Here is an overview of my time in Iowa:
-Woke up before the alarm on the day of my departure.
-Flew to Omaha.
-Played grocery store with Isaac while we waited to pick up rental.
-Picked up rental. Al decided to try out a Mini Cooper for our trip.
-Met Dale for lunch.
-Drove to Missouri Valley, Iowa to see Monica. (She has a nice little garden stand on the main road through town. Stop in and buy something if you ever get the chance.)
-Drove to Iowa City. Took a ridiculous amount of photos of wind farms on the way.
-Checked into overflow Ronald McDonald House room at Travel Lodge. Creepy bear motif. Low beds.
-Ate and drank (Newcastle) at the Sanctuary pub in Iowa City.
-Next morning, drove to Amana. Surreal place with slight cultish feel. [Wiki History] Went into bakery to ask about the arts festival. "It's quite the thing," the baker lady told us. Bought a loaf of bread out of a feeling of obligation. Arrived early to find about 20 vendors setting up shop. Spent an hour browsing and making purchases, then went for lunch. Ate some of the best green beans I've ever had in my life. Spent another hour or two wandering shops. (It is a nice place to visit.)
-Drove out toward Decorah. Stopped random places for photos, including the train depot in Independence, a church in El Dorado, and the little church in Festina.
-Checked into the dumpy 'Bluff Inn and Resort' in Decorah. (Named such because you'll have to resort to that place if no other hotel have vacancies, I presume.)
-Went to eat. Found nice, old downtown area. Inquired about movies and dining at nice hotel. Dined. Walked, then headed back to the inn for a swim. After Alicia discovered the empty, creepy pool, decided it wasn't worth the money, and got a refund. Checked into ridiculously nice downtown Hotel Winneshiek for $10 more.
-Next morning, drove to Seed Savers. Ooh-ed and aah-ed at the gardens and visitors' center. Gave ourselves a nice, quiet walking tour as it was Sunday and no one was around.
-Stopped at Bily Clocks museum in Spillville. The lady started the tour without us, and after standing patiently for 10 minutes, realized it wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be, and skipped out on the rest of the tour. (This is where I took the picture of the two-headed pig.)
-Got caught in an intense storm just north of Des Moines. Took refuge for a bit in a Target. Drove the rest of the way back to Omaha under crazy clouds and lightning. Took more pictures of wind farms backed by sunset.
-Flew out the next morning. Came back feeling refreshed.
Once again, for pictures we took, click here.
1 comment:
Thanks for the travelog...glad it was refreshing! Ma
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