Standing at the base of a lush canyon carved through towering Mississippi River bluffs, something becomes very clear: Iowa has secrets to share. It's a state known for agriculture, but so much grows here beyond field crops.
Cities sparkle with boutique hotels, award-winning restaurants and public art. Small towns hold artisan bakeries, scenic wineries and pop-up pizza nights. Ancient landscapes invite adventure-hiking on glacial knolls, wildlife-watching in rustling prairies, and clambering through rocky caves.
On our summer Road Rally, this year in partnership with Travel Iowa, the Midwest Living team spent four days driving across the Hawkeye State, from the Missouri to the Mississippi. All along the way, we found experiences that bridged Iowa's roots and its future. Every day brought unique opportunities to get outside, go underground, see art, learn about the immigrant groups that shaped Iowa's history and taste what the land provides. Agritourism? More like agriculture.
LOESS HILLS The Loess Hills run down Iowa's western border like a spine. Rising 300 feet above the Missouri River valley, the unusual slopes were formed from sediment that was carried by water, moved by wind, then shaped by water again. Though their exact age is unknown, Iowa DNR volunteer Larry Green believes they predate the Yellowstone Supervolcano eruption 640,000 years ago, due to volcanic ash found in the area. Loess Hills State Forest encompasses four unitsPreparation Canyon, Little Sioux, Pisgah and Mondamin. We started at the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook in the Preparation Canyon Unit. From there, hikes branch off in all directions.
Bu hikaye Midwest Living dergisinin Summer 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Midwest Living dergisinin Summer 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MAJOR KEY
HUNDREDS OF SMALL ISLANDS TRAIL LIKE STEPPING STONES OFF OF FLORIDA INTO THE GULF OF MEXICOAND THE PATH LEADS TO KEY WEST.
cream of the crop
IN A TINY TOWN OUTSIDE MADISON, WISCONSIN, A CENTURY-OLD CREAMERY HAS BEEN REVIVED AS A BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND CULINARY DESTINATION. FOR VISITORS TO PAOLI, SEVEN ACRE DAIRY COMPANY ANCHORS A SWEET WEEKEND GETAWAY. FOR SMALL DAIRY PRODUCERS, IT'S RESHAPING THE FUTURE.
HOME BAKED
ON A TREE-LINED RESIDENTIAL STREET IN DES MOINES, A BAKERY DREAM HAS COME WRAPPED IN LOVE, UNEXPECTEDLY TRUE COMMUNITY AND ALL-BUTTER PASTRY.
POST MODERN
AN INDIANA DIY'ER STUMBLES INTO SOCIAL MEDIA STARDOM BY SHARING HER HOME'S EVER-CHANGING STYLE.
POUR ME A DOUBLE
COFFEE BY DAY, COCKTAILS BY NIGHTTHESE HYBRID CAFES OPEN EARLY FOR CAFFEINE FIXES AND STAY UP LATE FOR LIBATIONS.
HOT IN HERE
THE UPPER MIDWEST (AND ESPECIALLY MINNEAPOLIS) IS FIRED UP OVER SAUNA CULTURE. HERE ARE 10 WAYS AND PLACES TO GET YOUR STEAM ON.
SHOP THE BLOCK
FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, ST. LOUIS' ANNUAL PRINT BAZAAR HAS TURNED CHEROKEE STREET INTO A BUSTLING, MAGICAL MILE OF ART AND HOLIDAY CHEERTHE PERFECT KICKOFF TO A WEEKEND EXPLORING THE LOU.
EASY SQUEEZY
THIS LITTLE LEMON LOAF HAS A SOFT TEXTURE AND A PUCKERY, BUTTERY GLAZE THE PERFECT AFTERNOON BAKE FOR A SNOW DAY.
WINTER RESET
THESE WARMING, SPICE-FORWARD MEALS PROVIDE A HEALTHFUL RESPITE AMONG (OR AFTER) ALL THE HOLIDAY INDULGENCES.
DARK ARTS
WITH HER DRAMATIC COLOR CHOICE AND SECONDHAND TREASURES, INTERIOR DECORATOR RUTHIE JACKSON BRINGS THE MOOD WHEN HOSTING FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND.