IOWA. We Minnesotans joke about our neighbor to the south.
“What’s in Iowa?”
“Why would you ever want to go there?”
Well, my fellow Minnesotans and anyone who has ever shunned Iowa, there are many reasons to visit this Midwestern state. Iowa is about much more than the slogan, “Fields of Opportunities,” bannered on a Welcome to Iowa sign as you cross the border aiming south.
You’ll see lots of farms as you drive through Iowa, including this one off Interstate 35 just across the Minnesota border.
Yes, you will see an abundance of endless fields and lots of barns. Northeastern Iowa is even designated a Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area celebrating agriculture. But you’ll also discover charming river towns and other interesting attractions, too.
Welcome to Mason City, a community of some 28,000 in northeastern Iowa.
We’ll start our journey off Interstate 35 just across the border in Mason City, home of my friend, Beth Ann Chiles, who blogs at It’s Just Life. Beth Ann welcomed my husband and me into her northeastern Iowa community, touring us around town on a hot and steamy August Sunday afternoon. Yes, we were practically dripping sweat. But, it was a great tour and a wonderful day and overnight spent with a friend whom I cherish.
Friend and blogger Beth Ann, right, was our personal tour guide in Mason City.
Here’s a sneak peek from my visit to Mason City:
This sign does not point to downtown Mason City, but rather to a quirky and interesting attraction.
Any guesses as to what this might be? Photographed in the heart of downtown Mason City.
My husband kicks back in an historic building that draws lots of architectural interest.
Not just any old street corner in any old neighborhood.
Check back for a closer look at these attractions as we tour Mason City before journeying toward the eastern border of Iowa.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love the Iowa river towns and all of the farms too. I haven’t venture that way in years…perhaps soon. The Autumn is a great time of year to road trip around – less humid and far less sweat 🙂
I can’t believe we’ve never really ventured into Iowa except these past two summers. So much to see so near.
I’ve never been to Mason City, but I do like Iowa. Southern Iowa (the Grant Woods area) is really beautiful in a quiet way with its low rolling, green hills. I remember, though, the first time I went to Iowa in 1981 for graduate school in Ames. The flat landscape was a real shock to my senses after growing up in the hills of Tennessee!
That would be a shock. Kind of like Fargo to my son.
My niece attends college in Ames, where she’s currently president of the student body.
Great teaser. Your pictures will be fabulous and totally different than how I view the area which is a pretty cool thing. Everyone sees different things in the same landscape. 🙂
I think it’s always interesting how an “outsider” perceives a community.
Lucky blogger friends…..cant wait to see the rest of the story 🙂
And I get to see my blogger friend Beth Ann again on Friday.