There’s no age limit to discovery in Iowa. Here, student travel thrives. Whether they’re just starting school or already in college, student groups can broaden their understanding of history, architecture, music, sciences, art and the natural world, all at sites that specialize in making learning fun. The biggest challenge? Deciding where to dive in.
Ames
There’s always something beautiful to explore at Reiman Gardens on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. Groups can enjoy the natural tapestry woven by more than 6,000 plant varieties as they amble the well-manicured walking paths that traverse the gardens’ 17 acres. Don’t miss the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, where hundreds of butterflies flutter among colorful blooms in an indoor tropical paradise.Not far away, the galleries at Brunnier Art Museum — also on the Iowa State campus — feature color-rich displays of their own. Students can enjoy browsing the impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, ceramics and decorative arts housed there or instead take in the more specialized collections at the university’s Christian Petersen Art Museum or its Farm House Museum, also on campus. Admission to all university museums is free, and guided tours are available.
Mason City
Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic architectural style left a lasting imprint on Mason City, home to the world’s largest unified collection of Prairie School-style homes and buildings. Visitors can see Wright’s design genius evident in the clean lines of the residential Stockman House (1908) and the iconic 27-room Historic Park Inn Hotel (1909), the only Wright-designed hotel still in existence. Both sites are open to group tours. While in town, make time to explore the life and legacy of Meredith Willson, playwright and composer of “The Music Man.” Groups can tour Willson’s boyhood home downtown as well as The Meredith Willson Museum and the aptly named Music Man Square, which includes a 1912-replica streetscape like the one used in the Warner Brothers film adaptation. Culture lessons continue at the MacNider Art Museum, which includes the marionettes from “The Sound of Music,” among other highlights. And, at Rancho Deluxe: The Original Bicycle Garden, groups can view modern art in progress via its ever-changing display of recycled and repurposed pieces.
Muscatine
Discovery abounds in Muscatine, where student groups can take their photo alongside the World’s Largest Watermelon Slice sculpture and discover how buttons once put the city on the map. At one time, Muscatine produced more than 1.5 billion mother-of-pearl buttons annually, earning it the title of “Pearl Button Capital of the World.” Displays at the city’s National Pearl Button Museum downtown share this story and explain how easy access to Mississippi River mussel shells helped spur the city’s early manufacturing success. Even today, the Mighty Mississippi plays a pivotal role in shaping the city’s character. Groups can explore the river’s beauty via the city’s River Trail system, which includes more than 10 miles of paved trail connecting parks, neighborhoods and the riverfront. For an even deeper nature dive, Wildcat Den State Park, 10 miles northeast of Muscatine, includes acres of hiking trails through rock formations and rolling hills, plus access to Pine Creek Grist Mill, a working mill from the 1840s.
Fayette County and Clayton County
Nestled along the Turkey River Recreational Corridor in northeast Iowa, the towns and cities of Fayette and Clayton counties invite visitors to explore the beauty of the natural world. Anchored by the communities of Clermont, Elgin and Elkader, the corridor includes ample land and water trails for hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing — or simply enjoying the serenity of the river. In Elgin, the 1,000-acre Gilbertson Conservation Education Area includes 10 miles of trails open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Its inviting on-site nature center includes interactive displays about Iowa’s wildlife, including some live exhibits, plus a “dinosaur dig” play space and a popular summertime petting zoo. History students will find plenty to explore in the area, too. The Motor Mill Historic Site, southeast of Elkader, offers tours of its six-story limestone flouring mill and four auxiliary stone buildings, all dating from the 1860s. Not far away, in Clermont, groups can tour the Montauk Historic Site, home of Iowa’s 12th governor, William Larrabee. Built in 1874, the Italianate mansion has been restored to include many of its original, elegant furnishings, allowing groups to experience precisely how the governor’s family might have lived in the space.
Pottawattamie County’s Hitchcock Nature Center
Nestled in the heart of Iowa’s rugged Loess Hills — a unique ecological area created by windblown soils following the last Ice Age — the Hitchcock Nature Center includes a rare mix of prairie, savannah and woodland habitats, all open to the public. The nature preserve’s 1,500 acres, including roughly 14 miles of unpaved trails, are perfect for hiking, birdwatching, trail running, picnicking and camping. The park’s Loess Hills Lodge includes an educational welcome center, gift shop and gallery with hands-on exhibits about the flora and fauna of the area. Outside, its 45-foot observation tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the area’s picturesque natural landforms. Located in Honey Creek, roughly 20 minutes by car from Council Bluffs, the nature center offers several camping cabins for rent, including Crescent Ridge Cabin, which accommodates up to 13 guests. Tent, RV or backcountry camping permits are also available.
pottconservation.com/parks/hitchcock_nature_center
