ia Magazine

04/09/2026

Saturday, April 25, is Independent Bookstore Day, a day to celebrate locally owned and operated bookstores nationwide (and a convenient excuse to buy more books). There are dozens of unique bookstores across the state that are worth the drive. Here are five that I’ve enjoyed, in no particular order:

Across Iowa, there are dozens of unique bookstores that are worth the drive

03/30/2026

I didn’t know it then, but the Rural Road Trip started in fall 2019. Mallary Snakenberg wanted a way to draw people to the The Feathered Farmhouse, the shop she opened a few weekends throughout the year outside of Sigourney.

We stumbled upon it purely by accident. Back in April 2024, two of my cousins, a sister-in-law and I met up in Kalona for some shopping and lunch before heading to an overnight stay in a converted train depot a few miles south in Washington. Other than our goal to hang out together, we didn’t have any firm plans for the trip — at least, not until we saw a sign on the door of the first shop we entered. That sign, about the Rural Road Trip, set the agenda for the rest of the weekend:

Every road trip needs snacks. Stock up on fudge at the Kalona Creamery. (Photo: Travel Iowa) By Jessica O’Riley We ...

03/13/2026

The original White Pole Road, created in 1910, stretched from Des Moines to Council Bluffs, and offered a shorter, straighter and more level route across western Iowa. Its namesake poles were painted white and travelers were encouraged to travel the “Great White Way.”

According to legend, on April 16, 1934, two men purchased a Coca-Cola in Stuart and then ambled toward the First National Bank while a female friend waited nearby in a parked Oldsmobile. Inside the bank, the men ordered an assistant cashier and bookkeeper to the floor and robbed the bank of $1,500 (roughly $30,000 today). The unmasked crooks were later identified as Clyde Barrow and Henry Methvin. The woman in the car was Bonnie Parker.

Then and now: The White Pole Road looks a lot like it did when it was buil. But the cars? ...

03/04/2026

We asked leaders across the state a simple question:
Why do you ❤️ Iowa?
We’re sharing their answers all year long — and next up in the I {HEART} IA series is Bank Iowa and their story of community and connection.
Watch their video and see why other people love ia!
https://iapublication.com/i-heart-ia/

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https://iapublication.com/newsletters/

02/27/2026

True confession: I love quirky museums and roadside attractions. I’m one of those people who actively seek them out on a road trip, to my family’s mixed reaction. World’s largest popcorn ball? Sign me up. (Sac City, by the way.) A collection of spoons? I’m there.

Which is how I ended up at the Mississippi Spoon Gallery in Davenport. The collection belongs to Cammie Pohl but started with her great-grandmother, Amelia:

Stir things up at the Mississippi Spoon Gallery, which holds a Guinness World Record. (Photo: MSG) By Jessica O’Riley True ...

02/12/2026

Reading is having a moment: Literary tourism has emerged as one of this year’s top travel trends. According to Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report, 68% of American travelers named reading among their top three most anticipated leisure activities. (The other two: listening to music or podcasts and relaxing by the pool.)

Iowa has strong literary roots, from the famed Iowa Writers’ Workshop and Iowa City’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature to dozens of independent bookstores across the state.

Readers who are looking for a getaway with their fictional or IRL besties should consider a weekend in Cherokee.

The entrance to the Cherokee Public Library has welcomed readers for over 120 years with everyone’s favorite four-letter word. (Photo: ...

02/04/2026

Part of the I ❤️ IA video series, celebrating the people and organizations that make Iowa home.

Iowa is full of heart, and the Hotel Pattee celebrates this Iowa pride every day.
We’re proud to feature Hotel Pattee in the I ❤️ IA campaign, where organizations share why they love this state.
🎥 See why Hotel Pattee loves Iowa then explore more stories from across the state.
https://iapublication.com/i-heart-ia/

❤️ IA

01/28/2026

If you had a gazillion dollars, where would you build or buy an Iowa vacation home?

"I’ve been charmed by Decorah for years," said Jessica O’Riley, former communications manager for the Iowa Tourism Office.

"It was a town I’d never heard of before joining the office, but it’s such a beautiful place. I love the Trout Run Trail (I’ve both biked it and run a half-marathon on it), the great shops along Water Street, the beautiful Hotel Winneshiek, Dunning’s Springs waterfall and, of course, the Whippy Dip. Whenever it’s open and I’m in the vicinity, I’m stopping."

See more of her Iowa favorites:

Over the years, Jessica O’Riley has often biked and run Decorah’s scenic Trout Run Trail. (Photo: Jessica O’Riley) By Michael ...

01/06/2026

Iowa is full of heart, and the Animal Rescue League proves it every day.
We’re proud to feature ARL in the I ❤️ IA campaign, where organizations share why they love this state.
🎥 See why ARL loves Iowa then explore more stories from across the state.
https://iapublication.com/i-heart-ia/

12/22/2025

Down in the basement of Iowa State University’s Student Innovation Center, students are building snowmobiles and mining simulated lunar soil with robots. On the main floor, they operate their own retail store called Innovate 1858. Up on the fourth floor, they’ll make you a caramel macchiato from a fully student-run cafe.

It’s a creative playground for the curious, all under one roof.

The five-level, 140,000-square-foot building officially opened in fall 2020 to give students in all majors a common space to operate. The university offers dozens of specialized programs, from cybersecurity to dance to poultry production management, and the new center benefits students in every one.

Take a closer look inside in our latest for ia magazine, our annual statewide publication:

At ISU’s Student Innovation Center, the main staircase doubles as seating for screenings and special events. Writer: Emmett McMenamy Photos: ...

12/18/2025

Reiman Gardens is back with its extravagant Winter Wonderscape, once again transforming the gardens into a sparkling seasonal escape that feels straight out of a holiday storybook. Wander winding paths wrapped in tunnels of light, see glowing sculptures and stumble upon imaginative displays around every corner. The whole place is built for wonder, inviting visitors to slow down and take in the magic:

Don’t be jealous, Clark Griswold: Reiman Gardens plugged in more than 200,000 lights. (Photo: Reiman Gardens) Reiman Gardens is back ...

12/09/2025

Club 76 in North Liberty is not your average American Legion hall. And Stout, Sours & Oysterfest is not your average Iowa festival. But on one Saturday every March, a rowdy crowd gathers at Club 76 — an old log cabin operated by the American Legion Post 76 — to toss back a few full-bodied, lip-smacking brews while slurping down some 6,000 oysters.

Contributor Katie Mills Giorgio spoke with the festival organizers for a story in our annual statewide issue, ia magazine.

“I’m a food and beer nerd,” said festival organizer Jeremy Freerks, who serves as the Legion commander. “I have always kind of known that oysters pair well with stouts.”

Freerks and another Legion member hosted the first festival 13 years ago. “We had no idea how to shuck oysters,” he recalled. “By the end of the day, we had sold all the oysters, but my hands were bleeding.”

Read more:

Writer: Katie Mills Giorgio Club 76 in North Liberty is not your average American Legion hall. And Stout, Sours & ...