Drive the Driftless Area Scenic Byway, a 144-mile route of stunning vistas that runs through Allamakee and Winneshiek counties in Northeast Iowa. The Byway rides the high ridges of the Driftless region, 1200’ to 1400’ above sea level, through sculptured fields, and dips down through ancient river valleys and forests to the Mighty Mississippi River. The Byway meanders alongside the Mississippi River going through river towns and back through farms and towns dependent on agriculture. Farming is an important economic development driver in both counties.
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Wineries and Breweries
Visitors on the Byway can enjoy locally produced wine at Empty Nest Winery located minutes outside of Waukon, 1352 Apple Road, or at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery located north of Decorah, 337th Street, on the 150-year-old family farm. The Winneshiek Wildberry Winery is known for its award-winning fruit and Midwestern grape table wine. Empty Nest Winery specializes in small-batch winemaking. If you keep a wine tasting journal, make sure to note that the winemakers at both wineries are female.
Are you looking for micro-brews? Check out Toppling Goliath, located off State Hwy. 9 in Decorah and Pulpit Rock located on College Drive in Decorah. The breweries also serve tasty ciders that will waken up your taste buds.
Orchards/Pick-Your-Own
Up the road from the Winery is Peake’s Orchard, open late summer early fall, where you can purchase perfect formed delicious tasting apples for snacking on and homemade pies and applesauce. Apples are available at local Farmers’ Markets and grocery stores. They are also available during the fall celebration on the family farm. In addition to purchasing apples, visitors can board a hayrack to ride out to beautifully maintained apple orchards and visit with the farm animal, followed by my favorite sliced apples covered with caramel topped with whipped cream a maraschino cherry on top. Oh, so good!
Located 15 minutes east of Decorah on Highway 9 is Pinter Pumpkin Patch. Pinter’s is the place to pick your pumpkin while having a fun time playing on the farm’s playground and enjoying the family’s ‘kids.’
Wold Strawberries is a well-known pick-your-own strawberry patch on the Iowa Minnesota state line, minutes off the Driftless Scenic Byway on the Locust highway. It is a must-visit attraction guaranteed to forge new life-long family memories. Be ready to pick sweet red juicy strawberries in the first part of June because they go fast. Groves of pickers show up at 7:00 a.m. to pick trays of strawberries. Watch their Facebook page for up-to-date information on when they are open. Make this a family tradition.
Farmers’ Markets
Farmer’s Markets are held throughout the summer and fall during the week and on Saturday in Harpers Ferry, Lansing, New Albin, and Waukon. Farmers’ Markets are more than the place to go to buy fresh farm veggies from local farmers. These locally organized events are the place to go for catching up with friends, listening to the sounds of talented musicians, sample palate-pleasing wines, and home-baked goods. Shoppers will also find a wide selection of fresh flowers to purchase.
Barn Quilts
As you drive the Byway, keep a lookout for colorful hand-painted barn quilts. The quilts are painted on a 4′ X 4′ or 8′ X 8′ board hung on the front of barns or sheds. The design is an actual quilt pattern and is selected because it has a connection to the family or the farm. For example, if the farm is known for raising corn and beans, the family might select the green and yellow quilt pattern appropriately named corn and beans.
Shopping
The smell of earthy feed and hay, leather, and baby chicks conjure up the best childhood memories of going with my dad to the feed and hardware stores. Some hardware stores offer free fresh salty popcorn, also appealing to the senses. Hardware stores are also the best place to purchase farm-themed toys, chic farm boots, and garden tools.
Events
The first weekend of May, the NE Iowa Tourism Organization hosts the annual NE Iowa Greenhouse Tour featuring over 40 greenhouses. In September, the group hosts the Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl.
A staple of the Iowa farming communities that goes back generations is county fairs. Allamakee County boasts the Big 4 Fair every June in Postville. The Allamakee County Fair is held every July in Waukon, and the Winneshiek County fair is held every July in Decorah. Other agricultural events in the Driftless Region include Dairy Days in June, Lansing Fish Days in August, and Waukon Corn Days in August.
Eateries
Skinny Dip in Lansing for ice cream and WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon for cheese curds, ice cream, and cottage cheese made from fresh milk produced by the family’s cows. These cows have some of the best views that I have ever seen. Take some home with you if it does not get eaten before you get home. When in Waukon, do as the locals do and stop at WW Homestead Dairy for fresh squeaky cheese curds, or a bowl of ice cream made from milk produced on the family farm located just outside of Waukon.
Finding undiscovered, unexpected, and unusual experiences is a passion of mine. The Amish Haystack Supper is one such palatable experience. Due to COVID-19, the suppers are dine-in or carryout until further notice. The suppers are held on the third Tuesday from March to November. Serving time 3:30-7:30 p.m. or until gone and are held at the Waukon Banquet Center. The menu includes meat, potatoes, salad, homemade ice cream, and more. Money raised from the suppers and the baked goods benefits the Amish Schools.
Livestock auctions are a weekly occurrence, and they are known for having a café. If you have never been to a livestock action, check them out and enjoy some downhome comfort food. Both Decorah and Waukon have weekly auctions.
Oneota Food Cooperative – According to their website and radio ads, the Co-op defines local as any product grown, produced, roasted, processed, or packages within approximately a 100-mile radius of the Co-op. The Deli manager emphasized that they strive for 90% locally grown products in their tasty dishes.
La Rana is a quaint small restaurant with an attitude located on a side street in downtown Decorah. La Rana prides themselves on serving locally sourced food and offering their customers an impressive wine list. The food is five stars, the wine list and customer service, and the ambiance of the historic building.
Tuesday night ribs at Chase the Adventure – Follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information. Reservations are required by 3:00 p.m. Monday. Serving starts at 6:30 p.m., and the menu includes ribs, baked potato, veggies, dinner roll, and ice cream. Folk music is also on the menu. This is a BYOB event.
Art
Waukon is home to local artist Valeria Miller. Valeria is responsible for painting 25 feet murals of cows on the sides of stores and barns. There is one in downtown Waukon and one on the side of WW Homestead Dairy. Check out her studio in Waukon. You will recognize her charming designs on greeting cards, signs, and shirts in area gift shops.
Always on the lookout for murals, I happened upon one on the Driftless Scenic Byway outside of Harpers Ferry. I learned that the artist who painted it is resident, Mary Willie, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for photograph while employed at the Des Moines Register. The majestic Bald Eagle soars high over the bluffs and Mississippi on the side of the blue metal shed located at the intersection of State Forest Road and Lansing Harpers Road/X42.
Lodging
What is a better way to experience Iowa farm life than spend the night or two in an authentic Iowa farmhouse? The Bakke Family Farmhouse offers visitors just that. The farm is a 5th-generation family-owned operation and is home to goats, sheep, horses, and cattle.
Our Tara Inn Bed & Breakfast (B&B) is a renovated 1896 Diary Barn on a family farm. A full country breakfast is included. The B&B is located on Highway 9 between Waukon and Lansing.
The 1800 sq. ft Bluff Country Farmhouse is a renovated farmhouse built-in 1900. It is located 7.8 miles from downtown Decorah.
Now Go Out and Drive the Driftless Scenic Byway
It is time to go out and experience the undiscovered, unexpected, and unusual treasures that brings the Driftless Scenic Byway alive.