Blog – Page 4 – Just Around The Bend Travel

April 8, 2023July 9, 2023

Small Midwestern Town Bars have the Best Food

The plan going forward is to feature at least one small Midwestern town bar every month, population less than 2,000. It is not unusual for a rural town located in the middle of farm county to have a bar that serves tasty traditional bar food, but some bars will surprise patrons with their expanded menu. Included on the menu is a selection of food and drinks that you would find in a five-star restaurant in a large town or city.

This month Just Around the Bend Travel is featuring Alpha Tap located in the NE Iowa town of Alpha. The unincorporated community of Alpha located in the Township of Eden, Fayette County is a typical small farming community. Visitors will find a church and cemetery, a grain silo or two, a bar, and Victorian-style homes. The population of Alpha in 1925 was 100 and almost one hundred years the estimated population has not changed much. Alpha, a one-road town, is located 38 minutes south of Decorah, IA, and 53 minutes north of Waterloo, IA. It is easy to miss the small directional signs pointing to Alpha, located one mile off County Rd. V68 3 miles south of Waucoma, IA, two-lane highway in Fayette County.

The sign on the front of the restaurant is a dead giveaway to what visitors will find on the menu. Alpha Tap serves seafood, including a perfectly cooked cold-water lobster tail from the seas of Australia and South Africa, mouth-watering sea scallops, and delicious jumbo shrimp. Finding seafood that is not fried in rural NE Iowa is ‘slim to none’. In addition, patrons can enjoy cod and Canadian walleye.

Doesn’t this look sumptuous? This French ‘fryaholic’ loves her french fries.

For those looking for a hamburger and fries or the usual bar food like tasty fried cheese curds, you will not be disappointed. Specials include wings on Tuesday night – 4 pounds and 1 pound of fries for $45+, enough to feed a family, rib-eye on Thursday night, all-you-can-eat cod on Friday night, and prime rib on Saturday night. Alpha Tap truly does offer something for everyone. The restaurant proudly proclaims that they serve a full menu all day, every day!

Chefs in fine restaurants are known to come out and converse with the customers to find out how the food is. When the owner comes outdoors to talk with you is rare and a special treat. What an example of first-class service?

What else makes Alpha Tap special? Besides the quality and variety of food and the exceptional customer service, Alpha Tap is open on Sundays as well as the other six days of the week. This makes Alpha Tap unique in this area, as most restaurants close on Sundays.

Hours of operations: Sunday from 12-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Watch for more stories on small Midwestern town bars that offer a five-star menu on Just Around The Bend Travel. You are in for a tasty surprise!

January 7, 2023March 31, 2023

Explore an Outdoor Art Gallery

The small rural community of Caledonia located on Highway 44 in SE Minnesota is rich in murals and is a town designed for walking. This article does not include all murals, as they are located inside local businesses. The others will be added over time.

The paved walking trails wander around the edges of the town, overlooking the vast fields that surround the town. The trail meanders out to the country club.

There are sidewalks in downtown, making it easy and safe to stroll through the historic downtown district. There are a variety of shops and eating establishments to sample. The historic architecture is sure to catch your eye.

Even though the “Barbershop” mural below has been removed from the outside wall of the former Café, one block south of the four-way stop on Kingston Street, the weather has been hard on it. Due to its history in Caledonia, the mural deserves to be shared in this article. The mural depicts a typical day in Caledonia. The men sitting on the stoop are residents of Caledonia BS-ing. The building is long gone, and the mural is in storage. The men have passed on, but the memories remain.

Caledonia Pocket Park, 119 S. Kingston Street

The mural located at Caledonia’s first pocket park was designed and painted by artist Sarah Pederson of Lucid Painting. The realistic painting represents the Caledonia of today and the birds, wildlife, and plants that call Caledonia home. How many birds, creatures, and flowers can you find and identify? The city and community organizations came together to create a pocket park in the midst of downtown Caledonia. The park is an attractive place to unwind. There is a picnic table, so plan on having lunch or a snack from one of the local restaurants.

A City for all Seasons, 102 S. Kingston Street

On the east side of the Country Charms Crafts building, at the intersection with the four-way stop lights, you will find the “City for All Seasons” mural. The mural depicts the activities available in the area throughout the year. The mural was painted by Paul Nadon.

Caledonia Welcomes You, 123 E. Main Street

The realistic “Caledonia Welcomes You” mural on the side of Klug Insurance Agency was painted by Caledonia resident Rocky Danielson. This colorful mural of Caledonia and the agricultural landscape is the perfect background for a selfie. Don’t forget to use #visitcaledoniamn when posting pictures on your Social Media sites.

Next door to the Klug Insurance Agency is the Wired Rooster coffee shop. Stop in for a bite to eat and a palate pleasing drink guaranteed to challenge your taste buds.

Mainspring, 404 E. Main Street

The newest mural is Caledonia is located on a former church now home to Houston County’s non-profit arts organization, Mainspring. The fall color geometric shapes represent all that makes Caledonia great and attractive to residents and visitors.

Caledonia artist Jacquelline Olson designed and painted the mural.

Photo from Mainspring.

Hog Raising, 125 E. Grove Street

The mural inside the Caledonia Post Office was painted by Edmund D. Lewandowski between 1939 and 1940. This project was part of the Federal Art Project commissioned by the Treasury Section of the Fine Arts. An additional treat to see is the historical architectural features of the post office.

KinderGarden, 511 W. Main Street

On the southeast side of the Caledonia Elementary School is a fun mural, KinderGarden. The mural was Duane Miller Eagle Scout project. The image was drawn by Michelle Werner and painted by Duane Miller. There is a small garden in front of the mural. The school is located approximately three blocks north of downtown Caledonia on West Main Street.

Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota, MN-44 & MN-76

The residents of Caledonia hope you enjoy the Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota. The mural/sign was painted by Rocky Danielson. Sprague Park is located at the intersection of Minnesota State Highways 44 and 76. You can either drive or walk to the 8-acre park from downtown. The land was donated to the city in 2006 as a passive park.

The City of Caledonia will be celebrating 50 years as the Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota in 2023.

November 12, 2022July 9, 2023

25th Annual NE Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour

Enjoy the scenery of NE Iowa while visiting the art studies of NE Iowa talented and recognizable artists.

The NE Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour is just around the bend, Friday, September 30, Saturday, October 1, and Sunday October 2 all within 40 miles of Decorah. The studios are open from 10 – 5:00 a.m. and are free. This is a self-guided tour and don’t worry about getting lost as the signage is the best you will find of any tour. Pick up a map or download it from the event’s website, www.IowaArtTour.com.

35 artists at 27 locations are participating in this year’s tour. Confession time I have not been to all of them and some I have visited are no long participating because they have more or there have been other changes in their life. The biggest reason I have not been to all of them is because I tend to visit the artists I know and have developed a relationship with. That is no excuse so this year I am going to visit those artists I have never met.

November 6, 2022March 1, 2024

Explore Iowa with Travel Writer Sara Broers

Experience the real Iowa with lifelong Iowa resident and travel writer Sara Broers. Broers shares 100 authentic Iowa adventures with residents and visitors in her recently released book, 100 Things To Do In Iowa Before You Die.

Broers is also the CEO of TravelWithSara.com, self-described as a website for folks that enjoy travel. The book features well-known attractions, restaurants, mom-and-pop stores, wineries, breweries, and festivals, and some not as well-known that Broers has visited. After reading just one of Broers suggestions, readers will be eager to get out and explore the culturally and historically rich and scenic Iowa that Broers lives and breathes.

Broers makes road-tripping fun, and she shares plenty of insider information that is sure to get readers revved up and ready to start exploring. In the back of the book, Broers offers suggested itineraries to help plan day and multi-day trips. There are also travel tips scattered throughout the book.

There is no one-way readers can tackle the book. Readers can start at the front of the book, they can begin at the back, or can flip through the book after reviewing the table of content or the index. No matter what approach to reading the book is selected, it will take reading just one adventure to be hooked and ready to head out on their first trip.

Did you know that pearls were found in the Mississippi River or that billions of pearl buttons were manufactured in Muscatine, the Pearl Button Capital of the World? To find out more about this industry, plan a visit to the National Pearl Button Museum in Muscatine.

Des Moines is home is a world-class skate park. 88,000 square feet of concrete to enjoy on four wheels and a board. Broers mentions that roller skates are allowed in the park.

Relive the fifties at the legendary Surf Ballroom the first weekend in February. The town of Clear Lake recreates the last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper at the annual Winter Dance Party.

Visit Fort Dodge’s Gaga & Hoo Korean restaurant serves world-class authentic Korean food. Broers adds, “If you’re lucky, your server will pick up a guitar and serenade you while you dine on this delicious Korean food.”

Travel to the northeast quadrant of the state and ‘Meet the Man Who Fed the World’ Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug. Borlaug is recognized for his work developing a strain of wheat that can be cultivated throughout various regions of the world. Visit his birthplace and childhood home outside Cresco.

100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die is part of the 100 Things to Do Before You Die series, written by travel experts and published by Reedy Press. The softcover is 5.5” x 8.5” is 192 pages, and costs $19.95. The ISBN is 9781681063508.

Broers can be reached at travelwithsara@gmail.com and her book can be purchased online at https://www.reedypress.com/shop/100-things-to-do-in-iowa-before-you-die/.

Broers enjoys talking with fellow travelers, so if she sees you carrying a yellow 100 Things To Do travel book, don’t be surprised if she stops to talk and asks to take a selfie with you.

Enjoy traveling I

September 10, 2022March 31, 2023

Join your friends on the Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl

The 2022 Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl is Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18. Enjoy the autumn weather and the scenic views of the driftless region as you visit the region’s agricultural businesses.

If you plan on visiting all the businesses on the tour, it will take both days as there is so much to see and do, plus there is quite a distance between stops, plus you may want to stop and take pictures of the scenic beauty.

Convergence CiderWorks

New to Decorah and new to the Northeast Iowa Farm Crawl, Convergence CiderWorks is a must-visit in historic downtown Decorah. The business may be new, but the building is not and is worth a stop just to check it out. Once inside, you will want to try a full-bodied hard cider and their delicious food.

Empty Nest Winery

Empty Next Winery specializes in small-batch fruit wines. Instead of posting a picture of a glass and bottle of wine, it seemed appropriate to post a picture of the family’s farm, as the views from the patio are spectacular.

Also available are sangria, craft beer, and hard cider.

Sit outside on the patio or under the gazebo and enjoy a palate-pleasing glass of wine.

The winery is located on the Pam and Dave Kruger family farm, formally a dairy farm. Materials from the dairy barn were used in the construction of the winery.

Cheers!

Northeast Iowa Dairy Center

The Northeast Iowa Dairy Center, is a place to learn about the dairy industry, which will be a great help when you play trivia pursuit, you can pet a cow, and watch in awe as a robot milks the cows. Oh, yeah, don’t forget to snap a selfie with your favorite cow.

Peake Orchards

You never know what you will find at Peake Orchards. In this case, it was a baby calf. The hay rides out to the orchards are a lot of fun and an opportunity to meet new friends. The hays brought back lots of memories of 4-H hay rides on the gravel roads in Winneshiek County.

Purchasing a bag or more of apples is a must, as is enjoying a sweet-tasting sticky caramel apple sundae.

Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins

A favorite purchase at Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins gift shop is the freshly made fudge and cupcakes. Don’t forget to grab a bag of made-on-site popcorn, which comes in different flavors.

The garden center is filled with healthy, colorful, blooming fall flowers.

Seed Savers Exchange

Be aware that you can spend hours at Seed Savers Exchange exploring the picturesque farm. Take time to visit the gift shop, as you will want to pick up heirloom seeds to plant in your garden next year.

There are many opportunities to take selfies at Seed Savers Exchange.

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery

A family-owned and operated winery located on the family farm in northern Winneshiek County. Visitors are sure to find a favorite wine at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery.

Cheese Capital of Iowa

A cooler full of fresh squeaky cheese curds will be waiting for you at WW Homestead Dairy. You will also find a selection of hard-packed ice cream.

Other participating businesses

The following businesses are also participating in this year’s NE Iowa Farm Crawl. The plan for this year is to visit these nine agriculture businesses in the quest to experience new favorites. The businesses are Pop’s Produce, Plagman Barn, Iowa Dairy Farmer Dan Venteicher, Great River Maple, Country View Dairy, Heaven Boutique Winery, Unionland Feed & Food Market, Red Rock Farms, and Frisky Fox Vineyard & Winery.

Recommendations

If you are an early riser, make sure to include a visit Saturday morning to one of the area’s Farmers’ Markets. Decorah is from 8-11:00 a.m., Guttenberg is from 8-12:00 noon, and Independence is from 8-12:00 noon.

The “Farm to Fork” dinner at the Volga City Opera House, 609 Washington St., Volga, Iowa, on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Lunch is made from local ingredients. For tickets, visit vctcinc.org or call 319-509-0308 for more information.
2022 NE Iowa Farm Crawl map

The 2022 NE Iowa Farm Crawl map can be found at Visit Iowa. The map lists phones, addresses, and hours for each business.