Category Archives: Features

Features

Feature: Burlington Bees (Burlington, Iowa)

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Community Field (Burlington, Iowa)

Few things are more synonymous with summer than baseball, and Iowans are fortunate to have many opportunities to enjoy professional baseball throughout the season all across the state.  The most well-known Minor League team in the state is the Iowa Cubs, the Des Moines-based Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.  Nearby Omaha is home to another Triple-A team, the Royals, and lower-level Single-A baseball teams play in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Clinton and Burlington.

Burlington is home to the Burlington Bees, the Single-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.  Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Burlington is the smallest town in the state with a professional team, and Community Field, where the Bees play, is the smallest stadium in the entire Minor League Baseball system.  Renovated in 2005, there are advantages to the small size: tickets are cheap, seats are close to the action, restroom lines are short, and you won’t break the bank buying food from the concession stand.

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Features

Feature: Suburban Restaurant (Gilbert, Iowa)

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Suburban Restaurant (Gilbert, Iowa)

The Suburban Restaurant, located near Gilbert, Iowa, has been locally-owned and operated for for nearly fifty years.  With a menu that features a good variety of steaks, sandwiches, and salads, the Suburban makes for a nice dinner destination if you’re in the Ames metro area or traveling along the nearby Interstate 35.

I’d highly recommend the tender bacon-wrapped filet, which arrived nicely cooked and costs several dollars less than most area restaurants.  The ham steak also made for a great main course, while generously-sized hand-breaded tenderloin was one of the best we’ve tasted since starting this blog three years ago.  Entrees include two sides, plus homemade bread and butter, while sandwiches, all $8 or less, come with a single side.

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Features

Feature: Kernel Cody’s Popcorn Shop (Le Claire, Iowa)

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Kernel Cody's Popcorn Shop (Le Claire, Iowa)

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the community of Le Claire is home to one of the finest downtown districts in Eastern Iowa.  You can easily spend a few hours in the community perusing the gift and antique shops, many of which are located in historic buildings and homes dating to the late 1800s.  Families may enjoy exploring the Buffalo Bill Museum, which includes a tour of the Lone Boat Steamer, the only remaining wooden hull steamboat in the United States.

Whether you’re planning on spending an hour in Le Claire or just passing through, one place you won’t want to miss is Kernel Cody’s Popcorn Shop.  Open every daily except Monday, this unique locally-owned shop produces over twenty varieties of popcorn.  My favorites include Sour Cream and Chives, a combination of flavors usually reserved for chips, and Caramel Apple, which features superb caramel corn mixed with artificially-flavored (but ridiculously tasty) fruity, green apple popcorn.

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Features

Feature: Swinging Bridge and Carousel (Story City, Iowa)

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Swinging Bridge and Carousel (Story City, Iowa)

With summer just around the corner, now’s the time to take a road trip to Story City, Iowa, a pleasant community just off Interstate 35, ten miles north of Ames.  On the east end of the city limits, you’ll find two sites worth visiting – a Swinging Bridge dating to 1936 and an antique carousel from 1913.

The bridge was one of a handful built across the nation as part of the Works Project Administration.  It isn’t as fun to walk across as the bridge in Columbus Junction, but it is in much better surroundings and is worth a longer stop.  Budget some time for photos or to roll up your jeans and walk across the rocks on the stream’s shore.  Frisbee golf fans will appreciate the nine-hole course adjacent to the bridge.

The carousel across the street dates back even further, though it wasn’t permanently placed in Story City until 1938, after traveling around the state for the past twenty years.  The carousel was in operation for forty years before going into temporary closure due to wear and tear.  Luckily, the carousel was resurrected in the early 1980s and still looks spectacular today.  While you’re waiting to board the carousel, take a look at the historic photos and information within the carousel or grab a bag of fresh-popped popcorn.

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Features

Feature: Montage (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

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Montage (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Cedar Falls, Iowa, may be home to one of the best Main Streets in the state.  Bookended on the north by a city park along the Cedar River, and on the south by a modern public library, this downtown shopping district features a number of charming local businesses, including a children’s gift store, trendy salon, and landmark hotel.

Whether you’re spending a few hours shopping in the downtown district or just looking for the best dinner option in the Cedar Falls area, you’ll want to check out Montage, a hip restaurant with a stellar atmosphere, professional service, and a creative menu.

Our meal started with the waitress-recommended chicken empanadas, one of several unique appetizers that are a several cuts above most standard restaurant fare.   Entrees for the evening were also a hit, with Amanda choosing the sun-dried tomato pesto pasta with chicken.  I tried the seasonal pasta, tossed in a cool lime cream sauce and topped with blueberries, a dish that ranks among the my all-time favorites from Iowa restaurants.

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