Mount Vernon, Iowa

Mount Vernon, which was founded in the mid-1800s, has a population of about 4,500 people. Its lively, charming downtown district is teeming with restaurants, shops, and local businesses. Skillet Cafe, 101 1st Street NE, is open for lunch and dinner. You'll find some hearty meals here that will satisfy your hunger. Cornell College, a private liberal arts college with around 1,000 students, is also located in town. Beautiful farms can be found all over Mount Vernon, and they are both picturesque and lovely. Family farms abound, producing everything from hay to pumpkins. Mount Vernon residents eat well, with plenty of sustainably grown produce.

You can even go on an agri-tour of some of the farms to learn about how they work. From May to October, Bass Family Farms offers tours. The countryside around town is so peaceful and quiet that you'll want to take a walk or ride your bike along the backcountry roads. Take a country drive to see the American Gothic Barn, which is painted with several rural scenes, including the famous painting by artist Grant Wood. Naturally, not everyone in Mount Vernon owns a farm. If you don't, the Farmers Market at the Mt Vernon First Street Community Center is a great place to get some. Make no mistake: this is a farm town with a tight-knit community that always has something going on. Every May, residents and visitors alike enjoy events such as the Chalk the Walk festival.