A month after my first to Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, I'm still in awe of the peacefulness and…read morenatural beauty. Visiting the second week of August was perfect-the yellow daisies were in full bloom. What made the experience even more special was that we had the place to ourselves around 4:00 p.m., making it feel incredibly serene. We had so much fun taking photos of the vibrant flowers, including close-ups of a bee and a butterfly, adding to the magic of the moment. I got so caught up in the beauty of the prairie that I did not read the interpretive signage to learn more about the history. Next time!

What a nice little stop on our road trip! There's a great amount of history here, make sure to read…read morethe informational plaques. If you happen to go on a nice sunny day the views are spectacular! You pass a stream on your way up to the mound. Once you get to the mound you can see views far and wide, no wonder it was a great spot chosen by the expedition party. We brought our dogs with us so they could enjoy the walk as well, there were others with their dogs too so I would say this place is dog friendly. No bathrooms per se, only a port-a-potty that badly needed cleaning. There was plenty of parking. We went later in the day but this place still seemed a little busy.

This park holds a ton of memories for me. My family would venture here often when I was a child. I…read moreremember having larger family gatherings here from time to time. It's very well maintained and has a few 'indoor' restroom options. There's a very long main loop around the lake that is about 3mi and VERY hilly. I know there's hiking path and such as well. A few small paths exist. It's a lot of fun on bikes and quite kid friendly. Two large playground areas and a couple fishing docks. Also plenty of parking. The dog park is newer and very nice. Can be very busy, tho. It's so clean. I'm proud of SIoux City and surrounding citizens for keeping this place so nice. Totally free; no entrance fee. Can kayak on the lake, but it's too small for boats. Maybe a paddle boat. I'm sure the shelters can be reserved but I don't have information on that. A couple water fountains are available. Don't forget sun screen!!

This nearly 3 mile walk around the lake is really beautiful. Moderate hills and dog friendly with…read moreadjacent dog park. Highly recommended.

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.

The park was great. It was very clean, and the people there were very friendly…read more I loved that there was no trash on the ground, and I loved all of the park equipment

Best known as one of the largest yet peaceful parks in Le Mars, West Floyd Park is home to…read moreplayground equipment, a picnic shelter with restrooms, a large baseball complex, a BMX race track and an extensive disc golf course. The West Floyd River, which flows near the park's Western Border, was named after Sergeant Floyd of the American Corps of Discovery Expedition. In addition to all of the amenities West Floyd Park has to offer, you can also take advantage of a well maintained paved trail. On a pleasant Summer day, you will find bikers and walkers trekking from the Le Mars Golf course, through West Floyd Park and out to the Wells' Enterprises Corporate Office and back again.

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.

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

The Falls, with the exception of the dirty looking water, are pretty cool. The park is…read morewell-maintained and has nice walking trails. What I can't get past is the stench coming from the Smithfield Foods pig slaying plant only a block or two away. Why would the city allow this stench to sit right at the front door of their greatest jewel? Makes no sense to me. Not only that, but Smithfield Foods has the unmitigated gall to put happy pig statues around the plant, like we don't know the carnage taking place inside. Despicable. If there's one thing those poor pigs never are, for a moment of their pitifully short and painful lives, is happy. The place reeks of death.

This was a stop that we had planned coming from South Dakota, back down to Texas. It was well worth…read morethe stop. These beautiful falls are different than the usual stops at gas stations and McDonald's during road trips. But it was a great place to stretch our legs, use the restrooms, and have some snacks that we had packed. It was a free stop, free parking, and it was nice to see people just walking along the falls, enjoying theirselves. We did not get a chance to go up to the observation deck, but even still, we enjoyed ourselves. Definitely make the stop if you are in this area! And even if you are not in this area, it would be well worth the drive.

The setting and surroundings of Olson Park are absolutely fantastic!…read more I tell ya...for just quickly visiting and hanging out here for a couple of hours, this Olson Park was so well maintained! I'll say it again, lol, very well maintained!! The park is flush with green grass and is situated right by a scenic lake. Too bad I wasn't spending the night here because they offer camping. And...I am a camping enthusiast! I was here at Olson Park back at the end of June 2021 and the conditions were truly pleasant. I honestly felt like taking a blanket out of my car and having a midday nap underneath a tree, lol. I really can't say enough good things about this park. Before I do...I'll just provide some insight and details about where Olson Park is located and some of the worthwhile benefits it offers that make it such a worthwhile destination for enjoying nature and the outdoors. Olson Park is located in the town of Worthington, Minnesota. Worthington sits about 175 miles southwest of Minneapolis and only 10 miles north from the border with Iowa. It's situated about 3 miles outside downtown Worthington. I was traveling down through Minnesota along my 2021 cross country road trip. Eventually I was heading into Sioux Falls, South Dakota and further west towards Badlands National Park and the Mount Rushmore area. Along my driving for half the day, I was just a little fatigued and pulled off Interstate 90 and figured why not take some time to relax at a park and rest up before continuing on my journey. I discovered Olson Park through the wonderful app on my phone called Campendium. Upon arriving here, I was surprised they offered camping. I just figured this place was a quiet town park where you could come play some ball, have a picnic or just simply go fishing by the lake. Well cool...this Olson Park was perfect and ideal for camping! The best part being that you can set up your tent along all the fluffy and lush green grass which definitely make a for comfortable night sleep. Plus...I can't tell you enough how clean this park was! Seriously it was like out of a fresh springtime catalogue for a photo album! Lol, just reflecting back on my pictures invoke warm memories. Too bad...I should have just camped out for the night. But instead, I took it easy for a few hours before returning back to Interstate 90. Also...there wasn't a cloud in the sky during my time here. The sun reflected down on the lake's waters making for a wonderful ambiance. The campsites located next to the lake were efficiently set up. Just taking pictures of the park with the lake in the background was beautiful. For camping... - Campsites 1 - 12 w/ electric hook-up was $33 for the night. - Campsites 13 - 63 w/ electric hook-up was $28 per night. - Campsites 64 - 68 without electric hook-up was only $22 per night. All these sites were very reasonable and fairly priced for camping out at such a well-maintained park! You can book a reservation by calling 507-372-8600 Monday thru Friday. If there isn't a campsite occupied, then it's first come, first served. For spontaneous campers coming here on a whim, once you find an unoccupied site, simply claim it and then drop the fee into the courtesy box on the east side of the office if no attendant is around. And that's it, you're good to go! Here are some other terrific amenities about Olson Park... - They have a shower house with flush toilets, so no vault toilets are always a good thing, lol. - Cell phone reception worked perfectly here. - You can bring swimming apparel to enjoy the waters of the lake. - There were picnic tables situated all around. During my visit here on June 30, the park was empty. It was so quiet for such a picturesque park. And btw, it's always a benefit not having too many campers occupying the grounds. Overall...having tons of green grass, trees situated all around, good shade and a calm setting made this Olson Park to be an absolute winner in my book. I can't remember finding a better campground along my entire 5-month journey across the United States! For those who happen to be driving Interstate 90 and or making their way through the southern portion of Minnesota during their travels, I can't recommend Olson Park enough, so refreshing to discover this hidden gem of a park and campground.

Beautiful park and very nice for camping. Stayed here on our way out to South Dakota. Will…read moredefinitely stay again.

Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton honestly surprised me with just how breathtakingly…read morebeautiful it was. The scenery here has this wide-open, tranquil, almost cinematic quality to it -- rolling greenery, shimmering water, peaceful shorelines, endless skies, and the quiet movement of the Missouri River weaving its way through the landscape like a living ribbon cutting through the heart of America. There is something deeply calming about this place. For visitors unfamiliar with the area, the recreation area sits along Lewis and Clark Lake, which was created by the Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River. The region is named after the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, which traveled through this part of the country in the early 1800s while exploring the vast Louisiana Purchase territory. Standing near the water, it is honestly not difficult to imagine how enormous and untamed this landscape must have felt to early explorers centuries ago. My husband especially wanted to stop here because one of his hobbies is flying drones, and he absolutely loves capturing aerial footage of the Missouri River as it winds across different states. At this point, I think the Missouri River and my husband are in a long-term relationship and I am simply there as emotional support and snack distribution. And honestly, I understand why he loves it so much. The Missouri has such a distinct personality depending on where you encounter it. My husband and I have followed portions of the river through several states over the years including South Dakota, Missouri, Montana, and North Dakota, and we have even taken river excursions on it in other regions. Each stretch somehow feels slightly different while still carrying that same immense presence and quiet historical weight. But this particular area near Yankton felt especially serene. The water was beautiful, the surrounding scenery was lush and vibrant, and the peacefulness of the area made it very easy to lose track of time simply standing there taking it all in while my husband happily maneuvered his drone around like a man conducting an aerial symphony. It truly was one of those unexpectedly lovely stops that quietly stays with you afterward.

This is my happy place! It's a sprawling state park with endless areas to explore. Set with the…read moreNebraska cliff side in your view, along with the lake, it's the most serene park. There are plenty of camping an RV areas to set up camp. There are also a lot of parks, and bathrooms. There are trails that outline the lake, as well as trailed set closer to the highway. There are multiple entry points, but well paved roads, and signage to guide you. All the park officials we've ever ran into are friendly and helpful. I highly recommend stopping here to stay, or on your travels.