ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Bike through city and country via thousands of miles of trails that crisscross the state. (Photo: Vacation Okoboji)

Around Iowa

Why not try a new trail?

With more than 2,500 miles of trails, Iowa is celebrated as a world-class destination for biking. Our friends at Travel Iowa have curated a list to help cyclists explore the state this summer. So whether you prefer pedaling through prairies and woods, along lakes and rivers, through busy cities, or past serene rural farmland, Iowa has a trail for you. Choose your adventure based on your preferred terrain below, or read the full list on the Travel Iowa website.

For the nature lovers: Fairfield Loop Trail
Recognized at the 2013 Mid America Trails and Greenways Conference as the state’s best trail, the 16-mile Fairfield Loop Trail offers a perfect route for nature lovers. The challenging trail wraps around the community and the surrounding countryside, connecting two major state preserves and passing through pine forests and wildflower meadows. Be sure to bring a trail map with you as the loop combines paved trails connected by short stretches of road.

For water views: Iowa Great Lakes Trail System
Experience Iowa’s Great Lakes with the extensive trail system that winds around Spirit, West Okoboji, Upper and Lower Gar lakes and their sandy beaches. The complete system comprises 40 miles of trails, which include a 14-mile loop around the West Lake. This route combines trails and short stretches of road around the water’s edge and passes popular points like Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Gull Point State Park, the Dickinson County Nature Center and several bays where boat groups often meet.

For urban excitement: Cedar Valley Trails
The Cedar Valley Trails span four counties and more than 100 miles from Waterloo’s George Wyth State Park to Cedar Rapids. Riders can find plenty of exciting stopping points along the way, from Waterloo’s diverse restaurants to small-town eateries in Gilbertville, La Porte City, Brandon, Urbana and Center Point to even more options in Cedar Rapids. Along the way, enjoy the views of Iowa’s farmland, rivers and prairies.

For calming countryside: Heart of Iowa Nature Trail
This lesser-known trail offers some of the best views rural Iowa has to offer. Spanning 26 miles of paved, gravel and dirt/grass trails, the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail can be sufficiently explored with a hybrid, mountain or fat-tire bike. Embrace the off-road experience as you pedal through former railroad depot towns like Slater, Huxley, Cambridge, Maxwell, Collins and Rhodes. Along the way, admire the views of open fields, wetland areas and flowing rivers and creeks, and be sure to also keep your eye out for scenic overlooks and a pioneer cemetery.

Tuesday’s tornado through Greenfield spared the historic Warren Cultural Center on the town square. (Photo: WCC)

Around Iowa

After the storm, Greenfield can use your help

As you may know, a powerful tornado ripped through Greenfield this week, killing at least five people, injuring dozens of others and leaving a path of rubble in its wake. It will take the Adair County seat many tough weeks and months to recover and rebuild.

Fortunately, many folks are already pitching in to help, including federal and state officials and caring Iowans from across the state. Officials are encouraging out-of-towners to stay away until further notice, but if you’d like to support the cause, you can donate money online through the Salvation Army or drop off food and water at the Iowa Department of Transportation building at 2313 Highway 92 east of town.

Although the tornado destroyed many homes and businesses, it spared Greenfield’s historic town square, with its 1892 county courthouse and grand old Warren Cultural Center.

A blast from the past: Watch history enthusiasts from across the Midwest re-enact a Civil War battle. (Photo: Travel Iowa)

Around Iowa

Marching through time, back to the Civil War

Hopkinton’s Civil War Days, from May 31 through June 2, take you straight back to the 1860s. The grounds become a lively historical scene, featuring actors dressed in period clothing, active military encampments and a narrated battlefield re-enactment. There are skill and craft demonstrations, an artisans’ market, kids' games and a pie-eating contest. Modern refreshments like local food, ice cream and coffee are also available.

The weekend kicks off Friday with a “stone soup” dinner and grand ball, followed by guided flashlight tours. Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast, mid-morning tea and a parade, leading up to the 3 p.m. battle. The celebration winds down on Sunday with an old-fashioned church service and a picnic lunch.

Eat your veggies, kids! There's a whole party to celebrate plant-based fare in Fairfield. (Photo: Midwest Vegfest)

Food & Dining

Veg out at the Midwest Vegfest

Herbivores, unite! Celebrate all things vegan and vegetarian at the annual Midwest Vegfest, set for June 2 in Fairfiled’s Central Park. This fully vegan festival features food vendors, tons of sustainable products, live music, a film screening and a community dinner.

If you’d like to learn more about veganism, check out presentations by Shawn Camp from the Iowa Farm Sanctuary, Rahul Bharadwaj from the local Mira’s Cafe, Preston Moore from the Humane Society, and several others. Tickets are available online. All proceeds from the Midwest festival support the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary community space and the Stone Soup Community Kitchen, which serves plant-based meals to more than 100 guests three days a week.

Grab your fishing poles and head outside on the first full weekend of June. (Photo: Federico Giampieri)

Around Iowa

Iowa DNR offers a fishing free-for-all

Here's the hook: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will allow all Iowa residents to fish without a fishing license June 7-9. To help, the department has already posted a handy list of stocked ponds easily accessible from parks and trails.

The DNR’s plans for the weekend include a kids’ fishing clinic on Saturday morning, June 8, at Bondurant’s Lake Petocka, where experienced anglers will be on hand to help. Just bring your lawn chairs, fishing poles, bait and gear. Kids can participate in a raffle and enjoy some doughnuts, too. You can RSVP online.

Last year’s Open Air Media Festival included a projection puppet show by Johanna Winters. (Photo: Public Space One)

Arts & Culture

Art is in the air in Iowa City

The annual Open Air Media Festival in Iowa City is a free outdoor arts event that showcases video screenings, projections, installations and other virtual projects at the Public Space One artist collective and the nonprofit cinema FilmScene. During the weekend of May 31 through June 1, visitors can view dozens of multimedia artworks, some of which are performance based and interactive.

The event will also introduce Public Space One’s inaugural artist-in-residence, Katina Bitsicas, a Greek-American new media artist. She'll display her project "Linseed and Gardens," an archive-based projection mapping project, on Public Space One's Close House.

Enjoy your daily serving of ice cream June 12-15 during Le Mars Ice Cream Days. (Photo: Le Mars Ice Cream Days)

Around Iowa

The scoop on Ice Cream Days

Le Mars, the ice cream capital of the world, is celebrating the 30th annual festival of its famous dessert. The jam-packed Ice Cream Days schedule includes games, outdoor movies, a carnival and, of course, several ice cream socials from June 12-15.

Be sure to visit the Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor, where you can sample flavors such as homemade vanilla, rocky road and strawberry cheesecake. Work off the sugar high with a bike ride on June 13 or a 5K run on June 14, or dance along to the live music on the Main Stage each day.