Exploring Iowa’s Most Underrated Attractions

Iowa is full of hidden gems that often fly under the radar. From underground caverns to vibrant festivals and visionary art, here are some of the state’s most underrated attractions worth discovering.

Maquoketa State Caves Park

Look for majestic bluffs and a six-mile trail system in the Maquoketa Caves State Park, which also features 13 beautiful caves. These include the 1,100-foot Dancehall Cave and others such as Wye Cave, Shinbone Cave, and Hernando’s Hideaway, which offer challenges for the experienced spelunker and gentle beauty for the caving newbie. The state established the park in 1921. The caves have revealed arrowheads, pottery, and stone tools—evidence that the area has been a popular destination for centuries.

Grotto of the Redemption

This four-story, nine-grotto visionary art complex was constructed by Father Paul Dobberstein, a self-taught architect young priest who promised to build a great shrine to the Virgin Mary in return for saving his health. During that lifetime, he constructed and built the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend with his colleague, Father Louis Greving. Construction began in 1912 and continued until Father Greving died in 2002. Visitors will see grottoes dedicated to various Biblical narratives and will be amazed by the array of donated shells and semi-precious stones used in each grotto’s walls.

Meskwai Powwow

For four days every August, the Meskwai tribe gathers in Tama to celebrate their resilience and history with a traditional powwow. Visitors can enjoy foods such as fry bread, dancing, and handicrafts. There are days for youth, senior citizens, and veterans, and admission is just $10 per person. Bring the whole family and enjoy a taste of Iowa’s tradition and history.

Iowa 80 Truckstop

If you’re hitting the open road, plan for a stop at Walcott’s Iowa 80 Truckstop, which is often described as a “trucker’s Disneyland.” It contains eight different restaurants from fast food to home cooking, plus three big rigs in the center, one painted with pastoral scenes of rural Iowa. There are stores full of truck accessories and parts, a barbershop, a dentist, and a chapel. Around the perimeter are the “Dog-O-Mat” dog wash, hotels, and RV camp stations. For travelers looking to add a little excitement to their trip, the Casinos.com top casino analysis is the best resource for finding the most talked-about online and offline gaming spots across the state.

Pike’s Peak State Park

This national park, located in Clayton County’s McGregor, offers almost a thousand acres of natural beauty with the crowning jewel of Iowa’s own Pike’s Peak, a 500-foot bluff overlooking the Mississippi. Like the mountain in Colorado, Pike’s Peak is named after explorer Zebulon Pike, who found the spot an ideal location for a fort. The park boasts RV facilities, camping, and mountain bike trails. Most of the land in the park remains untouched, remaining just as it was before the arrival of European and American settlers.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

In Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park, you can find a four-acre sculpture garden featuring works by Willem de Kooning and Richard Serra and 25 other well-known artists. The park opened in 2009 after a $40 million donation from John and Mary Pappajohn. The park continues to add to the collection and is a beautiful picnic spot.

Bixby State Preserve

The rich beauty of Iowa is present at Edgewood’s Bixby State Preserve, which is known for its network of ice caves. The preserve exists thanks to late-19th century local R. J. Bixby, who recognized the area’s natural beauty and began buying parcels to protect it from development. The ice caves are a unique ecosystem known as algific talus slopes. They are fed by a complex network of sinkholes, warm air, and cool air. Visitors can enjoy the caves and take in a bit of trout fishing.

Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden

Des Moines has a secret domestic oasis—the Better Homes and Gardens test garden. This display garden is used for the magazine’s photo shoots and has 22 distinct areas within the tiny space of just half a block. It serves as a model for luxurious backyards with landscaping, planting, and patio ideas. It’s open to the public for only two hours a day, from May through September. During the rest of the days, it’s full of photographers, employees having lunch, and corporate entertainment events. It’s the perfect place to do a little garden daydreaming.

Crystal Lake Caverns

Crystal Lake Caverns has been thrilling Dubuque visitors since 1868 when miner James Rice discovered a picturesque cave containing a reflecting pool of clear water. The underground marvel, first known as Rice’s Cave, is a cavern filled with stunning formations made of local crystal including travertine, satin stalagmite, calcareous spar, and aragonite. This site has been operating as Crystal Lake Cave since the 1930s and is one of the longest-running show caves in Iowa history.

The Bridges of Madison County

The Covered Bridge Capitol of Iowa has six covered bridges, including the Roseman Covered Bridge, Imes Covered Bridge, Hogback Covered Bridge, Holliwell Covered Bridge, Cedar Covered Bridge, and the Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge. Five of these are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Covered Bridge Festival happens every October. The Winterset location is associated with romance thanks to Robert James Waller’s The Bridges of Madison County. The bestseller sold over 50 million copies and gave rise to a 1995 film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, as well as a hit musical. If you’re interested in learning more about the historic bridges, the local Rotary Club offers scenic tours.

Tulip Time Festival

Get springtime festive with Pella’s Tulip Time Festival! This yearly festival commemorates this Iowa town’s Dutch heritage. Enjoy tours of the local historic home, the Scholte House, and the Vermeer windmill. Do some craft shopping with vendors and satisfy hunger with vendors of various traditional foods. It’s a great way to ring in the spring.