As you travel, you’ll notice each state and city has its own developed slogan.  Our local city says, “Come for a weekend or a lifetime.”  How appropriate!  I came here for a weekend and thirty years later it seems like a lifetime has passed by me. 

Iowa’s state tourism catch phrase is, “Iowa, the hub of hospitality because Iowa’s central location, no place is far.” I’ve also seen in some of the brochures and websites, “Iowa – Life Changing.”  When you look at a map of the United States, you’ll see that Iowa is definitely in the middle!  Five states to the east or west of Iowa will find you looking at the coastlines.  Iowa, being a state that is flanked by the Mississippi on the east side and the Missouri on the west can boast about being a state which provides great outdoors! 

Numerous parks and wildlife abound in this great state.  Fishing, birding, boating, sailing steamboats, these are just a few of the many recreational advantages of traveling through Iowa.  Iowa’s approximately three million people are spread out over ninety-nine counties with higher concentrations of population in ten major cities.  Des Moines is Iowa’s capital.

Naturalists will enjoy endless hours of bird watching at any number of the wildlife refuges such as:  DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge located near the Missouri valley in west central Iowa.  Migrating waterfowl and wintering bald eagles can be found here.  Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge is located in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River and is part of the upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and Prairie Learning Center near Prairie City is central Iowa and showcases prairie heritage.  Auto and walking tours encounter buffalo and elk, native flowers and prairie grasses.  Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge near Toolesboro in southeast Iowa is a natural haven for wildlife along the bend in the Mississippi River. Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge located in northwest Iowa is Kossuth County’s welcome to wildlife!

National historic trails, monuments, and scenic byways will afford the senior traveler many great experiences.  Those with a love for history will enjoy following the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail along the Missouri River on Iowa’s western border.  Those interested in Native American history will be astounded at the Effigy Mounds, a group of prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, located near Marquette in northeast Iowa.  Built between 500 B.C. and 1300 A.D., these bird and animal shaped mounds run along the Mississippi River.  The Great River Road national Scenic Byway is one of the most famous and longest scenic and historic drives in the United States.  This is federally designated route covering 3,000 miles of federal, state, and county roads that generally follow the mighty Mississippi from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  Grant Wood, Iowa’s famous artist, is celebrated with a scenic byway – “Grant Wood Scenic Byway.”  On this drive you’ll discover sights that inspired his beloved American Gothic and “Stone City” paintings. 

A sampling of events, of which there are many, include:  Orange City Tulip Festival   running May 15-17, Glenn Miller Big Band Fest – June 12-15, Independence celebrations will find Iowans enjoying the best jazz from around the world featured in Iowa City – July 4-6.  The Iowa State Fair is always a huge two week block of fun for the entire family, and of course you can’t forget the Fort Madison Tri-State Rodeo – September 3-6.  For those of you who loved the movie “Bridges of Madison County,” there will be a covered bridges festival – October 11-12. 

Seniors, young people, and all those in between are going to enjoy their visit to Iowa.  It definitely will be “Life changing,” and a fantastic senior moment to experience!  Happy Traveling

(All photos are courtesy of Iowa Board of Tourism)