On my cross-country drive, this was a good area to stop in and I stumbled across Stone State Park…read moreand its adorable camping cabins. The cabins have to be booked for 2 nights so I had to book it the day-of. I barely made it in time to check in but I did - many thanks to the ranger for being patient! I recommend bringing cash if you try to same-day stay. The place was really adorable and cozy! There's an AC unit, a dehumidifier, a microwave, and a decent sized minifridge, along with a small table, bunk beds, and a futon. I was happy to be on a bed and just used my sleeping bag for sheets. As for the park, it has beautiful hills and sweeping views. I didn't take a longer hike but would absolutely not hesitate to stop by, for camping or hiking.

Beautiful state park. Lots of places to hike but also a lovely drive. Great views where you can see…read moreNebraska and South Dakota. There's a beautiful old building you can rent for events. Plenty of picnic tables for a day visit. There are campsites in the park too. Its a gem in northwest Iowa.

Wanting to get our dogs away from the fireworks over the 4th of July weekend, we booked a 2-bedroom…read morecabin a year in advance (holiday weekends sell out really quickly!!). We ended up in Wood Duck in the area of cabins not too far from the entrance and park headquarters office. Some fireworks could still be heard in the distance from Ponca but nothing on the scale of what it was like back home. The best place would have been the cabins further away in the Scout Hill Loop but those were already taken at the time I booked. Still, we were very happy with our cabin. The two bedrooms were on either end of the cabin with the kitchen, living room, dining area, and bathroom in the middle. Either end had a door and a small deck. I would advise to bring your own camp chairs to sit outside. Pots, pans, coffee maker, dish soap, shampoo, bar soap, silverware and utensils were provided but I'm glad we brought our own scrubbie, paper towels, conditioner, and plastic cups. The AC in the cabin worked great for anyone wondering. Our girls are old so we didn't do much hiking but rather stayed on the paved areas and drove thru the park several times making stops at scenic places along the way. I spent some time visiting the beautiful Resource and Education Center and attended a "Critter Corner" event designed mostly for kids but I enjoyed it, too. The knowledgeable young park staff showed various animal pelts, skulls, antlers, horns, and a few resident turtles and snakes. The Center also had some books, puzzles, souvenirs, snacks, t-shirts, and other items for sale. There's a convenience store, small grocery and couple restaurants in nearby Ponca in case you forgot anything or wanted to get a pizza. I also visited the Aquatic Center one hot afternoon. It was a real nice heated zero entry pool with a diving board and 100 foot water slide. We really enjoyed our stay and already plan to return for a long weekend in the fall.

Had my daughter's graduation in one of the cabins and rented cabins for out of town guest for both…read moredaughters graduation. They could not have been more appreciative of the park and cabins. They still talk about how much they loved staying there

I try to go to this park every day. I found a little squirrel that LOVES French fries and cookies…read more He comes right up to my car to get his treats. It makes me smile and he grabs his goodies and goes to the tree stump and eats them.

A beautiful tribute to those who lost their loved ones in this horrific tragedy at the Sioux City,…read moreIA Gateway Airport. It's the small things like this that make me feel better about the Siouxland community as a hole. Nothing else to say...

What a great not-so-little trail located in the heart of Westfield, Iowa! I had the pleasure of…read moretaking a stroll here the day after Thanksgiving as part of the #optoutside effort with my partner, whose folks live in the area. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, I can't recommend this trail enough. Five Ridge Prairie features beautiful landscapes, and each ridge overlooks the rolling hills of the western side of the state. Even in fall, when things are much less green, and certainly not blooming, we really enjoyed this hike. It's a workout, too! Those ridges are no joke.

One of those "what is that?" place you should stop by if you have time. Built by local residents to…read morehonor the memory and burial location of a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, it's also the first National Park Historical Landmark. The views are terrific. Expect to take at least 15 minutes here - longer of the weather is favorable and you want to savor the river views from bluff top.