collective (some of which are featured here!) for a chance to win a $500 grand prize to be drawn on November 26th, 2017. Give it a try!

Contributed by: Haley Kieser
haleyskieser@gmail.com
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