Category Archives: Features

Feature: Pine Creek Grist Mill (Near Muscatine, Iowa)

Pine Creek Grist Mill (Near Muscatine, Iowa)

A few miles outside of Muscatine, Iowa, is the Pine Creek Grist Mill, a unique attraction that allows visitors to see the inner-workings of a historic flour mill.  The beautifully restored mill is over 150 years old and thought to be the oldest working mill between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.

Though it’s open to the public five days a week during the summer, you’ll get the most out of your visit by stopping on a Sunday afternoon.  In addition to two scheduled mill demonstrations, the Melpine School – a restored one-room school house – is open for visitors between 1 and 4.  The mill’s website has been revamped since we last visited and now features a video plus a bevy of information about the history (and future) of the revamped mill.

Feature: Roadside Cafe (Fonda, Iowa)

Roadside Cafe (Fonda, Iowa)

I love the retro soda sign that stands outside the Roadside Cafe in Fonda, Iowa.  One side features an eighties Mountain Dew logo, while the other contains the Pepsi logo from the same era.  The cool sign drew us in, but the quality food and service has drawn us back each time we’ve driven through town.

Sporting lime green booths and and a hodge-podge of country decor, the small cafe serves a variety of short-order entrees, ranging from the standard burgers and chicken strips to the less common smothered enchiladas and mini tacos.  Everything we’ve tried, from the curly fries to the cheeseballs to the chicken salad sandwich, has been top-notch, especially in comparison to the average local eatery.

Service is noteworthy too; the waitstaff are friendly and food is prepared quickly and served promptly, making for an enjoyable all-around dining experience.

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Feature: Fenelon Place Elevator (Dubuque, Iowa)

Fenelon Place Elevator (Dubuque, Iowa)

With temperatures continuing to inch upward and summer drawing near, it’s a great time to take a ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator and check out the local shopping district that surrounds it in downtown Dubuque, Iowa.

At the top of the elevator is a nice observation deck, offering great views of downtown Dubuque and the neighboring states of Wisconsin and Illinois.  The base of the elevator serves as an anchor to the Cable Car shopping district, which features a number of locally-owned shops, selling antiques, used books, pottery and much more.

The elevator has been labeled the “shortest, steepest scenic elevator in the world” and dates back to the late 1800s — though the current cars and gears were completely rebuilt in 1977.  A couple of bucks will buy you a round trip pass (and charming ride) on the railroad, open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily between April and November.

Feature: Bijou Movie Theater (Mount Vernon, Iowa)

Bijou Movie Theater (Mount Vernon, Iowa)

A few months ago, my wife and I went with a friend to see The Final Season, a movie based on the extraordinary success of the high school baseball team in Norway, Iowa.  While the movie itself wasn’t memorable, the theatre we saw it in was.

Instead of seeing the movie in one of the cookie-cutter megaplexes in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, we opted to go to the cozy, single-screen Bijou Movie Theater, located in downtown Mount Vernon.

The lobby is small, featuring a counter where tickets and treats can be purchased all at once.  Prices for popcorn and drinks are modest, and half-price refills make the concessions even more appealing.  The owners encourage recycling, so you can even bring in your own containers to be filled for a discount.

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Feature: Bud’s Custom Meats (Riverside, Iowa)

Bud's Custom Meats (Riverside, Iowa)

Riverside, Iowa, has had its share of national attention.  In 1985, it was declared the official future birthplace of William T. Kirk, a fictional character played by William Shatner in the television series Star Trek.  Nearly twenty years later, in 2004, the community was home to Invasion Iowa, a reality television series produced by Shatner which aired on the Sci Fi Channel.

While Star Wars and Shatner fans have made the ‘trek’ to Riverside over the years, the town is likely overlooked by many travelers.  That said, if you’re looking for some great beef jerky, you’ll want to stop.

Located on the edge of town near the intersection with Highway 218, Bud’s Custom Meats offers top-notch jerky, plus everything else you’d expect at a meat locker and more.  Jerky comes in a couple varieties, but you can’t go wrong with the original: the thin pieces are large and tasty, featuring just enough pepper and seasoning.

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