People who have never paid a visit to Iowa can be forgiven for picturing the state as little more than an oversized cornfield. In fact, Iowa has plenty of land that is devoted to agriculture, producing more corn, soybeans, hogs and eggs than any other state. But it would be a big mistake to write off Iowa as nothing more than farmland, for there are plenty of fun things to do in the Hawkeye State that have little to do with agriculture.
Visitors to Iowa will want to explore the historical and other attractions associated with the mighty rivers that help to define the state's borders---the Missouri and Big Sioux on the west and the Mississippi on the east. Don't miss the River History Museum, located in Lansing on the upper reaches of the Mississippi. The museum celebrates the town's early history as a commercial fishing center with its exhibits of trophy fish, antique commercial fishing equipment, artwork, old boat motors, historical photographs and other memorabilia. In Dubuque, be sure to visit the National River Museum & Aquarium, which chronicles life on the Big Muddy and also offers visitors a chance to stroll through a world-class aquarium.
One of the most popular historical attractions in Iowa is the Amana Colonies, a cluster of seven small villages founded as a religious commune by German immigrants in the mid-19th century. If museums are your thing, you are sure to enjoy browsing through Lansing's River History Museum, the Kellogg Historical Museum in the town of the same name, the Allis Chalmers Tractor and Farm Museum in Griswold, and the Big Creek Historical Museum in Polk City.
If you prefer getting out in the great outdoors, Iowa's extensive network of state parks and forests offers endless opportunities to enjoy the beauties of nature. Three of the most popular parks maintained by Iowa's Department of Natural Resources are Backbone, located near Dundee; Ledges, about four miles south of Boone; and Waubonsie, near Hamburg.
Attractions that have something to please every member of the family include Adventureland Park at Altoona, King's Pointe Waterpark Resort at Storm Lake, Living History Farms at Urbandale, and the Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center in Des Moines. For those who can't survive without a touch of culture in their lives, Davenport's Figge Art Museum and the Des Moines Metro Opera at Indianola are must-see attractions.
Visitors to Iowa who long to take their chances against Lady Luck have plenty of opportunities at the state's many gambling facilities, which include riverboat and Native American-operated casinos, a couple of dog tracks, and horseracing at Altoona's Prairie Meadows, which boasts not only a racetrack but a casino as well. Gambling casinos can be found at Bettendorf, Burlington, Clinton, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Dubuque, Emmetsburg, Marquette, Northwood, Osceola, Riverside, Sioux City, Sloan, Tama, and Waterloo.
