On the top of best day trips from Iowa is the capital city of Iowa. It is in Des Moines, where the Iowa State Capitol, often known as the Iowa Statehouse, is located. The structure contains the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Governor's office, as well as the offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State as the location of the Iowa General Assembly.

Although court proceedings often take place in the adjacent Iowa Supreme Court building, the structure also houses a chamber for the Iowa Supreme Court. The edifice, the only five-domed capital in the nation, was built between 1871 and 1886.

The Capitol, which is perched on a hill and is situated at East 9th Street and Grand Avenue, provides a sweeping view of the city's center and the West Capitol Terrace. Along its sides and in front are several monuments and memorials, such as the Lincoln and Tad statue and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: 1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319, US

Phone: +1 515-281-5591

Website: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/resources/tourCapitol

In the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City's West Bend, Iowa, there is a sacred site known as the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption. It is thought to be the biggest grotto in the world and is made up of nine grottos that each portray a scenario from the life of Jesus. It also features a sizable collection of minerals and petrified wood.

Additionally, it is "regarded as the world's most comprehensive man-made collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and petrifications in one location." Over $4,308,000 is the approximate worth of the rocks and minerals that make up the Grotto. Every year, more than 100,000 people come.

It features a museum exhibiting rare and semiprecious stones from all over the world, as well as images and relics related to the shrine's building. During his first grotto's construction, Father Dobberstein applied the information and abilities he had learned while completing his study at St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Location: 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, US
Phone: +1 515-887-2371
Website: https://www.westbendgrotto.com/

Maquoketa Caves State Park, one of Iowa's most visited state parks, was founded in 1921. It is renowned for having more caverns than any other park in Iowa. The public is welcome to explore the caverns and view the formations that have been carved out over thousands of years.

The nearby Maquoketa Caves State Park is a great place for a day excursion or an overnight stay at the campsite. The best things to do in the park include cave exploration, hiking, sightseeing, and looking out areas of interest. Numerous caverns and picturesque vistas of the countryside are accessible from the park's hiking paths.

The main caverns in the park include Dancehall Cave, Ice Cave, Shinbone Cave, and Twin Arch Cave. There are many other caves as well. Every cave has distinctive features and railings put inside make it accessible to everyone. Get a map of the caverns and the paths to tour them by going to the visitor center.

Google rating: 4.8/5.0
Location: 9688 Caves Rd, Maquoketa, IA 52060, US
Phone: +1 563-652-5833
Website: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks/Iowa-State-Parks/Maquoketa-Caves-State-Park

The 31st President of the United States was Herbert Hoover. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site was created near his birthplace of West Branch, Ohio, in 1965, one year after his passing, to honor his life. It is considered one of the Best Day Trips from Iowa. To give visitors an idea of his modest beginnings, the National Historic Landmark recreates his early neighborhood.

The 28-acre Herbert Hoover National Historic Site includes a number of rebuilt structures. The site's original building was his birthplace cottage; it is currently home to replicas of his father's blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, and a meeting house. During a tour of the location, visitors are allowed to enter each of the structures.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is one of the most recent additions to the location. It includes a variety of records, materials, and artifacts gathered throughout the course of his life and presidency. The memorial slabs are accessible to the public, and Herbert Hoover and his wife are interred there.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: 110 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA 52358, US
Phone: +1 319-643-2541
Website: https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/herbert-hoover-national-historic-site

Backbone State Park is one of Iowa's most physically distinctive areas and was established in 1920 as the state's first state park. The Devil's Backbone, the highest point in northeast Iowa, is formed by a steep, slender ridge of bedrock, giving the park its fabled moniker.

Visit the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) museum, hike the challenging 21-mile multi-use trail network, or go trout fishing in some of Iowa's top trout streams to take a stroll through history. Backbone State Park offers activities for all types of visitors, whether you're looking for some adrenaline or just want to spend the day outside.

You may explore the 21-mile network of trails and climb rugged, uneven staircases while traversing twisted and windswept cedars. Explore the cross-country ski and snowmobile routes in the park throughout the winter. The rocky dolomite limestone cliffs are also climbable and present several difficulties to climbers and rappellers throughout the park. For some of the most well-liked climbing locations, check out Backbone Trail. Before climbing, kindly register at the park office.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: 1347 129th St, Dundee, IA 52038, US
Phone: +1 563-924-2527
Website: https://stateparks.com/backbone_state_park_in_iowa.html

American river culture and history are explored in museum displays at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Additionally, there are more than a dozen aquariums on the site that house animals that may be found in the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, and other river systems and deltas.

These animals include gigantic catfish, sturgeon, ducks, frogs, turtles, rays, octopus, river otters, and more. Additionally, there are outdoor displays with river otters, a marsh, enormous antiques, a blacksmith shop, a stream, and raptor aviaries with bald eagles among them.

The Mathias Ham Historic Site and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium are both run by the Dubuque County Historical Society, which is based in Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States. The National River Center and the Mississippi River Center are the two structures that make up the museum's riverside complex. On July 18, 1982, the museum first debuted as the Fred W. Woodward Riverboat Museum before being enlarged and rearranged into its current layout.

Google rating: 4.7/5.0
Location: 350 E 3rd St, Dubuque, IA 52001, US
Phone: +1 563-557-9545
Website: https://www.rivermuseum.com/

The Amana Colonies are a series of seven ancient communities that have been designated a National Historic Landmark. They were founded in 1855 by a group of German Pietists. The Colonies developed a communal existence that enabled them to survive for over 80 years after they were founded and are now a well-liked tourist destination noted for its amazing restaurants and artisan stores.

Visitors are invited to wander the streets of the villages at their leisure, but between May and October, guided tours are available if you'd like to learn more about the intriguing history of the colonies. The Amana Colony sustained an almost entirely self-sufficient local economy for eighty years while importing very little from the American economy's industrialization.

The specialized agricultural and crafts trades that the Amanians had brought with them from Europe allowed them to maintain their independence and way of life. Craftsmen passed on their knowledge and methods to the following generation. They produced their own furniture, clothing, and other items using hand, horse, wind, and water power.

Google rating: 4.6/5.0
Location: 622 46th Ave, Amana, IA 52203, US
Phone: +1 319-622-7622
Website: https://amanacolonies.com/

Blank Park Zoo is also one of the Best Day Trips from Iowa. Near the historic Fort Des Moines on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States, lies the 49-acre Blank Park Zoo. It is the only certified zoo in Iowa and a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The purpose of the Blank Park Zoo is to promote a love of nature via preservation, instruction, exploration, and entertainment.

The endangered cassowary was featured in the David Kruidenier Australia Adventure, which debuted in 2011, the sea lion pool was restored, and an unique dinosaur exhibit was on display in the Zoo Plex over the summer. 8,000 people attended the "Big Dig" event at Blank Park Zoo to create enthusiasm regarding expansion.

To aid in animal management, a new quarantine facility was built, and a new veterinarian agreement with Iowa State University was inked. When entering the zoo, visitors first come across the Discovery Center, a completely enclosed space that houses a variety of plants and animals. The Meredith Alpine Exhibit, Free Range Tropical Aviary, The Cave, and other distinct exhibits within the Discovery Center each offer a distinctive viewing experience.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: 7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315, US
Phone: +1 515-285-4722
Website: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/

In Waterloo, Iowa, there is a theme park called Lost Island Waterpark. Three roller coasters are among the many attractions in the five themed zones, which make up the 90 acres (36 ha), or park. The Bertch family, who also run the Lost Island Waterpark close to the theme park's location, owns Lost Island Theme Park. The Lost Island Theme Park cost an estimated $100 million to build, and it opened on June 18, 2022. Construction started in August 2019.

There are several kid-friendly play areas on Lost Island, as well as two interactive exhibits. The Tamariki, the natural spirits that guard the harmony of the island's four elements, serve as the park's main mascots. Aoka, the Tamariki of Friendship, a walk-around mascot, welcomes visitors at the park's entrance courtyard Ara Matua.

Twenty named Tamariki feature as collectible avatars in the park's supplemental Lost Island Adventure Guide app alongside twenty four locals. Twelve Tamariki statues are scattered throughout the park (six for each of the four elemental realms).

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: 2225 E Shaulis Rd, Waterloo, IA 50701, US
Phone: +1 319-455-6700
Website: https://www.thelostisland.com/

Around the nation, there are a number of museums devoted to Buffalo Bill's legacy. However, a trip to the Buffalo Bill Museum in LeClaire, where there are also numerous other exhibits, provides additional information about his life. LeClaire is situated beside the Mississippi River, which has played a vital role in the city's growth. The museum examines how the river has affected the way of life in the area.

The 1957-founded Buffalo Bill Museum hosts a number of regionally significant shows. One of the biggest attractions of the displays on well-known local people is Buffalo Bill. In addition to being a showman, hunter, and soldier, he was also an inventor, engineer, and more.

The Lone Star, a national historic monument displayed inside the museum, is another outstanding exhibit. It is the oldest steam-powered towboat from 1868 that has been maintained for detailed inspection. Numerous facts concerning the Sauk and Fox Tribe, a nearby Native American tribe, Mississippi River trade, and the history of LeClaire city are on display at the museum.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Location: 199 N Front St, Le Claire, IA 52753, US
Phone: (720) 865-2160
Website: https://www.buffalobill.org/