Nadia Corwell

Iowa taught me a lesson I never expected: never judge a town by the size of its main…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 10

I have seen plenty of historic Iowa buildings in my time, but this is the first one that…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 9

I have driven questionable distances for food before, but an Iowa buffet in a town with fewer residents…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 9

I went into this hike expecting a nice walk and maybe a decent river view. A few minutes…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 8

Ever found a view so huge that it makes you stop talking for a second? High above the…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 8

I learned a valuable lesson while driving through Iowa: never underestimate a church spire’s ability to ruin your…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 7

A church bell ringing over an Iowa cornfield can carry more history than you might expect. Each stop…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 7

I have a weakness for small food shops that make you curious before you even know what you…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 5

Some towns do not need to shout to get your attention. They just give you a river view,…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 5

Iowa gets a lot more interesting when you stop looking only at the scenery and start looking down.…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 4

Every good summer town needs a walk-up ice cream window. Decorah has one that people keep turning into…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 4

I thought I knew what to expect when I entered this historic Iowa church. Then the sunlight passed…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 3

I expected a pleasant drive. What I did not expect was to keep pulling over because another old…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 3

By late afternoon, I usually stop pretending I want anything sensible. The pavement is hot, the car feels…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 2

I knew this Iowa village would be quiet, but the stillness caught me before anything else did. The…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 2

Iowa is not always the first place people name when they talk about serious dinner reservations. That is…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 1

A cash-only bakery already feels like a warning in the best possible way. You know before you walk…

By Nadia Corwell · Aug 1

Iowa summer gets a lot more interesting when water enters the plan. Not the crowded, chaotic kind where…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 31

Iowa is not the first place most people picture when they think of old-world church beauty. Then you…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 31

I like roadside places that feel like they somehow slipped out of another decade and decided to keep…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 30

It is a little funny when a famous painting turns out to have an actual address. This quiet…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 30

Iowa road trips get a lot more interesting once you stop treating the state like a straight line…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 29

A normal roller coaster drop already feels like a questionable life choice. This one goes a little further.…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 29

I do not usually trust a coaster just because it looks fast on paper. Some rides brag before…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 28

A good thrift store visit always starts with a little optimism. Maybe you find nothing. Maybe you find…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 28

I always think one swim will be enough. Then the sun stays out, the water still looks inviting,…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 27

A quick brunch stop can become a surprisingly serious commitment when the table is this easy to settle…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 27

Most grocery stops begin with a list and end with a receipt, but this historic Iowa market has…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 26

Some small towns do not need to shout for attention. Story City just lets you wander in, smell…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 26

I have a soft spot for restaurants that feel like someone built them out of personality first and…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 25

A strip mall is not usually where you expect to find a little time machine with burgers. From…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 25

I usually treat truck stops like a quick pit stop, not a destination. You pull in, stretch your…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 24

A quiet park can hold more history than it first lets on. You arrive expecting trees, trails, maybe…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 24

Iowa is not the first place my brain goes when someone says “Hollywood love story,” which is probably…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 23

I am always surprised by how quickly kids become serious explorers when rocks are involved. You start with…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 23

Gluten-free dining used to make me suspicious before I even opened the menu. You know the routine. You…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 22

Finding a good family town is not just about pretty streets and a few weekend events. It is…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 22

I used to think Iowa was the kind of place people politely passed through on the way somewhere…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 21

A great steak dinner can win plenty of attention, but in this Iowa dining room, the real scene-stealer…

By Nadia Corwell · Jul 21