Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Iowa is a wonderful place to vacation with your kids. Museums, national parks, water and amusement parks, and even skiing await you in the beautiful state of Iowa.
Blank Park Zoo located in Des Moines is home to:
? Sea Lions
? Penguins
? Tortoises
? Tigers
? Lemurs
? Prairie dogs
? Monkeys and much more
Blank Park Zoo is home to more than 800 fascinating animals covering 22 acres.
Two major national parks are located in Iowa:
? Effigy Mounds National Monument at Harpers Ferry. Here you can cross country ski, hike, bird watch, snow shoe and stargaze.
? Herbert Hoover National Historic Site at West Branch. You can visit the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, a blacksmith shop, Quaker meetinghouse, a schoolhouse, visit the gravesites of President and Mrs. Hoover, visit a presidential library-museum, hike the prairie grass trails and have a picnic.
Many museums are available also:
? Battle Hill Museum located at Battle Creek a rather unusual museum in with a collection of natural and unnatural wonders on display.
? The Family Museum of Arts & Sciences at Bettendorf is an interesting hands-on museum full of fun for the kids and adults.
? Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad located at Boone attracts families of all ages where you can bring a picnic lunch and ride the trolley and then catch the train for a 15 mile or 22 mile ride that takes you over two bridges in the Des Moines river valley.
? Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science in Davenport is home to over 160,000 artifacts and specimens, including an IMAX theater and live shows.
? Science Center of Iowa at Des Moines houses a laser dome, planetarium, exhibits, and many demonstrations for kids of all ages.
? Fort Madison, Farmington & Western RR is located at Donnellson where you can take the whole family for a 30 minute 2 mile train ride. You will also find many old locomotives and railroad cars, depots, hand cars, artifacts, a large steam crane and you can even hop on and pump the handcar.
? The Grotto of the Redemption at West Bend is the largest Grotto in the world. It has been called "the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Grotto represents the largest collection of minerals and petrified elements put together in one place in the whole world.
Iowa is also home to amusement parks, water parks, and beaches:
? Arnolds Park Amusement Park at Arnolds Park consists of roller coaster rides, go-karts, and thrilling rides of all types for all ages. You can also take a ride on a ship around Okoboji Lake and visit the Spirit Lake Massacre Museum.
? Adventureland Amusement Park at Des Moines has over 100 rides and attractions. Roller coasters and thrill rides to entice and chill the most enthusiastic adventure seekers. You can also find many water rides and childrens rides. Also available are live magic shows, dance shows, and music shows.
? Lost Island Water Park is one of Iowas newer water parks located at Waterloo featuring many water slides, lazy river, and wave pool. This park is a Polynesian themed park. Fun for the whole family.
? Boji Bay Water Park located at Milford will keep you cool and offers a fun-filled day with four slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
? The Beach Ottumwa at Ottumwa is a 7 acre park with slides, a lagoon, indoor lap pool, and a wave pool.
? Grand Harbor Resort at Dubuque claims 25,000 square feet. This Mississippi themed park hosts an indoor park with slides, and inside/outside tube ride, rope ladders, water chutes, lazy river, water spouts, hot tubs, whirlpools, and many regular pools.
? A Polynesian-themed park in Iowa's countryside. Attractions include a wave pool, lazy river, enclosed tube slides, and kids' interactive play area.
? Wacky Waters Adventure Park located at Davenport is a 35-acre park with go-karts, bumper boats, wave pool, waterslides, and miniature golf.
? Wasserbahn Waterpark Resort at Amana is an indoor water park for hotel guests. It features a play area for children, a spa, a sauna, and waterslides.
? White Water University located at Pleasant Hill has slides, a lazy river, miniature golf, go-karts, and a wave pool.
? Rathbun Lake located 85 miles southeast of Des Moines on State Hiway 5 has sailing, fishing, camping, swimming and a floating restaurant.
? Sailorville Lake located outside of Des Moines offers swimming, boating, and fishing.
? Storm Lake in Storm Lake offers swimming, boating, and fishing.
? Clear Lake at Clear Lake offers boating, fishing, swimming, and more.
Winter is also a fun time in Iowa:
? Seven Oaks Recreation Area located at Boone offer the highest vertical drop and steepest slopes in Central Iowa for all age and experience levels. Lessons are available and during the off season you can golf, mountain bike or take a canoe ride.
? Sundown Mountain at Dubuque hosts a large mountain with a scenic view. They offer a free ski corral and free timed racing daily. Lodges offer great meals and views of the ski area and the Quad Chairlift.
? Mt. Crescent Ski Area located at Crescent offers over 40 acres of winter fun. Most of this ski area is for the beginner to intermediate level skiers.
? Fun Valley in Montezuma is a ski and snowboard area and also hosts motocross events.
These are by far not all the attractions in Iowa but enough to get you started and give you an idea of what a wonderful vacation spot Iowa is!
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