I want to really Discover what Iowa has to offer

For several years now, I have been passing thru Iowa and mostly staying in West Des Moines. On the few times, I've slowed down to see the state, a lot of it is beautiful but I don't really know where to stop. So when I mentioned a few places I'd like to visit, a good friend told me some of them were shitholes. I cant tell a place is a shithole from looking at a map. So I thought Id ask the masses.
Ames/Ankeny
Fort Dodge
Dubuque
Mason City
Sioux City
Davenport
And Id like to visit the area of the bridges of madison county..
thoughts?

Avoid:
Fort Dodge
Sioux City
Davenport
Council Bluffs

Not to miss:
Waukee

Go to Okoboji!!

They filmed Bridges of Madison County in the Winterset area, which is south west of west Des Moines. It's less than 30 minutes from the Jordan Creek area, so if you are in WDM again, you can day trip it down there and tour around.


Ankeny is pretty much a northern suburb of Des Moines. No a lot to see and do there. It's mostly residential. They do have a shopping district (outdoor mall) where they have some free outdoor concerts in the summer.

I haven't been in Fort Dodge in forever, but the last few years it's been in the news a lot, and not for good things. I would avoid.


If you do go up to Mason City, go west to Clear Lake. There are a few things to see, like the Surf Ballroom, where Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper did their last concert before dieing in a plane crash outside of town. Mason City is River City from The Music Man.

Not sure why an anonymous poster said to avoid Davenport. Not much to choose from as far as escorts in the Quad Cities.