Mount Vernon

Must Do's
From scenic trails to artistic treasures, Mount Vernon and Lisbon blend natural beauty with small-town charm. Hike the wooded trails and admire dramatic overlooks along the Cedar River at Palisades-Kepler State Park. Experience the best family fun and seasonal produce at Kroul Farms and Bass Family Farms. If you’re in town on a Saturday, Rhubarb Botanicals Farmer’s Market is the place to stop for local food and goodies. Discover antiques and specialty shops in the historic Uptown Mount Vernon district. Stroll the hilltop campus of Cornell College, one of only two college campuses in the country listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t miss the First Street Community Center, which is located inside the former middle and high school and is now home to more than a dozen small businesses, studios and performance spaces. Then, head just outside town to enjoy a drink or bite at Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern, perched on the iconic Sutliff Bridge over the Cedar River, the locals' favorite gathering spot!

Outdoor Adventures & Exciting Eateries
Explore more than a dozen parks and trails across Mount Vernon and Lisbon—from the quiet beauty of Nature Park and its a disc golf course to the gazebos and gathering spaces tucked throughout Mount Vernon and Lisbon. Cool off in the summer at the Lisbon City Park Splash Pad or take a dip in the newly renovated Mount Vernon Pool.

Fuel up at Big’s BBQ Brewpub with craft beer, homemade root beer and smoked meats, or enjoy the nationally acclaimed wood-fired pizzas and wines at Lincoln Winebar. Grab coffee at Fuel or Little Scratch (a local roastery, too!) and try White Tree Bakery’s scones, cookies and blueberry bundt cakes.

Community Highlights
Uptown Mount Vernon buzzes year-round with festivals like Chalk the Walk, Lincoln Highway Arts Festival, Lincoln Highway Nitty Gritty and Magical Night. Visitors can stroll the public sculpture trail, admire colorful murals and explore the historic districts in Lisbon (Meyers Farmstead and Lisbon Main Street) and Mount Vernon (Ash Park residential district, the Cornell College district and the Mount Vernon Commercial district), all reflecting each town’s rich heritage and connections to the historic Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway.

Named one of Budget Travel’s “Coolest Small Towns in America” and one of Midwest Living’s “100 Best Small-Town Getaways,” Mount Vernon should be on your short list of travel destinations!