Hiawatha, IA: Linn County (Our 21st County!)

Overnight #6 for RAGBRAI’s (Register’s-Annual-Great-Bike-Ride-Across-Iowa) will feature one of Linn County’s premier communities. Hiawatha is expanding and is offering it’s cycling tourists some great recreation and vittles for their stay. Yup, Team Goodvin managed to find some great food again. Here we go!

We found one of the best spots for folks looking for locally grown and sourced food, wine, art, plants and more at The Farmer’s Daughter’s Market. They keep the showroom stocked to the ceiling and the kitchen prepped with made from scratch items that keep regulars and newbies like us coming back and fed with home cooked meals and desserts. We ordered…Ate…Ordered again….Ate. The RAGBRAI teams can continue this pattern all day long. This amazing market will feature bands, three Iowa wineries sampling their varietals, a bike valet, and a celebration inspired by the once popular show Hee-Haw. I’ll be doing my best to look like Conway Twitty.

We know how to find the area’s best food and characters on The Iowa Gallivant. We also know how to stay active. Hiawatha has made a name for themselves with showcasing one of Iowa’s best bike trails.

The walk was long and the day warm. Our lunch from earlier was starting to wear off and we let our stomachs lead the way. And we found ourselves at one of the Cedar Rapids’ most well known Pizza institutions.

After a trip for Pizza, we explored Hiawatha’s huge city park and to RAGBRAI’s main campsite. The weather was perfect for more running around and soaking up the sun and cool water at the popular splash pad in Guthridge Park!

The evening came and it was time to head back home and prepare for the next day. The next day back in Hiawatha! We’re not done yet.

Our last Hiawatha stop came highly recommended by some of the locals. To my pure joy, they had a selection that I appreciate very much. Oscar’s here we come!

We’ve watched Hiawatha grow year after year and we can see why RAGBRAI included this great town on it’s list of overnights. When your wheels hit Hiawatha,  you’ll be greeted by a group of locals eager to show why RAGBRAI came back and should come again. Just one more stop for us on our scouting series and we’re just days away from the first bike hitting the Iowa road!

Don’t forget to read parts 1 through 6 of our Scouting RAGBRAI series!

Scouting RAGBRAI-Part 1 of 8: 24 Hours Inside Iowa River Landing

Scouting RAGBRAI 2015-Part 2 of 8: “Crafting” Our Way Through Downtown Davenport

Scouting RAGBRAI 2015-Part 3 of 8: The Personalities of Downtown Cedar Falls From an Old Ice House to 4-Alarm Thai Food

Scouting RAGBRAI 2015-Part 4 of 8: Time to Meet the Fort Dodge Family

Scouting RAGBRAI 2015-Part 5 of 8: A Storm Lake Fathers Day Weekend

Scouting RAGBRAI 2015-Part 6 of 8: The Eldora Corps of Tubers

And now for a very special thank you……

Please take time to visit……