Family road trip to Iowa? Don’t mind if we do!
In an attempt to squeeze in as many lasting memories possible as a family of 4, prior to becoming a family 5 (welcoming baby boy in a few short months), we decided to explore the beautiful state of Iowa- specifically, Dubuque. Founded in 1833, Dubuque is Iowa’s oldest city and the history celebrations make it an incredible place to vacation. #WhereIowaStarted
Under two hours from door to door, the first thing we said to one another as we got back into the car to head home was, “why didn’t we do this sooner?!”. We will, without a doubt, be returning for another family vacation in the near future. With delicious food, entertaining attractions, beautiful accommodations, and friendly people- what’s not to want to repeat!
This post is sponsored by Travel Iowa, but all opinions are my own.
Our Iowa Itinerary
After sharing endless fun in my Instagram stories (see Iowa highlight) while present on the vacation; I was itching to write a blog post upon my return in order to highlight our favorite activities during our brief, yet unforgettable Iowa vacation.
Looking to create a fun family-friendly getaway to Iowa yourself? See our itinerary below for a guaranteed unforgettable trip!
First Stop: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Getting an early start, wanting to make the most of our day in Iowa, we arrived in Iowa after a beautiful scenic drive through limestone bluffs around 10am and quickly found ourselves at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Part museum, part aquarium, part science center; the 14-acre campus did NOT disappoint!
While it may not have been our initial plan to spend the majority of our day here, you’ll quickly see why we did. In fact, when planning your trip, go ahead and schedule for an entire day. With SO much to see and SO much to do, if you don’t dedicate your day to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, you’ll be doing yourselves (and your kiddos) a disservice!
William Woodward Discovery Center
Entering into the William Woodward Discovery Center, we were immediately greeted with nature as far as the eye could see. After a quick stop to see the adorable otters (seriously, they love visitors and sure hammed it up for the girls), we headed across the outdoor walkway in order to be in the same building as the stingrays (more on this soon!).
Walking around we saw beautiful tanks filled with starfish and endless sea creatures. We then explored a cave replica, read about artifacts, and listened to the Mississippi River history via educational speakers.
Time for the Stingrays
By 11:00am it was time to cash in our tickets for stingray feeding and petting, an experience our girls will NEVER forget! With only a limited number of tickets sold daily (you can purchase online ahead of your trip to make sure they are available). The girls had one-on-one instruction, followed by the ability to pet each and every stingray (two fingers straight down the back, who knew?!), and feed them shrimp! By the time the feeding was the done, we had to pry the girls away from the tank (they could have stayed there all day!) to continue our museum exploring.
RiverWORKS Playzone
Heading upstairs, we checked out the RiverWORKS location specific for kids. As the girls described it, “the world’s biggest water table” provided not only a fun location to play, but endless education regarding the science of rivers. Nestled into this incredible space- is a replica of a beaver lodge, once again providing endless education.
4D Movie
Before we knew it, it was time for our 4D movie viewing. Like the stingray feeding, this requires individually purchased tickets (which can be purchased ahead of time online). Donning our 4D glasses, the girls squealed during the viewing of “Son of Bigfoot”. The super cute 40 minute film allowed us to rest our legs and kickback in a fun family-friendly activity.
Museum Cafeteria with a View
Post movie we checked out the museum cafeteria with a beautiful land view of the Mississippi River. Once finished eating, we took the elevator to the top of building for a panoramic arial view of Dubuque and the Mississippi River before heading back over to the building we had originally arrived in.
Hands-On Fun
Past those adorable otters we went once again, this time to find the alligator and more incredible fish, before finding our way to the artifact room. Here the girls explored fossils, looked under microscopes to see insects, and were amazed at their hands-on ability to explore eggs from endless birds.
Mississippi Flood & Playtime
Next, it was off to tables that visualized the impact of the Great Mississippi flood, followed by playtime in the kids area upstairs before venturing back outside.
Steam Engine Boat
Once outside we explored the wetlands and got on board a HUGE, vintage steam boat. Exploring it was nothing short of amazing. Seeing the tiny sleep quarters, the huge machinery, and learning that crew members worked for 21 days straight only to have 36 hours off in-between was fascinating.
Despite even more to see, after a solid 5.5 hours our legs were getting tired and we decided to say goodbye (for now) to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
Lodging: Hotel Julien Dubuque
Time to kick back at our hotel!
A three-minute drive later, we found ourselves at the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque. Having stayed there seven years prior for a friend’s wedding, we were most anxious to return and show the girls the historic charm of a beautiful hotel nestled in the heart of the Old Main District.
Hotel Fun
The girls were in awe of the gorgeous staircases and elegance the hotel lobby had to offer. After settling in our room with a quick bump photo update to ring in 28 weeks of pregnancy (along with a couple photo bombers ;)), it was time for the hotel pool, followed by dinner!
Dining
With so many incredible dining options within walking distance, we let the girls decide. With both girls expressing a strong desire for pasta, we found ourselves on a three-minute walk from our hotel to Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy.
Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy
The Italian charm mixed with vintage photos was simply incredible. The only thing that beat it was the delicious food and endless bread and salad! With full bellies and even more memories stored, we headed back to our hotel officially calling it a day.
Caroline’s restaurant
After an unforgettable fun-filled day in Dubuque, Iowa it was time to head back to Wisconsin upon waking. However, we couldn’t help but take full advantage of one final luxury at Hotel Julien- Caroline’s restaurant for breakfast!
The ride back to Wisconsin was spent reminiscing on all the fun we managed to fit into a 24 hour vacation in Dubuque! Education, historic charm, delicious food, and quality family time. What more could we have asked for?!
A special thank you to Travel Iowa and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium for the incredible experience to explore your beautiful state as a family! We can’t wait to return!
Looking for Even More Ideas?
Looking to spend even more time in the Dubuque, Iowa area as a family? Below are a few locations we hope to hit up on our next Iowa adventure.
Dining:
- Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor
- Magoo’s Pizza
- Hibachi Grill at Ichiban Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
- Habits Coffee & Donuts Co. for mini donuts
Shopping:
- Midwest Girl for all things Midwest
- Creative Adventure Lab for pottery creations
Attractions:
- Fenelon Place Elevator
- Julien Dubuque Monument
- Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
- Field of Dreams Movie Site
- Carnegie Stout Public Library Maker Space
- Swiss Valley Nature Preserve
- Mississippi Riverwalk
- Bustin’ Axe Throwing Range
- Proving Grounds
- Crystal Lake Cave
