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[Al_4_State]

We should give a target though. I don't know how well it recovered from the storms a few years ago but McGregor is the small, small town of choice. For slightly more amenities go Decorah.

McGregor is pretty much completely cleaned up from the tornado. You'd hardly realize it happened.

 

[AgronAlum]

Do a cabin down there about every year. Highly recommend it. If you're looking for an easy getaway with another couple or with some extended family, the cabins are well worth the value. And they're nice and modern.

If you haven’t been to George and Nick’s in Centerville, I highly recommend it. It was great pizza and a nice restaurant for the area. It’s right on the square.

 

[carvers4math]

If you haven’t been to George and Nick’s in Centerville, I highly recommend it. It was great pizza and a nice restaurant for the area. It’s right on the square.

Feehan’s Pub in Melrose also has good burgers and pie.

 

[MNCYWX]

If you want actual mountain biking in Iowa, you can't beat the Decorah Human Powered Trails.

I'm going to leave work and do just that in about 30 minutes. Will follow it up with some Pulpit Rock.

NE Iowa is the answer to the original question, although if you wanted to kayak, this wouldn't be a great weekend. The Upper Iowa, Turkey, and Yellow Rivers are going to be a little too high.

Yeah... all three of those basins got hit pretty hard last night by persistent rain. Around 3" after seeing 1"+ Tuesday evening. Turkey sounds like it has some pretty substantial flooding going on it right now. UI and Yellow are running a bit fast.

If you haven’t been to George and Nick’s in Centerville, I highly recommend it. It was great pizza and a nice restaurant for the area. It’s right on the square.

I haven't. But that's because I'm originally from Chariton so we typically drift the other direction from Centerville if we travel. I'd recommend the Red Barn for a restaurant near Rathbun. It's literally a restaurant in an old barn in the middle of nowhere just off S70. Technically a Melrose address if you're looking for it.

 

[Gunnerclone]

If you want actual mountain biking in Iowa, you can't beat the Decorah Human Powered Trails.

I'm going to leave work and do just that in about 30 minutes. Will follow it up with some Pulpit Rock.

NE Iowa is the answer to the original question, although if you wanted to kayak, this wouldn't be a great weekend. The Upper Iowa, Turkey, and Yellow Rivers are going to be a little too high.

How many miles in that mtb system?

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Decorah for biking/fishing/camping, Pulpit Rock and Toppling Goliath breweries, great mom & pop stores and fantastic places to eat.

Agreed - Decorah is absolutely a great recommendation. I had some friends from Central Iowa there a couple years ago and we had a great long weekend. Definitely good on the new-ish bike trail. Great downtown. The Upper Iowa is good for kayaking, canoeing or tubing. Two unbelievable breweries. Several good restaurants. A beautiful setting in a charming town. There's some culture there - the Norwegian-American Museum and concerts and theater through either the town's institutions or Luther College, depending on the time of year.Great trout runs in the area if you're into fishing.

Maybe you'll see Josey Jewell ....

 

[jcyclonee]

I would love to do a small town Iowa Hot Beef crawl.

Sounds like something out of urban dictionary

 

[wenkeej]

isn't it closed now? I was only there once for a bachelor party but I will never forget it. I even have a chris's go go t-shirt that I found online.

It is. It's been a handful of different bars since then. Not quite the same.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

Is the Hoover Library still open?

Anyone been?

We went 3 months ago-- first time in 20 yrs. I actually enjoyed it. If you have an hour or two and traveling I-80--worth a visit. Compared to other modern-day presidential libraries, I assume it would pale miserably. So don't try to compare --would be my recommendation

Hoover was an amazing person who helped feed millions of famine victims in the teens and 1920's (in Europe).

Unfortunately he was saddled with the Crash of 1929 (where Joe Kennedy Sr swindled mountains of $$$ and made a fortune).

Hoover also handled a couple other issues horribly while president, especially the VA benefits fiasco/protests involving veterans of WW1, where they marched on and camped in Wash DC

 

[carvers4math]

It’s not a long stop, but the veteran’s memorial on US 34 just west of Albia is a neat place you could stop if going to Rathbun and Honey Creek. They continue to add things there.

 

[wxman1]

Especially for a nice winter getaway I would suggest Grand Harbor in Dubuque. We did it twice this past year and will probably be back. The water park is in dire need of being refurbished but is safe and does the trick.

 

[Cycsk]

There's this place in Clarinda that I've been hearing about.

 

[baller21]

Another vote for Decorah. Great food and beer, biking, fishing, hiking, kayaking.

 

[CYKXBUT]

If I'm leaving Dubuque County, I have always liked going to the Amana Colonies.

 

[Cyclone27inQC]

LeClaire on the Mississippi River. Small quaint river town which has the Mississippi River distillery which cyclone fans own. Also, home of the American Pickers tv show.

 

[carvers4math]

There's this place in Clarinda that I've been hearing about.

Clarinda Correctional Facility? Nice place to visit, not for an extended period.

 

[clydewilliamslives]

4th of July in Gowrie. The floats displaying local veteran's military flags are awe-inspiring.

 

[IASTATE07]

It’s not a long stop, but the veteran’s memorial on US 34 just west of Albia is a neat place you could stop if going to Rathbun and Honey Creek. They continue to add things there.

Yeah the Welcome Home Soldier memorial is pretty nice. Crazy amount of money has been raised and given to them.

 

[cmjh10]

If you're into nature, far NE Iowa is awesome.

On a tractor at 12 MPH is even better

 

[DFWClone]

Basically what I've gathered from this thread is if you wanna do something fun, it will not be in western Iowa