Thinking of investing in real estate in Iowa? In recent years, the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship has been promoting vineyards as an alternative crop in conjunction with the rapidly growing wine industry. Due to this, for the first time since the Prohibition, vineyards are covering acres of Iowa land and becoming a popular real estate investment.If you are interested in taking a tour of a few of the Iowa wineries, you should consider taking one of the Iowa Wine Trails, either the Western Trail or the upper Mississippi Valley Trail…or consider doing both on your visit to Iowa.As you explore the upper Mississippi Valley wine trail, enjoy the region’s designated scenic byways, alpine hills, and cold water streams full of trout. This exquisite hill country was spared recent glaciers thus leaving soils, slopes, caves and aquifers well-suited for irrigation, drainage, circulation, and sun to produce the best grapes. As you adventure across the Western Trail, take time to explore the county parks with camping and fishing, Lake Manawa’s water sports, the Council Bluffs casinos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, the Danish attractions at Elk Horn, the Bass Pro Shop in Council Bluffs, the Loess Hills visitors centers, Lewis & Clark historical sites, the Squirrel Cage Jail, and much, much more.
Lodging: Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Spas and Bed & Breakfasts
A Bella Vista B & B
Iowa City Phone
319-338-4129
Arbor Inn
Leon, Iowa 50144 (641) 446-4595
Blessing on Main
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(641) 357-0341
Brown Street Inn
Iowa City Phone
319-338-0435
Carriage House Inn
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 (319) 277-6724
Dickson's Landing
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(641) 529-2016
Eagles Landing B & B
Marquette, Iowa 52158 (563) 873-2509
The Golden Haug
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 338-6452
Mission House Bed & Breakfast
Iowa City Phone
319-358-2854
Paiges Of Thyme
Clarinda, Iowa 51632 (712) 542-5796
Prairie View Bed and Breakfast
Panora, Iowa 50115 (641) 755-4356
River House
Iowa City Phone
319-351-6412
The WildRoseInn of Okoboji
Okoboji, Iowa 51355 (712) 332-9986Lesanville Inn Bed and Breakfast and Ramsey Farm
Mount Ayr, Iowa 50854 (641) 464-0811
Little Switzerland Inn
McGregor, Iowa 52157 (563) 873-2057
Larch Pine Inn
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(641) 357-0345
Food – Restaurants, Cafés,
American Skillet
Cedar Rapids, IA
(319) 390-0017
Bistro Montage
Iowa City, IA
(319) 354-0310
Blue Belle Inn
St. Ansgar, IA
641-713-3113
Blue Moon Cafe
Cedar Falls, IA
(319) 266-6512
Bo-James
Iowa City, IA
(319) 337-4703
Cafe Diem
Ames, IA
(515) 956-3556
Mekong Restaurant
Coralville, IA
(319) 337-9910
Mondo's Tomato Pie
Coralville, IA
319-337-3000The
Olde Broom Factory
Cedar Falls, IA
319-268-0877
The Skean Block
Albia, IA
641-932-2159
Smitty's Sandwich Shop
Albia, IA
641-932-7756.
Stone's People
Marshalltown, IA
641-753-3626
Wilton Candy Kitchen
Wilton, IA
563-732-2278
Zindrick's Czech Restaurant
Cedar Rapids, IA
319-365-5257
Need ideas for what else to see while you are visiting Iowa’s vineyards? You may want to plan a stop to the Grotto of Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. This religious structure which dwarfs tourists, was begun in 1912 by Father Paul Dobberstein as repayment of a promise made when he was deathly ill. Father Dobberstein continued his work on this Grotto until his death in 1954. Today, it is an interesting structure to view and see the physical outpouring of one man’s convictions. Snake Alley, in Burlington battles San Francisco's Lombard Street for the title of "World's Crookedest Street." Snake Alley's block-long serpentine switchback was constructed in 1894 as an experimental street design (and a shortcut downhill to Burlington's business district). Snake Alley is still paved with cobblestones, with an old timey entrance sign and replica Victorian lamposts. If you find yourself near Winterset, you can see where film star John Wayne was born. The simple wood frame, 4-room house is where the Hollywood legend entered the world as Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907. The house has been restored and maintained as it would have looked in 1907. During your visit you can see one of the 15 eyepatches John Wayne wore in the film True Grit. The Birthplace is hosting a 100 year celebration on May 25-27, 2007, promising "Wild West Spectaculars," pro trick riders and live cowboy music. Amana is one of Iowa's most famous travel destinations. It consists of seven authentic German villages which were founded as a religious commune 150 years ago. The Amana Colonies preserve their crafts and culture while offering a variety of experiences. 319.622.7622.
Or stop for a tour of the Hitchcock House, a restored station on the Underground Railroad, featuring special exhibits and country music events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and recognized as a National Park Service Underground Railroad.
Lewis. 712.769.2323If you think you’d like to get lost in a maze, try Clear Lake's newest attraction, the Fort Custer Maze. The maze covers nearly two acres and has over two miles of trail. The maze includes towers on the four corners, three bridges and a center look-out tower. An office building serves as a mini museum for visitors, with displays of animal mounts, as well as Civil War and Indian artifacts.
