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  Iowa
Vast
acres of rolling farmland, the Amana Colonies, riverboat gambling, and the
Effigy Mounds National Monument are among Iowa’s main attractions.
Iowa was one of the first
mid-western states to launch riverboat gambling.
These boats offer a wide variety of meals and entertainment.
During the off-season, gambling is allowed when the ships are docked.
The President is the world’s largest floating casino.
This elegant boat has room for 1,500 passengers.
The two other Victorian-style gambling boats operate out of Dubuque and
Clinton. Several casinos are also
operated in Iowa such as the Winnevegas, Casino Omaha, and the Mesquakie Indian
Bingo.
Located
near Iowa City you will find the seven villages of the Amana Colonies.
The Amana Society members founded these colonies from Germany (a utopian
offshoot of the Lutheran church) in the mid-nineteenth century.
As you pass through, make a point to stop at the Amana Arts Guild Center,
which features folk crafts and art from around the area, and the Barn Museum,
which contains a collection of miniature buildings from the 19th-century
Iowa farms and villages.
The Amana Colonies also offer many nature trails for hiking,
wonderful golf courses and a great theater.
 The
capital city of Des Moines has an beautiful downtown skyline as well as
many interesting features. Begin
your journey at the gold-domed capital building and move on to the Historical
Museum to see the Conestoga Wagon, Indian beadwork, and the crafts of the Amish
and Amana communities. Other must
see attractions include the Living History Farm and the Des Moines Botanical
Center, which holds more than 15,000 exotic plants under a 75-foot dome.
Don’t forget the Salisbury House or the Blank Park Zoo!
There are a number of good ski areas in Iowa.
Though not as lavish as Aspen or Jackson Hole, the slopes can make for an
enjoyable day. Some of the more
popular slopes are Fun Valley, a 240-foot slope with a run of about 1,500 feet,
Mt. Crescent, a 300-foot slope with a run of 2,000 feet, and Ski Valley, a
180-foot slope with a run of 1,300 feet.
 Iowa is a good
place to shop for antiques, collectibles, and crafts.
The pork tenderloin
is Iowa's true soul food - it's a classic dish.
While in Davenport,
shop at the Village of East Davenport. In Des Moines, shop at Valley
Junction.
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