World: United States: Iowa Vacation Rentals

Iowa Vacation Rentals, Homes, Villas and Condos.

Iowa Local Information and Area Highlights

Travel to Iowa / Iowa Vacation Rentals

Fertile soil, cornfields, wild roses, and a cornucopia of history are only some of the aspects of Iowa that vacationers will want to experience. Select an Iowa vacation rental for your trip.

Iowa State Fair

Iowa has held its annual State Fair since 1854, changing locations throughout the years. 400 acres of fairgrounds, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, await visitors. This event is the top tourism event in Iowa; one reason is Iowa’s devotion to a strong agriculture industry. The truly Midwestern fair is a traditional blend of livestock shows, farm machinery, food exhibits, competitions, cars, trucks, rodeos, and concerts. The Iowa State Fair is held in August for a week and a half of unforgettable entertainment.

Iowa Key Areas

Eastern Iowa has a number of attractions in areas like Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Cedar Rapids has grown into both a manufacturing and communications center for the Heartland region, decorated by the Tree of Five Seasons sculpture along the riverbank. Strong ethnic traditions run through Cedar Rapids, as evidenced by the presence of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Brucemore is a 26-acre community cultural center, complete with a mansion, gardens, exhibits, outdoor theater, and live concerts. Iowa City has several golf courses to try, such as Pleasant Valley Golf Course, surprisingly Florida-style. The Coralville Lake and Devonian Fossil Gorge is Iowa City’s main natural attraction: a flood created it in 1993. Southeastern Iowa is well known for its rare geode rock, which is the state rock, and Geode State Park in Henry County is a great place to view geodes. The Granger House Museum in Marion is a home and brick two-story carriage house where the Granger family resided for over a century, with tours.

Central Iowa is the location of Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines, home of the infamous Iowa State Fair. The Living History Farms in Des Moines are well worth a visit, telling the story of agriculture cultivated by citizens of Iowa from the 1700’s to today. For family activities, check out the Blank Park Zoo and the interactive demonstrations/planetarium/laser shows at the Science Center of Iowa. Art lovers will enjoy the three buildings at the Des Moines Art Center, which provide an internationally recognized look at 19th and 20th century contemporary art. In Ames, try all three forms of rail power on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, and then visit the museum and gift shop. Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University are 14 acres of both small and large gardens, uniquely themed. In Mason City, the Park Inn Hotel is the sole remaining hotel by Frank Lloyd Wright. Pella is a historic area with a Dutch heritage, and visitors can tour Pella’s Historic District, Scholte Gardens, and attend the annual Tulip Festival. A big treehouse near Marshalltown is a personal project of Mick Jurgensen, and guided tours are available for the electric powered structure.

Western Iowa provides diversity to the landscape on the extreme edge of Iowa with Loess Hills, which raise the terrain by 200 feet at steep angles, forming sharp bluffs. The Storm Lake community supports outdoor recreation with boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and the Inkapaduta Canoe Trail provides a relaxed ride on the Little Sioux River. Fort Dodge has the Fort Museum and Trading Post, a multi-building museum with a wealth of history and many structures built in the 1800’s. Western Historic Trails Center In Council Bluffs gives orientations for the northbound Lewis and Clark Trail, and for westbound Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails. Related Lied Historical Building offers exhibits, films, and sculptures. Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City allows interaction through the senses to discover about the expedition; murals authentically recreate the look of military uniforms that Lewis and Clark wore. Old O'Brien Glacial Trail and Western Skies Scenic Byway are made for wildlife.

Sites and tours to see

Sgt. Floyd Monument in Sioux City
Chief War Eagle Monument in Sioux City
Sioux City Sculpture
Harker House in Storm Lake
Vincent House in Fort Dodge
Story City Antique Carousel in
Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in Marshalltown
Prairie School Historic Walking Tour in Mason City
History Center in Cedar Rapids
Gazebo on the Green in Iowa City
Lock and Dam 19 & Hydroelectric Plant in Keokuk
Crystal Lake Cave in Dubuque