This mini-vacation isn’t time consuming, but it’ll leave you feeling like you’ve seen some of the most charming sights Iowa has to offer.
Plan a visit to America’s Dutch Treasure and enjoy all the Pella has to offer.
Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau/Facebook This southeastern town is located south and east of Des Moines off of I-80. You’ll love the traditional town square and old European feel of this beautiful town.
Jaarsma Bakery, 727 Franklin St., Pella
Brent T./Yelp This is the perfect place to stop for an authentic Dutch treat. Macaroons, Dutch letters, and Raspberry Dream Boats are just some of their specialties. The service is friendly and the staff is knowledgeable. Take some Dutch letters to go!
Pella Historical Village and Vermeer Mill, 507 Franklin St., Pella
Pella Website This is the tallest working mill in the United States. Guided tours are available at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm Monday through Friday. There are 21 historical buildings and beautiful flower gardens in this village, including the boyhood home of Wyatt Earp.
Royal Amsterdam Hotel, 705 East 1st St., Pella
Molengracht Website This is just one of the many beautiful buildings that line the Molengracht in Pella. This area has boutiques, stores, meat markets, and bakeries that surround a real canal.
The town of Knoxville is the Marion County seat.
Tim_Ross/Wikimedia It’s just a few miles from Iowa’s largest lake, and is home to the National Sprint Car Races each August.
Knoxville Raceway,1000 N Lincoln St., Knoxville
Knoxville Raceway/Facebook Stop by Knoxville Raceway for the weekly Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cups Series for sprint cars or come in August for the Knoxville Nationals.
Lake Red Rock, 1105 N. Hwy T15, Knoxville
Keith Yanner/Flickr This is Iowa’s largest lake, and it offers camping, fishing, and a 13-mile paved biking and hiking trail. This is a great place to relax with a picnic or see beautiful wildlife.
Winterset is home of the Bridges of Madison County.
Cburnett/Wikimedia There are many attractions in Winterset including shopping, wineries, recreation opportunities, dining, and of course the beautiful historical covered bridges.
Winterset City Park
minnemom/Flickr This public city-owned park covers 76 acres and has one of the Madison County Covered Bridges. The stone bridge here was used in the movie, The Bridges of Madison County. There’s a fun hedge maze here, as well as a sand-pit volleyball area and a few covered shelters.
John Wayne Birthplace Museum, 205 S John Wayne Dr., Winterset
Joe Passe/Flickr Stop by John Wayne’s birthplace, open every day 10am to 5pm. The 6,100 square foot museum next door is the only one in the world dedicated to the life and career of John Wayne.
As you can see, there’s more than enough to keep anyone busy for a day of sightseeing in Knoxville, Pella, and Winterset. Have you visited any of these charming Iowa communities? What’s your favorite thing to do in this part of Iowa?
Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau/Facebook
This southeastern town is located south and east of Des Moines off of I-80. You’ll love the traditional town square and old European feel of this beautiful town.
Brent T./Yelp
This is the perfect place to stop for an authentic Dutch treat. Macaroons, Dutch letters, and Raspberry Dream Boats are just some of their specialties. The service is friendly and the staff is knowledgeable. Take some Dutch letters to go!
Pella Website
This is the tallest working mill in the United States. Guided tours are available at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm Monday through Friday. There are 21 historical buildings and beautiful flower gardens in this village, including the boyhood home of Wyatt Earp.
Molengracht Website
This is just one of the many beautiful buildings that line the Molengracht in Pella. This area has boutiques, stores, meat markets, and bakeries that surround a real canal.
Tim_Ross/Wikimedia
It’s just a few miles from Iowa’s largest lake, and is home to the National Sprint Car Races each August.
Knoxville Raceway/Facebook
Stop by Knoxville Raceway for the weekly Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cups Series for sprint cars or come in August for the Knoxville Nationals.
Keith Yanner/Flickr
This is Iowa’s largest lake, and it offers camping, fishing, and a 13-mile paved biking and hiking trail. This is a great place to relax with a picnic or see beautiful wildlife.
Cburnett/Wikimedia
There are many attractions in Winterset including shopping, wineries, recreation opportunities, dining, and of course the beautiful historical covered bridges.
minnemom/Flickr
This public city-owned park covers 76 acres and has one of the Madison County Covered Bridges. The stone bridge here was used in the movie, The Bridges of Madison County. There’s a fun hedge maze here, as well as a sand-pit volleyball area and a few covered shelters.
Joe Passe/Flickr
Stop by John Wayne’s birthplace, open every day 10am to 5pm. The 6,100 square foot museum next door is the only one in the world dedicated to the life and career of John Wayne.
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