I don't know exactly what town you're in, but this won't be too far. It's just southeast of Ottumwa, which is no more than an hour from you.

Driftless area. Anything NE of Manchester including SE MN, NE Illinois, and SW Wisconsin. No glaciers in the last ice age means hilly, scenic topography with clear limestone spring-fed creeks offering trout fishing, camping, hiking.
80/35 music festival in Des Moines.
Geode hunting @ geode state park or around Keokuk. There's a geode mine across the river in Illinois.
Quad cities have lots of things to do. Figge art museum, food, river culture.
Minor league baseball- Burlington bees, QC river bandits, I-Cubs in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Beer- Toppling Goliath in Decorah, several up-and comers in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor, Exile brewing in Des Moines, and New Glarus from Wisconsin (try their scream IIPA).
There's a lot of Frank Lloyd Wright/Prairie school architecture in SE Iowa as well.
Wildcat Den State Park south of Davenport.
Van Buren County has a lot of good fishing/hunting spots and has some great drives. Great fall festival.
Good fishing if you know where to go.
OLD THRESHERS in Mount Pleasant is a gathering of working antique farm equipment (and cars!) that happens around labor day each year. Working Steam locomotives and electric trolleys you can ride. I highly recommend.

There's a lot more I can add if you give me more info on what you like to do and where you are. I've spent the last 20+ years in SE Iowa including my teen years and know a lot of really cool spots.

3 ...

Report Post

Posted by mechatiger

The Pen

Member since Aug 2014

42 posts

Posted on 6/11/16 at 11:01 am to mechatiger

Also Effigy Mounds on the Iowa side across from Prairie Du Chien. Old native american mounds, with lots of hiking, birdwatching, camping options.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by darnol91

Member since Jun 2015

749 posts

Posted on 6/13/16 at 9:52 am to mechatiger

Thanks so much for the all tips, everyone!

Mecha, thanks for the detail. I'm in Burlington. Nice little town, surprisingly. Seems the younger age group/young professionals are quite under represented, and don't take too well to outsiders. That's just what I've seen, though. Not passing judgement. It is a small town, and most people immediately think I'm associated with the construction workers at the fertilizer plant in Wever. Understandable, it's a small town that has been turned upside down because of it.

I enjoy hiking, fishing, beer, sight seeing, going out. I do love the Iowa City Area, but haven't gone to the QC much, other than to catch a flight. I actually had planned to go hiking/camping this weekend, but it fell through, so went to Des Moines instead. I'll definitely take a look into all of the things you mentioned. I caught Old Thrashers last year and it was awesome! Look forward to a good bit of hiking/camping/fishing this summer. The weather has been amazing recently!

I also liked the des moines LSU facebook page. If I'm ever in town I'll definitely see what is going on. Will yall be attending the LSU wisco game?

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by meauxjeaux2