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Des Moines -

Iowa's state capital is Des Moines, a city named after the Des Moines River, which likely was adapted from the early French name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks." Des Moines is awash with history and culture. It's also a colorful and energetic destination, and is regarded as the mecca of the Midwest. It's from here that the rest of Iowa is waiting for you.

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State Capitol -

Begin your exploration of Des Moines by visiting the State Capitol building. This noble landmark dates back to 1886, its polished gold dome a shimmering beacon that can be admired from numerous vantage points across the city.

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State Capitol interior -

The building's impressive exterior serves as a tantalizing taster to the rich beauty of the architecture waiting to be discovered within, an interior clad in marble and a veneer of hand-carved wood adorned with paintings, battle flags, and other works of art.

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Law Library -

The undoubted highlight is the regal Law Library (pictured). This Victorian-style room is astonishing in its visual appeal and features four stories of balcony shelves, all lined with a valuable and ornate book collection unrivaled anywhere else in the Midwest.

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Des Moines Art Center -

One of Iowa's premier cultural draws is the excellent Des Moines Art Center. Established in 1948, the permanent collection of paintings, sculpture, modern art, and mixed media are complemented by a series of rotating exhibitions that showcase rising young stars of the contemporary art scene in America.

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Des Moines Art Center collections -

Artists represented here include those from the United States and beyond, names that include Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, and Auguste Rodin. Pictured is the iconic 1927 painting 'Automat' by American realist painter Edward Hopper.

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Des Moines Art Center collections -

Another US-born artist, Stanton Macdonald-Wright is represented by his 1918 work 'Oriental Synchromy in Blue Green' (pictured). Macdonald-Wright was a co-founder of Synchromism, which was the first American avant-garde art movement to receive international attention.

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Blank Park Zoo -

Among the more unusual residents at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is this little guy, a Cuvier's dwarf caiman. The zoo, situated on the south side of the city, is home to more than 800 furry, finned, and feathered exotic creatures.

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Pappajohn Sculpture Park -

One of the most significant and valuable collections of outdoor sculpture in the country can be admired at Des Moines' Pappajohn Sculpture Park, where around 28 examples of work by such noted artists as Ai Weiwei, Willem de Kooning, and Jaume Plensa (whose 'Nomade' is pictured) are displayed.

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Bridges of Madison County -

Once you've absorbed the best big city visitor attractions, it's time to find out what the rest of the state has to offer. Approximately 48 km (30 mi) southwest of Des Moines is Winterset, the county seat of Madison County. Scattered about the countryside are a number of historic covered bridges, made famous in the 1995 movie 'The Bridges of Madison County' starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. Pictured is Roseman Bridge, built in 1883 and which featured prominently in the film.

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National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium -

Iowa is bordered to the east by the Mississippi River, and the splendid National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium at Dubuque serves to promote the cultural and geographic importance of this mighty waterway. Among the creatures housed in the aquarium are a family of playful river otters.

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Veterans Memorial Plaza -

Dubuque is visited by many for lots of reasons, including former and serving members of the US military drawn to the city's Veterans Memorial Plaza, built to remember the fallen soldiers of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. The memorial was conceived by local resident Louis Kartman, a former US Marine who survived the Korean War and the famous Battle of Chosin Reservoir, which took place in November-December 1950. Pictured is the elegant 'Skyward Sculpture.'

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Field of Dreams movie site -

'Field of Dreams,' the 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner, was filmed at Dyersville. The baseball field still exists, overlooked by the house where Costner's movie character Ray Kinsella lived. Dyersville is located 30 minutes outside Dubuque.

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Maquoketa Caves State Park -

There's a lot to see above ground, but Maquoketa Caves State Park offers a peek into the world beneath your feet. The park contains more caves than any other state park in Iowa, a series of limestone formations and rugged bluffs, archways, and chimneys, the most famous of which is the cavernous Dancehall Cave.

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'American Gothic' house -

American artist Grant Wood (1891–1942) was born in Anamosa, Iowa, and used this house in Eldon as a backdrop for one of his most famous paintings.

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'American Gothic' (1939) -

Grant Wood's iconic 'American Gothic,' painted in 1939, features figures modeled by Wood's sister Nan Wood Graham and their dentist Dr. Byron McKeeby. The iconic portrait is today housed in the Art Institute of Chicago. Visitors can admire the familiar facade before browsing the adjacent American Gothic House Center.

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Amana Colonies -

The Amana Colonies are seven villages located at Amana in east-central Iowa. Constructed in 1855 by German immigrants, the Amana Colonies and their inhabitants maintained an almost completely self-sufficient local economy for 80-odd years, until around 1932.

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National Historic Landmark -

Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the villages' historical structures open to visitors comprise restaurants, craft shops, and museums. Houses, meanwhile, are still inhabited by descendants of the original settlers.

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Arnolds Park -

Arnolds Park in Dickinson County is a city at the center of the Iowa Great Lakes resort region. It's home to the fabulous Arnolds Park Amusement Park, which overlooks West Okobji Lake. The park, considered among the best in the Midwest, is where to experience Legend, which carried its first riders in 1927 and is believed to be the 13th oldest wooden roller coaster in the United States.

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Herbert Hoover National Historic Site -

Herbert Hoover (1874–1964), the 31st President of the United States, was born in this house in West Branch, and is currently the only president to hail from Iowa. His birthplace is now preserved for posterity. Also on site is the Presidential Library and Museum. The gravesite of Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover is another feature of the park.

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Pella -

A distinctly Dutch flavor runs through Pella, a city located 64 km (40 mi) southeast of Des Moines. And no wonder! Pella was founded by immigrants from the Netherlands in 1847. The huge Vermeer windmill is a regional landmark and dates back to the 1850s. It's the tallest working windmill in the United States.

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Grotto of the Redemption -

Surely one of the most unusual religious shrines in the country, the Grotto of Redemption in West Bend is in fact nine separate grottoes handcrafted from precious gemstones and minerals by a local pastor with a little help from his friends. They all depict scenes in the life of Jesus.

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Palisades-Kepler State Park -

A beautiful outdoor destination on the banks of the Cedar River outside Cedar Rapids, Palisades-Kepler State Park offers up some inspiring hiking, kayaking, and rock-climbing options. This picturesque park also has plenty of campsites, together with a number of cabins available for rent.

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Sioux City -

Named for the area that was once inhabited by speakers of Siouan languages, Sioux City is noted for its Fourth Street Historic District, a concentration of 15 late-19th-century commercial buildings significant for their elaborate Romanesque Revival architecture.

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Orpheum Theatre -

One of Sioux City's most distinguished buildings is the Orpheum Theatre. Built in 1927 as a a vaudeville and movie palace, this rare Midwest architectural gem hosted in its day entertainers such as Fred Astaire, Tallulah Bankhead, and Katharine Hepburn. Today it serves as home to the the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.

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John Wayne birthplace -

On May 26, 1907, one Marion Robert Morrison was born in this humble abode in city of Winterset. We all know him better as John Wayne, one of the most popular movie icons of the 20th century.

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Movie memorabilia -

The "Duke" grew up in southern California, but his four-room birthplace was preserved and is now a museum the interior of which is full of pictures and movie memorabilia, including the eye patch worn in 1969's 'True Grit.'

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Elk Horn -

Another windmill, this time standing tall in the city of Elk Horn, a veritable enclave of Danish ethnicity. The authentic 19th-century windmill was shipped in pieces from Denmark and carefully reassembled by volunteers. It's open to the public for tours, and has a gift shop stocked with imported Danish handicrafts and foodstuffs.

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Loess Hills Forest -

Some of the most dramatic scenery in Iowa is seen in the unique Loess Hills, which are found along Iowa's western border. Pictured is Loess Hills Forest Overlook along the Preparation Loop of the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, just outside of Preparation Canyon State Park in Monona County.

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RAGBRAI -

Cycling fans should time their Iowa visit to coincide with RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). This two-wheel bike fest is one-week long, and usually commences during the third week in July. The route travels from east to west, so check out the itinerary and cheer the riders on.

Sources: (Radio Iowa) (Orpheum) 

See also: Celebrities who love to cycle

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