Iowa -- It's Much More Than Meets the "I"

I grew up in Minnesota, went to college in Wheaton, Illinois, spent a summer in Bar Harbor, Maine, followedby  three years in Augsburg, Germany, and sixteen in ColoradoSprings,  Colorado -- some of the loveliest spots on earth --before moving backto the Midwest.

Myfriends from  Colorado thought I was insane when I decided to moveto a town of less  than 1000 in Iowa. But for me, Iowa hadsomething that rivaled all the  beauty in the world... family.

Then, I inadvertently discovered how lovely Iowa really was.

The people are some of the warmest, friendliest, kindest people I've ever met.

The rolling hills, quaint barns, country churches, cottages and villages are truly lovely.

When the sun sets in a blazing ball of fire through the lacytree-branches  of  winter over frosty, snow-coveredlandscapes, it will take your breath  away.

Come spring and summer, you'll see the lights of a thousand fire flies shimmering over the lawns, a field of bluebells, a roadside ditchfull  of cattails, clover and wild roses, and you'll see why Iowais one ofthe most beautiful places on earth.

But what is thereto do,you may ask. When people ask me what there is to do in my smalltown, I  love to say "nothing." One of the nicest things aboutvisiting smal  town Iowa is that it's truly a great place torelax, to escape the  hustle bustle of the city, home, work andeven family, and spend  time regrouping, rejuvenating, orreconnecting with someone you  love.

Nice as "doingnothing" sounds to me, and I'm  guessing many of you, I'm toldthat active, adventure-packed vacations  are the rage these days.So for those of you who would like to  have something to do whenyou come visit, here are some ideas:

* Taste Life! Visit one ofIowa's many wineries and apple  orchards and sample delicious Iowawines, apples, jams &jellies. Bel-Aire winery, near St. Ansgar,Iowa is one of many.

*Get Creative! Paint your own china, make aquilt, catch up onyour scrapbooking, go to a cooking seminar -- we maynot have alot of tourist attractions, but we know how to have fun andbe  productive, too. Unique shops in restored chicken coops,movie  theatres, and barns will have all the supplies you need.

*Live Dangerously! Take in a Murder Mystery at one of Iowa's unique bed and breakfasts, head to the nearest casino, take a riverboat down the Mississippi, or canoe down the Cedar River.

*Be Festive! Teahouses and locally-owned restaurants scattered throughout Iowa offer homemade goodies like stuffed pumpkins,

unique fare like jaegerschnitzel with homemade spaetzle noodles,

cottage pie with a thatched roof, and fondue feasts -- with wine & cheese, meat
and potatoes, and chocolate & fruit involved, how can it not be fun?

*Reminisce! Iowa has thousands of well-preserved examples of
Victorian and arts and crafts houses.

Many have been turned into bed and breakfasts where you can have a lot ofold-fashioned fun -- put together a jigsaw puzzle or watch old movies. If you like night life with a historical twist, visit theSurfBallroom in Clear Lake or visit one of Iowa's restored, bigscreen movietheaters. The Watts Theatre in Osage is one you'll love!

*Move it! Walk -- or bring your bike -- and check out Iowa's picturesque gardens, ponds, and country lanes. Go golfing -- the Rice Lake golf course near Lake Mills and Lake Panorama are two of my husband's favorites. Or, fish for bass, trout, and more in Iowa's
lakes, streams, and rivers.

*Think big! Gather upyour  nieces and nephews, sisters and aunts, or grandchildren andcelebrate  family! Iowa's parks, campgrounds and historic hotelsare great places  for family reunions.

*Play  all day!Many of Iowa's small towns  have quaint antique and country shops.Clear Lake, St. Ansgar,  Osage, Decorah, Lake Mills, and ValleyJunction, an old section  of Des Moines, have some of my favoriteboutiques.

And remember, it's still okay to sit on a front porch swing, read a book,

watch the clouds go by,

take in a sunset,

or even do nothing at all. Whatever you decide, I feel sure you'll love Iowa!