*We had the great honor to be hosted by the great folks at the Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism. The views expressed are always of our own.
Authentic tacos, local wine, beautiful fall colors, great cheeseburgers, fish mongers, and a whole lot of roadside America. You can experience all of these at one amazing county in the furthest reaches of Northeast Iowa. This is the ultimate way to enjoy the autumn season and it’s all in Allamakee County! Let’s start in the south and work our way up…..
This is a Postville party on a plate and it’s just the welcoming committee I love to see when entering Allamakee County. El Pariente is an authentic taqueria and it’s just one of the many-many cultural experiences you can have in this community. For a small town, Postville is one of the most culturally diverse towns you’ll ever visit and no one should leave without getting a taste of its ethnic cuisines right here in small town Iowa. We have a long day ahead so we’ll need to fuel up.
Next Door Coffeeshop gave me the perk I needed to have an energized exploration of Allamakee County.
Tacos and coffee, baby! We’re ready to head north and the colors of fall are everywhere, only getting more unbelievable the deeper we get into Allamakee. It’s time to head into the forest…..
Yellow River State Forest is absolute Iowa majesty especially this time of year. The endless trails lead to endless scenery and it’s one of the main reasons why I needed this road trip. You can walk the same trail everyday during the fall and see natural beauty changing each time.
It’s easy to get off the beaten path and see the state in different ways- and I will tell you there is nothing similar to Yellow River State Forest anywhere else in Iowa. It’s stunning and I’m so proud that it’s in my home state. These are great pictures but you need to see it for yourself and keep your plans flexible. You just might spend way more time here than you ever expected and for very good reason.
Mohn Fish Market is the fish monger’s must-stop and see in Allamakee County. Mohn’s is near Harpers Ferry and appears out of nowhere when you’re enjoying the ride.
Pork, beef, eggs, soybeans, corn, cauliflower ear….All major industries here in Iowa, but there’s another one that brings in some great revenue to Allamakee County. Thousands of pounds of fish are brought in from the Mississippi River every year and Mohn’s is happy to process as much as they can. They ship much of it to the Twin Cities and its Asian markets. That’s right, folks! Iowa feeds the world in yet another way that we don’t think about everyday. Let’s move onto the county seat….
Iowa is a scavenger hunting paradise. One of the best road trips you can take is finding Freedom Rocks that are located in 93 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Waukon is the home of Allamakee’s Freedom Rock and it’s located in one of Iowa’s biggest city parks.
We love to support the home team as much as we can during our travels. Especially newer restaurants and Lid’s Bar & Grill had a burger basket with my name all over it.
You see how you do things here? Grab a bite, look at the scenery, grab a bite, scenery again, and you see where this is going. Let’s head to the one of Iowa’s four corners and that means only one place. A return trip to New Albin and the banks of the Upper Mississippi.
Army Road….What a great name! How could you not want to take that path. Did you want to literally get into the Mississippi without a boat, canoe, kayak, swimwear, and without getting wet? Then take Army road and you’ll have the great river all around you. The path takes you through the wetlands that fill you with imagination and they give you a taste of Mississippi history just a few feet from your car. Army Road says adventure, exploration, wildlife, and Northeast Iowa culture. There’s that culture word again. Didn’t I mention that way down in Postville? Yup. I sure did! You’ll find it everywhere in Allamakee.
Be sure to click here and see what we found in Lansing, Iowa! And then click again to see more of what we love in Allamakee County and Northeast Iowa!
