Looking for something fun to do, but don’t want to explore the Twin Cities? Well, I got you! This past weekend I took a trip down to Iowa City to visit a friend and had a blast exploring the area! Here are some of the things I did and that you can try!

Kalona, Iowa, a small town just 20 min outside Iowa City has a fall festival every year around late September that is super fun to go to! I have gone now for 2 years, and while it is small it is filled with many fun activities, yummy authentic food (like fresh Amish-made pretzels), and the rich history of the Amish town. It usually is only open for 2 days (Friday through Saturday), so keep an eye out for it.

Photo by Kinsey
Photo by Kinsey
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In Iowa City, you can start your morning like my friend and I did and grab a coffee at Daydrink Coffee in downtown Iowa City. Here they only serve the coffee in glass jars and while you have to pay for it, you can reuse it and get $1 each drink if you bring it back to use. Not only is this place a coffee shop but they also have a modern, chic, boho area full of plants and couches to chill and shop their beauty and apparel products!

Photo by Kinsey
Photo by Kinsey
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It is spooky season so we wanted to have fall festivities planned within our day. We first went to the new apothecary store called Heim. Here the store is full of a collection of home, body, and spiritual goods where you can start to get into the Wiccan vibes.

Photo by Kinsey
Photo by Kinsey
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Want to attend one of the best apple orchards? Then you got to head down to Wilson’s Apple Orchard. When my friend and I went they even had a flower garden where you could pick your own flowers and make your own arrangement to keep. And obviously, you have to pick some apples, but once you are done you head back on up to the smokehouse and market area. Here is the shop full of home and food goodies, and even alcoholic and non-alcoholic ciders. My friend and I had the apple cider slushie and my fall cravings were satisfied.

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Photo by Kinsey
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Photo by Kinsey
Photo by Kinsey
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If you wanna stay in downtown Iowa City near the campus of the University of Iowa that is totally okay. The downtown area has many, many pubs for you to have a pub crawl, and many restaurants to try!

If you are looking for unique shops to check out definitely try The Shop which is a home good and décor boutique with very cute and unique items. In addition to that check out Beno’s Flowers, a flower shop with cool pots and many plants and other goodies, or even the White Rabbit store!

Photo by Kinsey
Photo by Kinsey
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While my day may have stopped there, yours doesn’t have to! Check out downtowniowacity.com for all the retail, food, shop, stays, and event listings that go on.

Fun Places in Iowa to Check Out With the Family This Fall

Whether you want to stay close to home here in Eastern Iowa or take a little road trip, there are plenty of places to visit with the family this fall! Here are a few of your options!

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