10 Storybook Towns In Iowa
In Iowa, the storybook quality is easy to recognize in the details, covered bridges beyond Winterset, tulips brightening the streets of Pella, and river towns where historic downtowns sit beneath the bluffs. These ten towns stand out for their covered bridges, canal-side plazas, courthouse squares, riverfront streets, and heritage festivals, which give their storybook appeal a sense of reality. Whether it is Winterset, where covered bridges punctuate the countryside, or Dutch-influenced Pella, where windmills, bakeries, and tulip fields lend a Hollandic ambience, each feels less like a stop on a map and more like a place with a story of its own.
Pella
A picturesque settlement in south-central Iowa’s Marion County, Pella’s Dutch-influenced structures, working windmills, a canal in its central business district, and bright-colored tulips evoke images of a European town rather than a Midwestern US community. The most conspicuous point of interest is the Vermeer Windmill, a large functional 1850s-style grain mill in the Historical Village complex, one of North America's tallest working windmills.
At the core of the town’s central business district, the Molengracht Canal & Plaza mimics a Dutch square, drawing attention to the canal-side courtyard, women’s clothing & accessories boutiques like The Funky Zebras Pella, and accommodations like The Amsterdam Hotel. Moreover, Klokkenspel, the town’s musical clock, is a notable stop where eight mechanical figures perform to the music of a 147-bell carillon, portraying different characters and events from Pella’s history. Each spring, Pella celebrates its Dutch heritage at the Tulip Time Festival, with tulips blooming across the parks and streets, and townsfolk partaking in parades, traditional Dutch dancing, music, food, and lots of fun activities.
Decorah
Decorah is set within northeast Iowa’s Driftless Area in the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River, precisely at the meeting of U. S. Highway 52 and Iowa Highway 9. The town is known for its distinctive Norse-American heritage, which is showcased at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum through more than 33,000 artifacts, traditional folk art, archives, and 12 historical buildings in Heritage Park. Every July, community members and merrymakers from around the world gather for the annual Nordic Fest, celebrating the town’s Scandinavian heritage through Norse storytelling, antique shows, food, folk art & crafts, and live music.
Also worth seeing are the remarkable ice formations that remain from January through August at the 3-acre Decorah Ice Cave State Preserve on Barbara Barnhart VanPeenen Memorial Park’s southern edge. At the wooded Dunning’s Spring Park, spend a morning or afternoon picnicking, hiking the pathways, nature studying, and observing a waterfall dropping over a rocky ledge into a pool below.
Winterset
The administrative center of Madison County, Winterset, sits about 37 miles southwest of Des Moines, surrounded by rolling farmlands in southern Iowa. The town is best known for the six covered bridges that stand around the countryside, including the 1883-built Roseman Covered Bridge, which featured in the best-selling romantic novel ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ as well as its cinematic adaptation. Embarking on a scenic drive to visit any of these covered bridges is one of the most pleasant ways to experience the landscape around Winterset.
At the heart of the community is the Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District, where the Renaissance Revival-style Madison County Courthouse rises above a circle of local businesses, making it a wonderful place to walk around and enjoy the surroundings. Cinephiles are particularly drawn to the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum, preserving a wide selection of artifacts and memorabilia related to the career and personal life of the legendary actor. Spare time to watch new releases, classic movies, and other performances at the historic Iowa Theater, and head to the town-owned Winterset City Park to explore the hiking trails and climb to the top of the 25-foot-tall Clark Tower.
LeClaire
One of the Quad Cities region’s appealing river communities, LeClaire is an attractive Scott County town on the Mississippi River, with a row of historic buildings facing the water against a backdrop of low bluffs. The river is always close at hand in LeClaire, offering opportunities for rambling along the levee, watching barges move past, relaxing in riverfront parks, and cruising the river aboard Riverboat Twilight.
In the Downtown area, purchase vintage items and souvenirs at Antique Archeology, sample craft cocktails and spirits at Mississippi River Distilling Company, and admire the mid-to-late 19th-century structures in the Cody Road Historic District. Stop by the Buffalo Bill Museum to delve deep into the personal history of the showman, William Frederick Cody, through local history exhibits, plus the displayed wooden steam-powered paddlewheel towboat that educates about the lives of early settlers along the Mississippi River.
Dyersville
Extending across Delaware County’s eastern portion and Dubuque County’s western portion, Dyersville is located beside the North Fork of the Maquoketa River in a serene area defined by softly curving hills and farmlands. Set in the middle of cornfields, the Field of Dreams Movie Site allows sightseers to walk onto the famed baseball diamond, tour the two-story white farmhouse, and snap pictures in the quiet surroundings.
Living up to the town’s moniker, the National Farm Toy Museum reflects Dyersville’s agrarian roots through a collection of over 30,000 farm models and toys. In Downtown, the twin spires of the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier rise above antique stores such as the Plaza Antique Mall and restaurants such as Mixteca Grill & Agave House, all easily browsable on foot.
McGregor
Backed by steep sandstone bluffs, McGregor sits along the Mississippi River in Northeast Iowa’s Clayton County. Immediately south of the town, the Pikes Peak State Park presents outstanding views of the Mississippi River. Hiking trails lead to observation platforms where one can catch sight of the watercourse meandering past sylvan cliffs and tiny islands.
On a stroll through Main Street, inspect the time-honored properties like the Joseph ‘Diamond Jo’ Reynolds Office Building & House, the impressive exhibits on the area’s history at the McGregor Historical Museum, and the visual arts exhibitions in the McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts.
Eldora
Hardin County’s administrative center, Eldora, located at the eastern extremity of the Altamont Moraine, directly west of the Iowa River gorge that borders the glacial moraine, offers a memorable stop for visitors. Outdoor enthusiasts primarily favor visiting Pine Lake State Park to the northeast of the town for its several miles of hiking trails, campground, fish-stocked lakes, and the 50-mile-long Lake-to-Lake State Park Bike Route that links the Pine Lake and George Wyth Memorial State Parks.
Back in town, the Downtown District has National Register-listed properties like the Hardin County Courthouse and eateries like the Sunshine Café Eldora serving classic American fare.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake, located along a natural lake of the same name, is a welcoming community in Cerro Gordo County, equidistant from the Twin Cities and Des Moines. Its music heritage, strong sense of belonging, and abundant waterside recreation give Clear Lake a setting that feels pulled right from the pages of a storybook. On the southeast corner of the lake, at Clear Lake State Park, visitors can enjoy year-round fishing, boating, windsurfing, picnicking, camping, and touring Scenic Woodford Island. At the Surf Ballroom & Museum, check out one of the first ballrooms in Iowa to regularly feature rock ‘n’ roll acts, which has hosted several musicians for decades and still hosts productions today.
The Surf is also remembered as the last venue where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson Jr. performed before perishing in a tragic plane crash. Additionally, within the town boundaries, visit the Clear Lake Fire Museum to see some of the earliest firefighting equipment at Iowa’s first fire museum. Escape for some solitude amidst the three acres of 20+ themed gardens in the Central Gardens of North Iowa. Drop in for the sculpture garden, gallery displays, and rotating visual arts exhibitions by local, regional, and international artists at the Clear Lake Arts Center.
Waverly
A part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, Waverly is a tranquil river town set along the Cedar River in Northeast Iowa’s Bremer County. Highlighting green neighborhoods, a compact downtown, and many places where residents and visitors gather, the town feels warm and inviting for exploration. The scenic campus of Wartburg College brings some youthful energy with its red-brick buildings, tree-lined avenues, and the Neumann Auditorium, which hosts diverse artistic presentations.
Anchoring Downtown, the Waverly East Bremer Avenue Commercial Historic District features a mix of historic buildings, locally owned shops like Love & Lace Flowers & Gifts, craft breweries like Bremer Brewing Company, and restaurants like Frederick’s Sips N Eats, serving tasty American cuisine. Outdoor lovers can walk, bike, or just enjoy the sweeping views of the river while traversing the paved Waverly Rail Trail, and gather at Kohlmann Park for the weekly summer concert series and relaxation by the waterfront.
Orange City
Sioux County’s seat, Orange City, seems like a small Dutch town in the American Midwest, maintaining its settler traditions through Dutch-inspired architecture, windmills in the public square, distinctively styled Downtown storefronts, and cultural attractions. A first stop for visitors is Windmill Park, which captures the town’s Dutch heritage with six replica windmills, a small canal, brick pathways, tidy gardens, and Dutch Molens, a replica of a baluster lifting bridge from Ouderkerk in the Netherlands. The 76-foot-tall Chamber Tulip Festival Windmill that doubles up as a tourist site and a Visitor center, draws visitors especially during the Annual Orange City Tulip Festival in May, when the downtown streets fill up with tulips, parades, marching bands, wooden-shoe dancers, Dutch food vendors, and traditional Dutch costumes.
Local history buffs must not miss a tour of the substantially renovated Sioux County Courthouse, designed in Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style by Wilfred Warren Beach. The Dutch American Heritage Museum, located a short walk away from the courthouse, chronicles the history and culture of Dutch immigrants via displayed old clothing, household items, and photographs. Adding to the charm are Downtown’s locally owned craft stores like Crafts Central and restaurants like Downtown Grille, near the Northwestern College campus.
What stays with you long after you have returned home from a trip to these storybook towns is a side of Iowa shaped by stunning landscapes, interesting historical attractions, walkable downtowns, cozy spots to eat and hang out, and townspeople who greet every visitor with open arms. From Decorah’s signature honey-colored bluffs and rich Norwegian heritage to Orange City’s community traditions and Dyersville’s iconic baseball diamond, these towns are optimal getaways for sojourning on short trips or extended vacations, away from the congested metropolitan hubs.
