Your Ultimate Guide To Spring Attractions And Activities In Iowa
By Raymond Goldfield|Published March 16, 2024
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Raymond Goldfield
Author
Raymond Goldfield is a life-long New Jersey resident and an avid traveler and foodie who can be usually found on the Jersey Shore during the offseason or checking out the latest seasonal flavors at The Bent Spoon in Princeton. He has been working for Only In Your State for since early 2022, where he writes for New Jersey and Iowa and edits the Mid-Atlantic region. He can also be found writing about pop culture for GeekDad. When at home, he enjoys reading comic books and is part of The Rabbitt Stew podcast team. While New Jersey is his home base, he travels regularly and has visited Virginia, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, and Canada as well as all of NJ's border states. Ultimate travel goal? Visit all the best buffets in the United States.
Iowa winters can feel long and hard, and spring comes as a blessed relief and a new dawn. When the first signs of spring come along, I’m always ready to get out of the house and enjoy nature – and fortunately, the Hawkeye State offers no shortage of ways to do that. The best things to do in Iowa in Spring, to no one’s surprise, involve taking full advantage of nature. It’s the perfect time to explore local farms, take a walk through a state park, or explore some of the great cultural festivals that celebrate what spring means around the world. Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly activities for the whole family, adventurous quests into the great outdoors, or even a romantic activity for a certain stir-crazy couple looking to celebrate a new season, spring in Iowa always brings one thing – the opportunity for fun and adventure.
Iowa might just be the most iconic spot in America for flower blooms, thanks to its rich Dutch heritage. It has not one but two spectacular spots for tulip fields, as well as some amazing farms filled with a wide variety of blooms. We think walking these fields is one of the best family things to do in Iowa in spring, especially given how many festivals tend to be planned around the flowers during this time of year.
Popularity: Very popular - this might be the most popular festival in Iowa, and tourists from states around are coming to Iowa for it.
Price: While admission to the festival is free, tickets are available for various events and attractions including the afternoon stage show ($5-12) and tours of the surrounding village.
Tulip Time in Pella might just be the most spectacular spring festival in Iowa, and it’s clear why when you arrive - the entire town is lined with colorful tulips! That’s just the start, though - this is the perfect time to explore the town’s rich Dutch heritage, including the authentic windmill from the Netherlands. While you’re in town, you’ll enjoy traditional Dutch music, dance, and food. Make sure to stop by the town’s famous Jaarsma Bakery - which puts out many specialty pastries for Tulip Time.
2. Bloomsbury Farm’s Lilac Fields
Bloomsbury Farm, 3260 69th St, Atkins, IA 52206, USA
Popularity: Popular - Bloomsbury Farm is a year-round destination known well for its festivals, and while the spring events aren’t the most well-known, the lilac fields are likely to be a big attraction.
Price: Every festival at Bloomsbury Farm has its own admission price, with the current Bunny Bash event being on sale for $12.95.
Bloomsbury Farm is one of Iowa’s top spots for festivals, and no matter when you visit the odds are there’ll be something going on. That goes double in spring, when it hosts both the family-friendly Bunny Bash in March and the spectacular Spring Fest starting on May 3rd. This year, a new attraction will be a massive lilac field, perfect for photo ops and coming home with a bouquet for that special someone. And of course, all the Bloomsbury Farm activities, food, and drink will be on offer.
Popularity: Moderately popular - this is a charming small-town festival popular with locals, but it does draw a crowd.
Price: Admission to the festival is free, but separate tickets are available for authentic Dutch performances and tours of the local Dutch museum ($15 for adults).
The Orange City Tulip Festival is one of the most authentic festivals in Iowa, as the town’s Dutch heritage is on full display during the rest of the year. But when May rolls around, the town goes all-out. The main street plays host to a massive parade featuring traditional Dutch costumes, and performers will be dancing and singing all around town. A local craft fair is the best spot to pick up some unique goods, and food trucks and stands will line the street. Make sure you pick up the miniature Dutch pancakes - they’re the signature treat at the Orange City Tulip Festival.
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Botanical Gardens In Iowa
Iowa has a surprising number of botanical gardens and arboretums scattered around the state. Some are massive, sprawling institutions filled with thousands of species, while others feel more like rustic little slices of paradise in small towns. Spring is the best time to visit these gardens, as they’re often filled with wildflower paths. The botanical gardens often have a lot of unique Iowa spring activities that are well worth a visit.
4. Bickelhaupt Arboretum
Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 S 14th St, Clinton, IA 52732, USA
Popularity: Not very popular - this small-town arboretum is a great place to escape the crowds.
Price: Completely free year-round.
This is one of the lesser-known arboretums in Iowa, located on the grounds of Clinton Community College. But it’s actually very impressive in size, with over 600 cultivar trees towering over the massive garden. As you walk the paths under the trees, you’ll encounter wildflower beds, informational displays, and unique sculptures. Keep an eye out for one little fox hiding under a tree as you explore the Bickelhaupt Arboretum and see how many different wildflowers you can spot.
5. Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 3000 N 4th Ave E, Newton, IA 50208, USA
Popularity: Not very popular - Newton isn’t a town that gets too much traffic, so this public garden will usually have plenty of space.
Price: Admission and parking to the garden are always free.
Located in rural Jasper County, the Newton Arboretum is a small-town gem located over 6 acres. Not only does it have over 185 species of trees, but it’s filled with beautiful flower and grass beds. While the plants may be impressive, we think the most stunning thing here is the unique sculpture garden. This park is full of everything from vintage sculptures of children at play to complex modern art pieces. There’s always something new to discover at the Newton Arboretum.
6. Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, 1927 E Orange Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular - this is one of the fastest-growing botanical gardens in Iowa, especially during spring events.
Price: $7 for adults, $4 for kids 5-17.
For those looking for a more laid-back place to see flowers in bloom, this botanical garden has stunning daffodils and tulip beds. This unique arboretum is also one of the more kid-friendly gardens in Iowa, thanks to unique features like a koi pond and a fruit orchard full of pear, cherry, plum, and apple trees. The garden also hosts a lot of seasonal events, including spring hikes and even outdoor performances of Shakespeare at the Cedar Valley Arboretum.
7. Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 3800 Arboretum Dr, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
Popularity: Popular - while it’s not one of the biggest attractions in Dubuque, this stunning garden draws a big crowd for events through the year.
Price: No admission fee.
The Dubuque Arboretum might not get as much attention as some of the other attractions in the river city like the Fenelon Place Elevator or the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, but it’s one of the most impressive places in the state. It has sixty different unique gardens full of trees and flowers, and it features thousands of different species of flowering plants and trees. Spring at the Dubuque Arboretum is the best time to visit, as the entire place looks like a rainbow in plant form, and it’s full of amazing photo opportunities.
Visiting state parks is one of the best free things to do in Iowa during spring. Not only are the parks as beautiful as ever, but many turn into a kaleidoscope of color thanks to the blooming plants around the park. This is also the time the parks come back to life, as many have limited operations through the cold midwestern winter. For those who love camping, this is an ideal time of year to pay a visit.
8. Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
Popularity: Very popular - this is one of the most eye-catching and impressive spots in Des Moines and is busy throughout the year.
Price: The sculpture park is completely free to visit.
Maybe the most unique art installation in Iowa, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park is run by the Des Moines Art Center and has turned an open-air park in Des Moines into a stunning place featuring everything from a a horse made out of twisted wood to a towering figure that illuminates the park at night. While the park can be visited any time of the year, it’s at its best in spring when the area is in bloom, adding another element of beauty to the surreal nature of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.
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9. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, 9981 Pacific St, Prairie City, IA 50228, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular - while it’s one of the most beautiful spots in Iowa for nature-lovers, it’s also in a very out-of-the-way location and will rarely have the crowds of some of the most famous state parks.
Price: No admission fee to the refuge, and all activities on site are free assuming you come with your own equipment.
A truly massive park in one of the most rural areas of the state, the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is best known for its herds of bison and elk - both of which are being reintroduced into the ecosystem. This makes this 800-acre prairie a popular spot for photo safaris through the year, but during the spring and summer the plant life is almost as impressive as the animals. This is a great spot for nature-lovers who want to explore some more rustic areas of the state at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
10. Pammel State Park
Pammel State Park Campground, Winterset, IA 50273, USA
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Popularity: Moderately popular - while Winterset will always be a big draw for tourists, Pammel is more of a hidden gem.
Price: Like all of Iowa’s state parks, admission is completely free. Campsites are available for a fee.
Winterset is a top destination for Iowans, thanks to destinations like the famous bridges of Madison County, but not many people know about the unique hidden gem of a park hiding in the town. You’ll find Pammel State Park in a bucolic setting, and this small park is home to some unique features like a historic tunnel and what might be the oldest oak tree in Iowa. The park is open year-round, but for those who like camping and hiking, spring is one of the best times to explore or take a getaway to Winterset.
Spring Hikes In Iowa
There are few things more beautiful than a spring hike. Iowa’s rich network of parks and hiking trails means that even if you’re an avid hiker, the odds are there will be plenty you’ve never explored before. These two hikes couldn’t be more different, with one being located in a rural part of the state and the other being found in a major city, but both have stunning wildflower views well worth the journey.
Popularity: Not popular - this is such an out-of-the-way location that there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself.
Price: Visiting the lake and taking the hike is completely free.
Found in the tiny south Iowa town of Sigourney, Lake Belva-Deer might just be the most isolated hike in the state. This charming 6.2-mile trail takes you around the lake perimeter, which is even ground easy for even beginning hikers to navigate. However, the lake is all the more stunning in the spring thanks to the many small beds of wildflowers you’ll encounter. While most of the Lake Belva-Deer Loop trail is simple paths, expect some uneven terrain as you head into more rural areas. You can also rent a kayak nearby and take to the water!
Popularity: Moderately popular - while the central location helps it draw a crowd, the Dubuque Heritage Trail is a hidden gem that gets overlooked by many tourists.
Price: A daily pass to the heritage trail is $2 for adults with yearly passes available at a discount.
The Dubuque Heritage Trail takes place along one of the most fascinating spots in eastern Iowa - the site of the former Chicago Great Western Railroad. The railroad is no more, but it’s been replaced by a multi-use trail that connects Dyersville to Dubuque and is popular for cycling and hiking. The trail is full of historical milestones, so you’ll learn as you hike, and it’s near a lot of popular destinations including the Field of Dreams house in Dyersville. This trail is around 26 miles long, so most visitors either only do a part of it or make it an extended adventure.
Spring Picnic Spots In Iowa
Taking a picnic is one of the most romantic things to do in Iowa in spring. There’s something uniquely special and peaceful about a meal in the great outdoors as nature comes back to life. The best thing about a picnic is that almost anywhere works as a spot for one – from an old-fashioned amusement park, to a top-of-the-line distillery, to the most impressive zoo in the Hawkeye State.
Popularity: Popular, especially during the summer months. While the Iowa Great Lakes are a far-flung location, this vintage amusement park always draws a crowd.
Price: A 2024 day pass to the amusement park is $32.95 with options for upgrades including the Queen II and the Go-Karts.
Who doesn’t love a vintage amusement park? Arnolds Park might be the smallest major amusement park in Iowa, but its century-old roller coaster is always a big draw. This park is located near Okoboji, which has some of the best beaches in Iowa and is always worth a visit. The surrounding area of Arnolds Park also has some other big surprises like Pillsbury Point State Park - the smallest state park in Iowa - and you’ll find plenty of hidden spots to have a relaxing picnic amid a day of fun. The nightlife in Arnolds Park during the warmer season is amazing as well.
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14. Cedar Ridge Distillery
Cedar Ridge Distillery, 1441 Marak Rd NW, Swisher, IA 52338, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular - while this distillery and restaurant is hidden out in the woods, it’s quickly gaining a big fanbase for its delicious food and drink.
Price: Visiting the restaurant is free, with tours including two free samples available for $5. Food and drink is available on site at menu prices.
Iowa has no shortage of great wineries, but distilleries are a rarer breed - and you can find both under one roof at the Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher. The sprawling complex is home to more than ten acres of vines, but its corn whiskey business is helping it to stand out. People come here to shop at the winery, engage in tours and tastings, and have lunch or dinner at the acclaimed on-site restaurant. The pizzas are top-notch, and spring is an amazing time to kick back and enjoy dinner with a drink outside during nice weather. Live music is also common at Cedar Ridge Distillery when the weather gets warm.
15. Blank Park Zoo
Blank Park Zoo, 7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA
Popularity: Extremely popular - this is the top zoo in Iowa and one of the best animal attractions in the Midwest.
Price: $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $12 for kids 2-12.
There is no more beloved attraction in Iowa than the Blank Park Zoo, a massive animal exhibit that always seems to have something new waiting for visitors. From majestic African animals like lions and giraffes to adorable penguins, there’s a good chance your favorite animal is waiting at the only accredited zoo in Iowa. While outside food can’t be brought into the zoo, a picnic area is available for lunch right outside the zoo gates before a day of excitement exploring the Blank Park Zoo.
What are your favorite things to do in Iowa in spring? Let us know in the comments section! There might be no better place to enjoy spring in Iowa than from your very own vacation rental, so check out this list of 8 vacation rentals perfect for spring. And if you’re planning a memorable spring road trip, make sure to stock up your car with all the essential road trip supplies.
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