Your Ultimate Guide To Winter Attractions And Activities In Iowa
By Raymond Goldfield|Published November 07, 2023
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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.
Winter is just around the corner, there’s a chill in the air, and people’s thoughts are turning to the holiday season and the cool months ahead. For some people, it’s the perfect time to hunker down and wait for the warm weather to come back – but Hawkeye State residents are made of sterner stuff! There are so many great things to do in Iowa in winter that for many people, it’s the time they look forward to the most all year. We’re a wide-open state, with a lot of room to explore, and there’s something uniquely beautiful about the state under a coating of fresh snow. Not only does Iowa have a lot of natural beauty to explore, but we do the Christmas season like few other states can. If you’re looking for a charming, old-fashioned Christmas, you’ll find it in so many places around Iowa.
For those seeking adventure, Iowa has it in spades – from ice skating in one of the most beautiful places in the state to soaring down a mountain on skis or a snow tube. If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, Iowa has rustic cabins and charming Christmas suites. And of course, there are plenty of places for kids of all ages to encounter Jolly Old Saint Nick on a North Pole adventure. It’s clear that braving the cold and exploring the amazing things to do in Iowa in winter is well worth the effort – and winter 2023-2024 is looking like the best one yet.
Winter in Iowa is the time just about every town puts on its holiday best and delivers an event for the whole family to remember. While some of these events are only around for the holiday season, others take beloved Iowa locations and transform them into a festive wonderland. Christmas light shows, a Christmas tree showcase, a whole holiday village, and a train ride to the North Pole are just a few of the seasonal joys that await visitors during the month of November in the Hawkeye State.
1. Tannenbaum Forest
Amana RV Park & Event Center, 3850 C St, Amana, IA 52203, USA
Popularity: Popular. Amana is a well-liked holiday destination, and this is one of the flagship attractions each year.
Price: This stunning display of decorated trees is free to visit, but an optional donation to raise money for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is encouraged.
Tannenbaum Forest in Amana is the charming German town’s premiere Christmas event and tree showcase, taking the Festhalle Barn and turning it into a dazzling display of seasonal beauty. The highlight is a massive 17-foot-tall Christmas pyramid featuring snowmen on display. The event will take place this year on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays every weekend from November 24th to December 17th, and every weekend will also have a unique theme and a host of special activities for the whole family - including a visit from Santa!
2. Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland
Plymouth County Fair, 500 4th Ave NE, Le Mars, IA 51031, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular. Le Mars is a small town far away from most of Iowa’s major city, but this charming Christmas village still attracts a crowd of locals and tourists.
Price: Visiting the village is free of charge, with the village taking optional donations. Food, drink, and gifts are available for an additional charge.
Christmas Wonderland is a special event that takes over the Pioneer Village in Le Mars every year, and opening night this year is December 2nd. The entire village will be decked out in holiday cheer and twinkling lights, and the highlight is always Santa’s Workshop. This massive building will be filled with ornately decorated Christmas trees, along with vendors selling unique decorations from local craftsmen. It wouldn’t be an Iowa Christmas without Santa being on hand to greet kids, and many guests choose to end the night with a horse-drawn carriage ride.
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3. Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show
Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Popularity: Very popular. Reiman Gardens is a top attraction in Ames, and this innovative holiday event keeps the traffic flowing through the colder months.
Price: This is a timed, ticketed event with adult tickets costing $15, members and ISU students paying $13, kids 2-12 getting in for $7, and kids under two being free.
Winter Wonderscape Holiday Light Show is the unique event that Reiman Gardens delivers every holiday season, taking the peaceful botanical garden and draping it in countless lights and lanterns. This isn’t a uniform light experience - different features like tunnels of lights, icicle-shaped lights hanging off trees, and fields of Chinese lanterns provide a surprise around every corner. And of course, all the plants still in season are as beautiful as ever. This year’s event runs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings in December.
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4. Jolly Holiday Lights
Jolly Holiday Lights, 801 Bass Pro Dr NW, Altoona, IA 50009, USA
Popularity: Very popular. This charity light show in the backyard of Adventureland is considered one of Iowa’s premiere winter attractions and pulls in visitors from around the Hawkeye State.
Price: This year features multiple experiences, including the 2023 Kickoff ceremony and tree lighting and a breakfast with Santa, as well as a Sip and Shop Night at the Outlets for the adults. All three are $25 per ticket. A train ride to see the lights through the outlets is $5.
Jolly Holiday Lights takes place in the shadow of the popular Adventureland theme park, and has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a simple drive-through light show. It runs from November 17th through January 7th in 2023, and offers a host of different attractions. The best way to see the lights is on a train ride through the outlet, but more personal experiences including a kid-friendly breakfast with Santa Claus are available. The event is morphing into a combination of a light show and a Christmas village, and this year’s outing looks like the biggest yet.
5. Santa's Castle
Santa's Castle, 200 E 5th St, Storm Lake, IA 50588, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular. Storm Lake is an out-of-the-way small town, but this is considered one of Iowa’s premiere Santa experiences and will be crowded as the big day draws near.
Price: Tickets are $5 for kids 10 and under, $7 for adults and older kids. Kids under 2 get in free.
Santa's Castle is located in the historic Carnegie Library, a stunning building that has been transformed into a North Pole straight out of the storybooks. The 2023 season begins on November 23rd, and is expected to include all the features that make this Storm Lake institution so popular - visits with Santa, a massive display of antique Christmas decorations and characters, and an impressive miniature railroad that will capture the imagination of train-lovers of all ages.
6. Santa Express On The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & James H. Andrew Railroad Museum, 225 10th St, Boone, IA 50036, USA
Popularity: Extremely popular. The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad is one of Iowa’s premiere attractions, and its Christmas experience books up quickly. Get your tickets early, especially if you want to ride during peak season!
Price: Tickets are $50 for First Class Coach and $25 for Classic Coach. All passengers aged 2 and up require a standard ticket.
The Santa Express is an annual tradition on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, combining the classic scenic route across some of Iowa’s most beautiful terrain with a Polar Express journey to remember. On this voyage, the train will pass by North Pole-themed decorations and twinkling lights before making a stop to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus. The voyage includes hot cocoa and cookies, making for a truly festive experience. It’s one of the best family things to do in Iowa in winter, and it runs starting November 24th in 2023.
Christmas Towns In Iowa
Some towns take the holiday spirit to the next level, transforming their streets into winter wonderlands filled with light, decorations, and good spirits. You’ll find seasonal parades, live music, and delicious holiday treats awaiting you when you visit before December 25th. In fact, when you visit these three Christmas towns, it’s like Christmas isn’t a special day – it’s a full season.
Popularity: Popular. Amana has one of the best tourist outreach programs of any small town in Iowa, and it makes for a pastoral Christmas visit. However, the lack of any major festival during the Christmas season keeps crowds from getting overwhelming.
Price: Free to visit, with the highlight of a Christmas visit being the many charming shops and restaurants. Bring spending money - this town will make you hungry!
The Amana Colonies are truly magical this time of year - this famous German town in Iowa goes all out during the season. The town is home to a year-round Christmas shop named the International Christmas Market, and the main general store also has a dedicated Christmas room. The town’s beloved bakery is always putting out new holiday treats, and the town looks especially beautiful covered in a fresh blanket of snow. It’s such a beautiful place that the Hallmark Channel filmed a movie here back in 2016, and a winter day in Amana is truly magic.
Popularity: Not popular - this tiny town is located about 45 minutes east of Cedar Rapids, and is a true hidden gem. You likely won’t have much competition if you want to explore the town.
Price: The town is free to explore, but some of the Christmas events may have a small admission fee.
Wyoming is the perfect town to visit when you’re looking for a laid-back experience. It often feels like stepping back in time here, and the environment has been compared to an old-fashioned storybook. That’s clear when you’re walking down the street under a canopy of colorful lights - the town certainly goes all out for such a small town! The center of the town’s holiday festivities is at the old historical museum, which is only open for special events. Tours, charity dinners, and a display of dozens of miniature Christmas trees are all common here.
Popularity: Popular - the Bridges of Madison County and other attractions in the area are always a top draw, and the town is becoming known for its beautiful winter views.
Price: Free to visit, although tours of the covered bridges are available for an additional fee depending on the experience. A visit to the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 8-12. 7 and under are free.
Winterset is the spot to visit when you’re looking for an old-fashioned Christmas, and one look at the town’s beautiful atmosphere makes clear why. The home of the famous covered bridges of Madison County and the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, it looks stunning covered in snow. But from the end of November on, this town goes all out for the holidays. Small Business Saturday features a pancake breakfast and a horse-drawn carriage ride, and the annual Winter Solstice Market offers a stunning array of local crafts and food. Keep an eye out for this year’s meeting with Santa and the annual Christmas parade!
Outdoor Activities
For those of us who look forward to brisk, bracing weather, this is the perfect season for outdoor adventure – especially at these three locations. If you’re looking for a laid-back, relaxing activity, a unique ice skating voyage awaits at one of Iowa’s most beautiful locations. If you’re hoping for some more adrenaline, not one but two of Iowa’s most exciting ski resorts are gearing up for their busy season.
10. Ice Skating At The Grotto
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, USA
Popularity: Moderately popular. West Bend is an out-of-the-way small town, but the Grotto is a popular attraction for road trips. The ice skating rink is not the most well-known winter experience yet, but its popularity is growing.
Price: $3 per individual or $8 for a whole family for one session. A season pass is $42 for an individual or $65 for a family. Skating classes are $1 a person.
Skating at the Grotto is a new way to enjoy one of Iowa’s most beautiful sights - the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption. This massive religious shrine made out of sea debris including countless shells is the top attraction in the tiny town of West Bend - and during the winter, the adjacent pond in its shadow freezes solid and becomes the most beautiful skating spot in the entire state. The rates are affordable, the views are stunning, and this natural skating rink is open pending weather from December through March most years.
11. Seven Oaks Recreation Center
Seven Oaks Recreation, 1086 222nd Dr, Boone, IA 50036, USA
Popularity: Popular. This all-season recreation destination is a top Iowa spot for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.
Price: Life ticket rates vary depending on day and time of visit, but peak at $46 per day for adults and $32 for kids 12 and under. Equipment rentals are $21 to $27 for kids and $24 to $32 for adults. Season passes are $397 for a single unlimited pass and $1247 for a family of four.
Seven Oaks Recreation in Boone is a popular spot for winter sports, but it’s gained a particular reputation for snow tubing! Seven Oaks supplies the tube, and the hill here is one of the highest in the state. Snow tubing is open to everyone age four and up, so this is a thrilling activity that the whole family can enjoy. The skiing and snowboarding terrain is just as exciting here, so families often spend the whole day. Even better - the hills sometimes have limited nighttime hours for the truly adventurous!
12. Mt. Crescent Ski Area
Mt. Crescent Ski Area, 17026 Snowhill Ln, Honey Creek, IA 51542, USA
Popularity: Very popular. This is one of Iowa’s top ski destinations, and is Honey Creek’s top draw during the winter months.
Price: Weekday rates for adults are $29 and weekend/holiday rates are $45 for lift tickets. Kids 6-12 are $24 on weekdays and $40 on weekends and holidays. Kids 5 and under are $5 at all times, and discounts are available for seniors, veterans, first responders, and in-county residents. Equipment rentals are $29 for ski and snowboard equipment and $10 for helmets. Season passes are $224 for adults and youth at the start of the skiing season, with discounts for later purchases. Family passes start at $799.
Mt. Crescent Ski Area in Honey Creek is one of Iowa’s most famous skiing adventures, located in the heart of the popular resort town. It’s a well-organized winter recreation destination that combines, skiing, snow tubing, and snowboarding - but its claim to fame may be its massive Zibob sledding hills. This epic Toboggan run may be Iowa’s steepest and fastest, and certainly the best of its kind in a ski resort in the state. You ride the ski lift up, take in the epic view, and then rocket down to warm up around the ski resort’s fire pits.
Winter Getaways
Sometimes, a winter vacation away from it all is the perfect ticket to recharge those batteries. These three vacation destinations will make it easy to escape the cold, relax, and bask in the natural beauty surrounding you. You can choose from a rustic cabin in one of Iowa’s most beautiful state parks, a popular resort featuring a gorgeous lakeside winter retreat, and even a Christmas cabin that takes festive to the next level.
Popularity: Moderately popular. There are only two cabins at the park, so they book quickly, although there will likely always be regular campsites available at this rural park.
Price: $75 to $90 per night, $450 per week.
Pine Lake State Park looks gorgeous in the winter, and this rural Eldora getaway is one of the Iowa parks that remains a popular hiking destination in the cold months, as well as being a popular spot for cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. If you’re looking at an extended adventure here, don’t worry about pitching a tent in the cold or driving a long distance for a hotel - there are two old-fashioned cabins here that are available for rent throughout the year and make for the perfect rustic winter adventure.
Popularity: Popular, although availability still remains for much of November and December, including Christmas.
Price: Between $59 and $65 per night.
The Christmas Oasis, a unique Airbnb in Emmetsburg, is the only Christmas-themed suite in all of Iowa. This quaint getaway goes all out with decorating for the holidays, decking the outdoors in lights. Inside, the bed has Santa-themed sheets, the kitchen is equipped with hot chocolate supplies, and Christmas figurines are everywhere. The house is even set up with a karaoke machine so you can belt out holiday classics, and a tiny stuffed animal museum for adorable photo ops.
15. The Cottages At Rathburn Lake
Honey Creek Resort, 12633 Resort Dr, Moravia, IA 52571, USA
Popularity: Popular. The cottages are a great alternative for families taking a getaway at the resort.
Price: Cottages range between $299 and $389 a night, depending on size and date.
The Cottages at Rathburn Lake, located on the grounds of Honey Creek Resort, are the perfect choice when you want a combination of rustic charm and modern comfort. These fully-furnished cabins offer amazing views and proximity to winter recreation on the lake. Inside, the roomy houses are ideal choices for when you have a larger family gathering. They come with a full kitchen, so it’s perfect for when it’s a little too cold to head out for dinner that evening. It’s the perfect place for a family winter getaway in Iowa
Iowa is a spread-out state with both charming small towns and bustling cities to explore, and that means every kind of winter adventure imaginable is available if you know where to look. As the weather gets cold and snow starts to fall, it’s as if a blanket of magic falls over the Hawkeye State – and many of us have been looking forward to this season all year! Which of these Iowa winter activities are an annual tradition for you and your family? What are your favorite things to do in Iowa in winter? Let us know in the comments section! It’s time to put on that warm winter coat and get out there for a winter of fun and adventure!
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