Embrace winter by planning a cozy getaway! These five itineraries each include a stay at a charming cabin and visits to a nearby brewery, museum, indoor attraction and more to get you started.
Sioux Center | Creston | Polk City | Decorah | Muscatine
Lakes & Land
Sioux Center Area
Things to do:
Spend the day at All Seasons Center’s indoor waterpark. Take a plunge down two waterslides, navigate the water channel’s floating lily pads, swim laps in the 25-meter swimming pool or warm up in the hot tub. For more indoor fun, stop by the onsite Vernon Arena ice rink and rent some skates to master the craft.
Explore the area’s environment and history through interactive exhibits about habitats, geology and early settlers at the Prairie Woods Nature Center in Hawarden. The center is located inside Oak Grove Park, which provides plenty of outdoor adventures, including winter hiking and snowshoeing trails.
Enjoy some green space at the ASB Sports Complex, otherwise known as Sioux Center’s indoor turf under an air-inflated dome. Check the complex’s social media channels for dates and times for open turf time, family fun nights with inflatables or soccer and softball games.
Places to eat:
Discover one of the best brewery experiences in northwest Iowa at Late Harvest Brewery. Designed to resemble an upscale downtown Chicago establishment, the modern space offers the perfect night out. Sample more than 15 beers on tap (all brewed onsite or in Iowa) or try Iowa wines, craft root beer, plus canned cocktails and mocktails. Pair your drink selection with a woodfired pizza, appetizer or famous cheesecake.
Casey’s Bakery offers baked goods alongside a full-service deli that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each sandwich is freshly grilled and served with the bakery’s bread, buns and croissants. During the winter months, the bakery also holds a “Chili Bash” every Thursday, featuring all-you-can-eat bowls of chili, chips and cheese paired with a cinnamon roll and a drink.
Where to Stay:
Settle down for a cozy and peaceful night inside the Bluegill Bungalow or Foxes Den cabins at Oak Grove & Big Sioux Park in Hawarden. Each cabin sleeps up to five guests and includes heat/AC, a private bedroom, modern bathroom and a kitchenette complete with a mini fridge, toaster and microwave. Guests are responsible for their own linens and cooking and eating utensils.
Loess Hills & Beyond
Creston Area
Things to do:
Explore 30+ murals scattered throughout Uptown Creston on Maple, Montgomery and Elm Streets. Many of the murals are the result of the Mentor Mural Program, which pairs area youth with professional artists to create the artwork. To warm up, stop by Adams Street Espresso to grab a delicious coffee.
The Creston Arts Gallery, located on the first floor of the CB&Q Restored Depot, spotlights rotating works from local and regional artists, and displays that share the history of Creston’s railroad industry. As you admire the miniature model railroad, you can see 40 real trains pass by the depot each day.
Named to honor Creston’s annual hot air balloon festival, Hot Air Brewing offers a comfortable place to relax and chat with locals. Grab a seat inside the inviting atmosphere and spend an evening enjoying a diverse range of handcrafted beers from hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts.
Places to eat:
Watch your favorite sports team or enjoy time spent with family and friends at Willy’s Bar & Grill. It offers breakfast on the weekends and the best of comfort foods every other day of the week. Pair your burger, sandwich, flatbread pizza, pasta dish or salad with one of the 16 beers on tap.
Indulge in the vibrant flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine at Casa de Oro. This family-owned restaurant is loved by locals for its welcoming atmosphere and a menu packed with classic dishes like sizzling fajitas and mouthwatering enchiladas. Each dish is crafted from traditional recipes with the freshest ingredients.
Where to stay:
While not technically a cabin, The Country Oasis near Afton provides just as many opportunities to unplug and relax. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the home can accommodate up to six guests. Watch a movie or play board games around the fireplace in the spacious living room, relax in the outdoor hot tub or curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and watch the sunset from the covered porch.
Capital Country
Polk City Area
Things to do:
Spend an afternoon sipping Iowa brews, watching your favorite sports teams or playing board games at Fenders Brewing in Polk City. Started by two locals in their garage, the brewery has since expanded and now offers 14 beers on tap, all of which are made onsite, alongside a few guest taps. The brewery allows outside food to be brought in from local eateries like its next-door neighbor Papa’s Pizzeria.
Dive into Iowa’s military history at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum in nearby Johnston, which shares the experiences of Iowans in all wars, homeland defense and Iowa service through memorabilia and impressive displays. Experience what it was like to be in the trenches during WWI, learn about the important roles of airplanes and submarines in WWII, read personal accounts from the Vietnam War and more.
Perfect your art skills and admire works by Iowa artists at the Ankeny Art Center in Ankeny. This community-focused space offers free access to its gallery and exhibitions, which feature rotating works from Iowa creators. The center also hosts annual events and offers workshops for aspiring artists of all ages lead by certified teachers.
Places to eat:
Sample delicious Mediterranean-style gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian dishes at the Flavory Bistro. Voted Ankeny’s healthiest restaurant, its fresh menu caters to all dietary needs and preferences without compromising on taste. Try anything from paninis and salads to multiple varieties of gyros and paella.
Originally started in Des Moines in the 1960s, Leaning Tower of Pizza moved to Ankeny in the 1970s and is still a local favorite. Known for its award-winning pizzas made on a stone deck oven, the restaurant also serves up homemade sandwiches, onion rings and pasta dishes.
Where to stay:
Settle in for a comfortable night inside a Jester Park Cabin in nearby Granger. Nestled among a mature pine grove, the cabins offer a secluded retreat along with every amenity you’d need. The park offers four modern cabins that can sleep six to eight guests and feature fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms. No wifi or TV encourages you to enjoy the surrounding natural landscape via snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking or simply relaxing by the gas fireplace.
Driftless Area
Decorah
Things to do:
Embark on a richly immersive cultural experience at the Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum. Step inside to learn about the Decorah's Norwegian-American heritage, the settlers’ voyage to the U.S. and what their new lives in Iowa looked like through an extensive collection of artifacts, art and exhibits. Keep an eye on the events calendar to attend a variety of folk art classes, including woodworking, decorative painting, knitting and more.
Spend an afternoon browsing the boutiques that line Decorah’s Water Street, home to more than 100 small businesses. Discover everything from kitchen necessities at Ace Kitchen Place and locally crafted artwork and home décor at Agora Arts to outdoor/active clothing at Decorah Hatchery, bestselling novels at Dragonfly Books and more.
Known as Decorah’s home for the arts, ArtHaus boasts a variety of arts programming including classes, workshops and events throughout the year. Its winter schedule is packed with activities and classes for all ages in various media such as visual arts, theater and music. During regular hours, you can also peruse the Makers Market to purchase works crafted like local artists.
Places to eat:
Founded in 2009, Toppling Goliath Brewing quickly earned a reputation for being one of the best breweries in Iowa. It’s also world-renowned for its IPAs and barrel-aged stouts. Stop by the large taproom and restaurant to sample over 20 beers on tap (tours are also available) and enjoy elevated American cuisine. Their menu features all your favorites, including pizza, Bavarian pretzels with cheese, burgers, tacos and more.
For an even more luxurious dining experience, make a reservation at La Rana Bistro to taste the best of local flavors. Its seasonal menu features made-from-scratch dishes crafted with locally sourced products (when possible) and expertly plated to wow you long before the first bite.
Where to stay:
Located just five minutes from Decorah’s downtown, Twin Springs Lodge is a beautiful locally owned cabin near Twin Springs Park. It’s kid- and pet-friendly, and features two private bedrooms, a large open kitchen, private sunroom and a large bathroom with a clawfoot tub and sauna. The upstairs loft includes even more sleeping space. Spend an evening playing games, gathering around the gas fireplace or watching a movie.
Storied & Scenic
Muscatine
Things to do:
Located inside a 1908 Edwardian mansion, the Muscatine Art Center is one of the Muscatine area’s best hidden gems. Inside, it features the home’s original architecture, period rooms on the first floor and a children’s gallery/play space, glass and history collections and rotating exhibits on the second floor. Some of the center’s most famous pieces include Georgia O’Keeffe’s “White Lotus” and works on paper by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.
Stop by the National Pearl Button Museum to learn about Muscatine’s rise to global fame. Its exhibits share the stories of 1890s-1950s Muscatine when the small river town harvested freshwater mussels to produce 1/3 of the world’s pearl buttons. You’ll be amazed at the museum’s variety of pearl buttons, extravagant and plain, as well as the workers’ fight for better pay and working conditions.
Visit the Environmental Learning Center, marking its 20th anniversary in 2025, at Discovery Park. The center includes two 1,200-gallon-aquariums with native fish, natural history exhibits featuring wildlife in Iowa and a kid’s exploration area.
Places to eat:
Contrary Brewing Co., a microbrewery on the banks of the Mississippi River, is a must visit. Sample one of the 20 beers brewed onsite and pair it with a delicious flatbread pizza or appetizer. Plan accordingly to catch one of the brewery’s trivia nights, live music performances or special beer releases.
For authentic Italian cuisine, stop by Salvatore’s in downtown Muscatine. Founded by Italian immigrant Reno Vitale in 1985, the restaurant features three generations at work crafting their famous family recipes. The signature pizzas are a must try, and the salads, sandwiches and pastas are equally delicious.
Where to stay:
A former sand and gravel quarry, Deep Lakes Park is located just south of Muscatine and boasts 435 acres of serene forest and 120 acres of clear water lakes. The park is home to four cabins, two of which that can accommodate up to eight people. Each cabin includes a full kitchen, modern bathroom, a gas fireplace, TV, wifi and a covered deck.
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