When Gayle and I stay at the family cabin on Spirit Lake, at some point I take off alone and…read moreexplore parts of Greater Spirit Lake. Gayle is just fine sitting on the lakeside deck and reading a book. My Nephews love to go antiquing, of which I've been doing a little more of over the last year or so. And so it was that I wandered into the Spirit Lake Antique Mall a few weeks ago. This place is well organized, clean, with diverse offerings. Each vendor has their own space, each of which has pretty distinct offerings that make it easier to pick and choose spots to explore further. What gets my attention? Generally speaking that would include locks, knives, coin banks, and interesting boxes. Most are behind a locked cabinet, of which access by friendly and helpful staff was appreciated. The only downside for me is that some items like locks and coin banks don't include a key. However, subsequent eBay searches sometimes solves that issue, and usually at a higher price. Of the purchases I made, did I really need any of this? Next Question!

Best antique mall in NW Iowa! You won't find crafts or new wholesale decor here....just genuine…read moreantique and vintage items. I shop there often as the inventory changes regularly in most booths. The curated displays are beautiful to look at and and shopping is a pleasure in this VERY CLEAN MALL. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and they say they have dealers from around the country who come to shop there....I can see why! Authentic antiques at reasonable prices!

Fun place to golf, right on west lake greens and Fareway's keep in good condition and when playing…read morethere good pace of play. Always a treat to golf here. When around the area.

A fun and more challenging course than some others in the area. Elevation changes and water come…read moreinto play on a few holes.

We actually got to make 1.5 rounds of mini golf thanks to a storm. On our first attempt, we got to…read morehole 9/10 before the downpour trapped us under the waterfall alongside another family. The staff were kind enough to give us a "free game" card so we were able to come back the next day. Luckily, no weather issues the second round. Crowds weren't too bad and seemed to move quickly for the most part. At $12/person, this was a good way to spend a few hours out for Labor Day weekend.

It's a decent family friendly little putt putt mini golf place. The water flowing through has…read morestarted to bloom some algae and stink a bit. Prices are a bit steep in my opinion but then again it's a fun family outing and I wouldn't discourage anyone from going.

Brad's Bungalow is located within the Central Emporium just up the hill from the Arnold's Park…read moreAmusement Complex. This year's Iowa visit turned out to be in late August, which for a summer resort area typically means generous end-of-season sales. This casual sportswear store was no exception, as its "Storewide Clearance" advertised 20%-50% off everything in the store. In other words, we came in even though we weren't really looking for anything in particular. My Son takes a Size 13 shoe of which Brad's had a decent selection. However, the Kid was in a "Don't Tread On Me" mood and he bolted rather than acquiesce to our pleadings to try something on. I then looked around and found a really cool Minnesota Twins hat for 20% Off. The guy running the place was cool throughout.

A friend of my husband's introduced him to Brads, now we have to go every time we're in town. We…read morenever leave empty-handed. Great selection of shoes and clothes. So much fun!!

I played 18 holes here and was shocked to find out they're still charging $95 for a round even…read morethough the entire back 9 is under construction. The course conditions on the front weren't bad, but the experience completely falls apart when you realize you're paying full premium price for a course that isn't even playable as intended. For nearly a hundred bucks, golfers expect a finished course, not detours, torn-up fairways, and the feeling you're being overcharged. Right now it feels like they're cashing in while giving a half finished product. If you're thinking about playing in Okoboji, I'd suggest waiting until the back 9 is complete or checking out other local courses where your money goes further.

This place is very over priced for a pretty crappy golf course. Also, no signs pointing which…read moredirection to go for holes not right next to each other. If you are thinking about coming here, please reconsider.

Beautiful place. Very friendly. Great prices. The maze was…read morelots of fun. Variety of activities.

The Dickinson County Nature Center is centrally located in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes…read moreRegion. When you travel South from Spirit Lake on US 71, turn right at the Wild Rose B&B and the complex will be on your left about a mile down the road. It's open year round and provides a peaceful environmental retreat for visitors like me. I stopped by a few weeks ago to admire the Building. It has classrooms, exhibits, conference areas, and a nice "Living Room" with a pretty view out the oversized windows. I could easily see myself looking out in the Winter (with hot chocolate in hand) or in the Fall admiring the colours. And judging by the clutter in the office below, there's lots of ongoing nature projects going on, all related to a surrounding and complex lake area and prairie ecosystem. There's nearby wetlands, an old farm, and lots of places to walk and hike. Various public programs tie it all together into a very impressive package.

I gave this 5 stars because this center achieves exactly what it was created for ... a condensed…read moreexperience of the local area. The Great Lakes of Iowa are certainly known for boating and fishing opportunities, water sports and other amusements. For those who do not indulge in these activities, or for those who want a divergent experience while being entertaining and educational for children, the Dickinson County Nature Center is a great alternative or primary destination. Representing the prairie grass, wetlands and farming so prevalent in Iowa as well as the accompanying plant and animal species of the area, the Center is an apt microcosm. It has a fine display of animals, please touch skins of animals, a rudimentary display of shells and fossils, and a variety of rocks and minerals that are organized by their type (i,e., igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary). Finally, their is a display of live bees which is interesting. Put you ear down to the tube leading into the honeycombs for an autistic experience! The site also has an amazingly preserved one room schoolhouse and a butterfly garden which comprised the only disappointment during our visit because we didn't see any butterflies! The star of the show, however, was the osprey nest which was monitored by a live osprey cam. One can get hooked looking at the birds, but I can only imagine the addiction when the chicks are hatched (I was told right around May).

This is one of the coolest game stores I've ever been too. Great selection and the staff is…read morefriendly and willing to answer all my questions.

If you're looking to pawn of some crap for quick cash, The Pawn Shop in Spencer Iowa is not the…read moreright place for you. However, if you're looking for a place in Northwest Iowa to buy games, or hang out and play some games, then it's definitely the right place for you! With a name that is perhaps a "tad" too clever for it's own good, The Pawn Shop is the kind of gaming store that you wouldn't expect to find in rural areas. Yeah, you might be able to find them in places like Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Ames, Des Moines, Omaha, or Minneapolis... but what is the gamer to do when you live 2 hours away from any of those places? The Pawn Shop is the answer to this dilemma for gamers in Northwest Iowa and surrounding territories. It's run by two gentleman by the name of Kevin and Grant who, without a doubt, have a passion for games of all kinds and who want to provide a place for others to gather and play games. Their fees are more than fair for the services they provide, and are willing to go out of their way to find a game item you might be looking for - if they don't have it on hand. I had them order me a colossal Golem Arcana figurine awhile back, and unfortunately it arrived to them damaged. It took a bit of time, but they got it straightened out and replaced through their distributors. So if you're interested in picking up some new games, or perhaps find others to play some games with, I suggest you check out The Pawn Shop.