When I first saw All Star Chocolate’s university-branded chocolate bars at our local grocery store, I wrote them off as a gimmick.  After all, it was hard to imagine the quality of the candy inside living up to the cutesy packaging design.  Fortunately for chocolate fans, my initial assessment was wrong.

They’re produced by Bochner Chocolates in Iowa City, made with superior ingredients, and competitively priced at under a dollar.  Officially licensed and branded for five Midwestern schools, there are two varieties available for purchase – milk chocolate with peanut butter and milk chocolate with caramel.  You can’t go wrong with either – the peanut butter is incredibly creamy, while the caramel filling is unbelievably smooth.

These chocolates are not only great for a university sports-watching party, but also make for a tasty snack to keep stocked at the office or around the house.  They can be purchased at many Fareway and Hy-Vee grocery stores across the state, or find them at the Bochner Chocolates store in Coralville, Iowa.

Bochner Chocolates
2445 2nd Street
Coralville, Iowa 52241
(319) 354-7900.

Though the building facade and drug store sign have changed over the years, the tenets of a great drug store are still in tact.  An underwhelming atmosphere is made up for by a long tradition of great drinks and ice cream snacks, plus some of the friendliest service you’ll ever find at a soda fountain.

Beyond the traditional pops, sodas and sundaes, you’ll want to try their special salad sandwiches.  Choose between homemade ham or chicken salad, served with a slice of lettuce on plain or toasted bread.  Add a drink, and your lunch will run just over $5.

You can opt to sit with family or friends in one of several wooden booths, or take a seat at the counter near the back of the store.  Beyond the food items, Stoner Drug has an impressive selection of cards and gifts, and is well worth the stop if you’re in the area.

Stoner Drug
1105 Main Street
Hamburg, Iowa 51640
(712) 382-2551

The small community of Sidney, Iowa, is home to the state’s oldest pharmacy.  Located on the west side of the square, Penn Drug Co. has been in business for nearly 150 years.

Enter the front door and you’ll find perfumes and lotions behind glass on antique shelving lining the north wall.  If you’re not stopping to fill a prescription, you can peruse the selection of Russell Stover chocolates, pick out a greeting card, or grab a seat at the old-fashioned soda fountain.

The entire soda fountain is charming, with surprisingly comfortable stools and a classy black marble counter.  For under a dollar, you can enjoy one of their featured flavors of ice cream, while pops and phosphates are even cheaper.

Beyond drinks and dessert, a variety of sandwiches are available, including ham, tuna and chicken salad – all of which are served on toasted white or wheat bread with a side of chips.  In addition, guests can enjoy a liverwurst and cheese sandwich or a number of microwaved canned soups.

Whether you’re looking for a soda, malt, or even a full lunch, the Penn Drug Co. is worth the 15-minute drive off the interstate.  Be sure to take a few minutes to walk around the town square, anchored by an historic courthouse constructed in 1889.

Penn Drug Co.
714 Illinois St.
Sidney, Iowa 51652
(712) 374-2513

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.

The amateur and minor league sports teams in Iowa are a great source for entertainment year-round.  Smaller cities like Burlington and Clinton sport professional baseball, while larger communities such as Davenport and Des Moines offer arena football, soccer, and more.

Sioux City is home to the Musketeers, one of twelve teams in the USHL junior hockey league.  With over 30 home games this year at the Tyson Event Center, there are plenty of opportunities to catch an exciting game.  The atmosphere is great, seating is plush, and the PA, music and occasional lighting effects complement the action well.

Best of all, the price is right: for under $15, you can get a front-row view of the action; or, you may opt to save a few bucks and choose seats in the third row or higher.

Ocheyedan Mound used to be known as the highest point in Iowa – that is, until a 1971 geodetic survey determined that distiction actually went to a farm north of Sibley, Iowa.

I had to check this mound out on my way to Minneapolis earlier this month. The parking lot was easy to access, but climbing the mound itself was made difficult due to a poorly-mowed path. Rising 170 feet above the surrounding plain, the mound offered a nice view and is worth checking out if you’re nearby.

You won’t want to take a trip to Le Mars, Iowa without making a stop at Bob’s Drive Inn.  The fryer food or hot dogs are good meal choices, but the small restaurant is most famous for its taverns.

For those of you not familiar with the terminology, taverns are simply loosemeat hamburgers.  I’m not sure how the hamburger is cooked, but it’s greasy and tasty and goes great on a soft bun with cheese and condiments.  Check out Bob’s if you’re in town – it’s open seven days a week beginning at 11 a.m.

Bob’s Drive Inn
Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 75
Le Mars, Iowa 51031
(712) 546-5445

Last weekend, Amanda and I stopped by Hawkeye Point, which has the distinction of being the highest point in the state of Iowa.  The 1670-foot peak is on private property, but it is easy to access, just a short walk from the road.  The official landmark is at the end of a feeding trough and is marked with a wooden cutout in the shape of Iowa.

There’s a metal box encouraging visitors to register, where we wrote our names and bought two of the souvenir keychains, which go for a mere $1 each.  Located just north of Sibley, Iowa, Hawkeye Point provided a break from driving and nice view of northwest Iowa farmland.

June 2010 Update: Since our visit in mid-2007, the property was donated to Osceola County; an information kiosk is now present with information on the family who previously owned the property and Osceola County in general.

Hawkeye Point
Near Sibley, Iowa
Wikipedia Entry