Iowa Date Nights

Most of our time in this region has been spent at Lake Okoboji for an annual summer getaway (fun fact: we actually got engaged there!). But atop our never-ending list of Iowa spots to visit is the Mason City area, so that’s where we’re taking you! We had a taste of this wonderful town during RAGBRAI XLIX and have wanted to return for more.
 

This date night is built around a stay at the Historic Park Inn Hotel, the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel in the world. After check-in, we’re heading out to explore the downtown area: beers at both Fat Hill Brewing and Mason City Brewing, a visit to Music Man Square for some culture, and definitely an afternoon treat at Birdsall’s Ice Cream. Don’t fill up, because we have dinner reservations back at the hotel restaurant, Markley & Blythe. The menu of this sophisticated American tavern looks right up our alley!
 

That’s it for the day, but we’d make sure to stop in nearby Clear Lake on our route to buy some spirits at Craft 173 Distillery - and maybe a drink on their rooftop patio - and a beer from Lake Time Brewery.

Imagine an idyllic fall day in Iowa…and you need the perfect fall activity to enjoy the day outdoors. We spent such a day at Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard in Council Bluffs. From picking apples (for making apple crisp, of course) to the hard apple cider floats and warm apple cider donuts, this has all the makings for a delightful day date with plenty of cute photo ops along the way. Document your date, that’s a must! If you’re looking for a casual dinner spot, try 712 Eat + Drink. Start with the Elote Fries, you can thank us later.

We love any excuse to visit Des Moines and regularly find ourselves exploring the downtown and East Village spots. However, we recently spent a weekend getaway in Pella and have to share our date itinerary!
 

This charming town packs a punch with so many local spots to visit within a short walk of the newly remodeled Royal Amsterdam Hotel. Grab a pastry at one of the Dutch bakeries, meander in and out of the shops that line the downtown area and find all the Iowa wines you can imagine at The Wijn House. We’re having dinner at Butcher’s Brewhuis, followed by dessert and drinks at Liberty Street Kitchen, a hot spot located on the main floor of the Royal Amsterdam Hotel, before calling it a night.

We won’t miss an opportunity to mention one of our ultimate date night spots in Iowa: Brazen Open Kitchen in Dubuque. The food and drink menus are so carefully crafted and always hit the spot. With that said, we have our sights set on Decorah next.
 

Situated along the Upper Iowa River, this area feels a bit more active. So, let’s take our bikes along for a ride on Trout Run Trail! Of course, any day date on our bikes involves a few pit-stops. You’ve surely heard of Toppling Goliath Brewing, one of the highest rated breweries in the state - and they serve food, too. Pairing that with Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. and Convergence CiderWorks - sign us up for some hand-pies - makes for a full day!

Because we’re located in Davenport, we have experienced this region more than any other! We have so many favorites in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. And we can’t forget Good Restaurant in Burlington, but we’re taking you on our most common date night in Downtown Davenport. This is where you can find us most weekends!
 

We’ll start at the family-owned Me & Billy for drinks and an appetizer (don’t pass on the cheese curds!) before dinner at Kitchen Brigade. Just a block away, we’ll catch a show at Raccoon Motel music venue where they always have new and interesting acts to check out. Craft cocktails at Mississippi River Distilling Company’s Downtown Lounge are a must and probably a nightcap at Devon’s Complaint Dept. This date usually requires a ride home from mom, but you can just stay downtown at The Current Hotel!