6 Most Overlooked Iowa Towns For 2025

July has arrived, and with it comes one of the year’s busiest travel seasons. You have probably heard coworkers chatting about their vacation plans, but you deserve a getaway too! In fact, your next vacation destination may be closer than you think. While Iowa is not always top of mind as a tourist destination, the following six towns prove that it should not be overlooked. Each one offers something unexpected: Dutch heritage, iconic architecture, the birthplace of Hollywood legends, and cutting-edge performing arts venues. Whether these towns are already on your radar or completely new to you, by the end of this article, you will want to add them to your travel list.

Mason City

Home to the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel, Mason City is filled with architectural gems. Travelers can kick off their visit by checking into the Historic Park Inn Hotel, famously designed by Wright in the early 20th century. Although the hotel fell into disrepair later in the century, it was meticulously restored in the early 2000s, resulting in the modern hotel that awaits guests today. Wanting to see even more of Wright’s incredible architecture? Make sure to check out Frank Lloyd Wright's Stockman House & Robert E. McCoy Architectural Interpretive Center. Also designed by Wright, this home was built in 1908, representing the first prairie-school style home in the state.

Music fans, meanwhile, can head over to Music Man Square, a recreated 1912 River City streetscape based on the set of the famed 1962 film The Music Man. A couple of highlights within the set include a museum commemorating musician Meredith Willson and a room with 76 trombones hanging from the ceiling!

Orange City

Founded in 1870 by Dutch settlers, Orange City continues to preserve its Dutch culture through a variety of traditions and landmarks. Each year in the spring, the town hosts the annual Orange City Tulip Festival, which celebrates the town’s roots with Dutch costumes, dancing, parades, a carnival, and other cultural activities. Although the festival has already passed for this year, travelers can still visit the Dutch American Heritage Museum to learn more about the town’s heritage, which exhibits traditional Dutch clothing, artifacts from Dutch immigrants, and a replica of a Dutch living room.

Windmill Park is another significant landmark. It features six replica windmills, a canal, a Dutch bridge, and a picnic house inspired by Dutch architecture. You can end your day at the Fox Hole, a modern American restaurant offering specials inspired by Dutch cuisine.

Clear Lake

Located along a scenic, spring-fed lake, Clear Lake is the perfect destination this summer if you are looking to stay cool. There are several beaches nearby that offer spots for a day of swimming. Clear Lake City Beach, located right in the heart of downtown, is a popular option. Just a six-minute drive south of the city beach, Clear Lake State Park Beach offers a more secluded afternoon for beachgoers, with 900 feet of sandy shoreline. If you are hoping to enjoy an afternoon on the water, consider renting a boat with Lighthouse Boat Rentals, which has pontoons and jet skis available for rent. Afterward, return to town to explore some of Clear Lake’s locally owned boutiques and shops. Weathered Elements is a town favorite, selling clothing, wine, and vintage finds.

Winterset

As the birthplace of iconic actor John Wayne, Winterset should be on every classic movie lover’s itinerary. Travelers can begin their visit at the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum, which preserves the actor’s childhood home, restored to reflect its appearance in 1907. Right next door to the home, travelers will find the museum, which exhibits the world’s largest collection of John Wayne artifacts, including film wardrobe, movie posters, original scripts, letters, and more. If all this talk of American film has you in the mood for a movie, head to the historic Iowa Theater next. Dating back to around 1899, it now screens both current blockbusters and nostalgic throwbacks. A visit to Winterset would not be complete without a covered bridge tour. Make sure to take a drive along the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway while in town, an 82-mile route that is home to Madison County’s famed covered bridges.

Mount Vernon

Although Mount Vernon is home to fewer than 5,000 residents, it has several noteworthy events going on over the summer. a community celebration filled with live music, a parade, and family-friendly fun. A few of the festival activities include carnival games, a Y2K-themed parade, bingo, a bean bag tournament, a car show, and a variety of food trucks. From May through September, you can also join the town each Saturday for the weekly farmers market, which takes place at Rhubarb Botanicals Flower Farm and features local vendors selling fresh produce, flowers, meat, coffee, bread, and more. Travelers should also check out Palisades-Kepler State Park, which is just an eight-minute drive from downtown. Here, visitors will find five miles of hiking trails that wind past river bluffs, ravines, and hardwood forests.

Fairfield

Fairfield has an impressively lively art scene that can easily fill a weekend itinerary. Travelers can take a look at the calendar for the Sondheim Center for Performing Arts before their trip, a modern theater that frequently hosts both regional and national traveling theater performances. The ICON Gallery is another wonderful stop, founded in 2003 and offering galleries, workshops, art forums, and lectures throughout the year. If you enjoy galleries, keep The Wege Center for the Arts on your radar as well, featuring four to five rotating exhibits each year from artists across the US. Travelers can unwind at the end of the day at The Hideaway, a cozy pub and beer garden that occasionally features live music from local musicians in the evenings.

Final Thoughts

Even if you only have a weekend to get away, these six towns offer the perfect chance to relax and enjoy yourself. The best part? You don’t even have to cross state lines. In towns like Orange City, you can have a Dutch-inspired meal and see a windmill up close, while towns like Mount Vernon offer you the chance to celebrate the summer with community events and state parks. Regardless of which town you choose, a memorable experience awaits.