Category: Outdoors All Year

Scouting RAGBRAI-2017: Charles City’s Pizza Powerhouse, Breakfast Boss, & Camping on the Endless Riverfront
#RAGBRAI · Family Adventures · Museums and History · North Central Iowa · Outdoors All Year

Scouting RAGBRAI-2017: Charles City’s Pizza Powerhouse, Breakfast Boss, & Camping on the Endless Riverfront

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Charles City, IA: Floyd County (Our 57th County!) How does one get through a beautiful spring weekend in North Central Iowa? How about like a RAGBRAI’er by camping, making nice with the locals, and finding unforgettable food! And I just realized that I’ve been doing that my whole adult life so this scouting mission is a piece… Continue reading Scouting RAGBRAI-2017: Charles City’s Pizza Powerhouse, Breakfast Boss, & Camping on the Endless Riverfront

“Their Spirits Will Watch Over You While You Are Here…”
Family Adventures · Museums and History · Northeast Iowa · Outdoors All Year · The Mud Belt-Traveling the Mississippi

“Their Spirits Will Watch Over You While You Are Here…”

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Effigy Mounds National Monument-Harpers Ferry, IA: Allamakee County (Our 48th County) On a mission to a festival in nearby Garnavillo, IA, we found ourselves visiting one of Iowa’s most sacred areas. We had plans throughout Clayton County, but there is always time to stop and explore one of our nation’s national monuments. Near the small town… Continue reading “Their Spirits Will Watch Over You While You Are Here…”

The Best Between Bread-Iowa’s Sandwich Masters: Locale 4, Oakland Mills
2017 Best Between Bread · Family Adventures · Iowa Food · Outdoors All Year · Southeast Iowa · Unincorporated Iowa

The Best Between Bread-Iowa’s Sandwich Masters: Locale 4, Oakland Mills

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Oakland Mills, IA: Henry County Just down the road from the city of Mount Pleasant is the small unincorporated community of Oakland Mills, right on the mighty Skunk River. Up from its banks is plenty of camping, disc golf, picnic areas, a historic walking bridge, and one of Iowa’s best destination eateries. You can’t have a… Continue reading The Best Between Bread-Iowa’s Sandwich Masters: Locale 4, Oakland Mills

Keokuk, Round 3-New Beer on the Old River
Grownup Getaways · Iowa Wine, Beer, and Spirits · Museums and History · Outdoors All Year · Southeast Iowa · The Mud Belt-Traveling the Mississippi

Keokuk, Round 3-New Beer on the Old River

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Keokuk, IA: Lee County Exploring the Mud Belt along the mighty Mississippi and soaking in all of its culture is one of our favorite pastimes. The history of this region draws us in more than anything, but over the past few years, we’ve also been drawn to what’s new on Iowa’s eastern banks. You’re probably wondering… Continue reading Keokuk, Round 3-New Beer on the Old River

Two Hours in Winterset
Family Adventures · Outdoors All Year · Roadside Iowa · South Central Iowa

Two Hours in Winterset

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Winterset, IA: Madison County (Our 35th County!) One of the best road trips you can take in Iowa is through Madison County. Legions of travelers love the covered bridges, rolling hills, and unique landscapes. We were passing through and needed to soak in as much of Winterset as we could in a short period of time.… Continue reading Two Hours in Winterset

Johnny Carson & the BBQ Battle
Family Adventures · Iowa Icons · Museums and History · Outdoors All Year · Roadside Iowa · Southwest Iowa

Johnny Carson & the BBQ Battle

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Corning, IA: Adams County The birthplace of Johnny Carson is becoming a complete summer destination more and more every year. The ample amount of camping options, fishing opportunities, and scenic Iowa landscapes, and an incredible Main Street District. Why am I not talking about the BBQ yet? Let’s eat! I had the opportunity to be a… Continue reading Johnny Carson & the BBQ Battle

Iowa State Parks-A Quick Dip at Lake of Three Fires
Family Adventures · Outdoors All Year · Southwest Iowa

Iowa State Parks-A Quick Dip at Lake of Three Fires

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Lake of Three Fires State Park-Bedford, IA: Taylor County (Our 33rd County!) You’ve see those brown signs on the side of the road as you’re road tripping through Iowa, pointing to public areas. How many times have you passed them and wondered what was just a few miles down the road. “Maybe some other time” you… Continue reading Iowa State Parks-A Quick Dip at Lake of Three Fires

The Panoras Travel to Panora-An Ecuadorian Family’s Bucket List
Family Adventures · Outdoors All Year · West Central Iowa

The Panoras Travel to Panora-An Ecuadorian Family’s Bucket List

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Panora, IA: Guthrie County (Our 32nd County!) Team Goodvin steps aside and lets Team Panora take the lead on this Gallivant. And why not. They traveled all the way from Ecuador via Minneapolis to see this Iowa town. You heard that right. Members of the Panora family flew in to visit their son and daughter in-law, who… Continue reading The Panoras Travel to Panora-An Ecuadorian Family’s Bucket List

One of Iowa’s Greatest Wetlands Experience at the Hurstville Lime Kilns
East Iowa · Family Adventures · Museums and History · Outdoors All Year · Roadside Iowa

One of Iowa’s Greatest Wetlands Experience at the Hurstville Lime Kilns

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Hurstville, IA: Jackson County There is nothing better than being on a road trip with a clear mission and completely going off course. That is the daily life of Team Goodvin and what supplies the important Adrenalin that keep The Iowa Gallivant soldiering on. We made a commitment years ago to give credence to the… Continue reading One of Iowa’s Greatest Wetlands Experience at the Hurstville Lime Kilns

Family Adventures · Museums and History · Outdoors All Year · Roadside Iowa · Southeast Iowa · The Mud Belt-Traveling the Mississippi

Louisa’s Majesty-Endless Waterways,Woodlands, History, & an Authentic Burmese Feast

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Louisa County, IA You’ve see all the signs. The shade of brown with white lettering. Turn hear to a campsite, state park, wildlife refuge, wetlands, Native American preserves, river access, lake front, hiking trail, historic landmark, memorial, river slough, boat launches, pioneer cemetery…..You’re probably saying that you have all of those in  your home county.… Continue reading Louisa’s Majesty-Endless Waterways,Woodlands, History, & an Authentic Burmese Feast