This is the Carroll County Freedom Rock. Completing the Freedom Rock tour of all 99 Iowa counties…read moreis something my girlfriend and I have been working on for the past few years. We are four rocks away from the end of our journey at this time. Not only do we learn about the military involvement and the contributions of veterans in each county, but a lot of times we stumble on other hidden gems, that we had no idea even existed, as we venture further into our own backyard. As happy as I am going to be when hit 99 and finish our Freedom Rock Tour...a little part of me is going to really miss these trips. We'll just have to find another "tour" to pick up. When you are checking out each Freedom Rock make sure you explore the surrounding area for other points of interest. And please remember to support local businesses...! Visit https://www.thefreedomrock.com/ for more information on Iowa's Freedom Rocks and the tour!

You will find this little structure at the end of Gene Leahy Park. It is an iconic photo…read moreopportunity in the heart of downtown Omaha. Contrary to what I thought, the arches do not have any historical significance. They are remanants of the former US National Bank Building that once stood at the corner of 12th and Farnam Streets. They are made of Ohio bluestone and was constructed in 1887. They were reconstructed in it current location in 1979. The arch is currently owned by the city of Omaha. It has a kind of odd placement and looks like a arch just dropped downtown. It is not hard to find and I located it relatively easy. Parking to see this attraction is simple enough. There is tons of metered parking within a reasonable walking distance. This howevre is probably not a destination attractioon. Most of it visitors will come here with this stop as part of a larger itinerary. The arch seems to be in great shape, and has a placard on it that gives some brief information. Anyway, as with most attractions such as this that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes, got my pictures and then I was out. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

The Arches, built in 1887 by stone are a very majestic way to signify you are about to enter Gene…read moreLeahy Park in downtown Omaha, NE. When I first saw them, I almost thought I was in Paris! They look just like the Arch de Triomphe. When the former US National Bank Building was originally built, it had two of these very impressive stone arches as it's entrances. However, when the bank was remodeled in 1979, one of the arches was reconstructed here at it's current site along Farnam Street, where it stands today. Owned now by the city of Omaha, the Arches have "stood like silent sentinels at the 12th and Farnam entrance to Gene Leahy Mall," said a story on www.omahabydesign.org. Made of Ohio bluestone, the Arch is a very dignified presence in the Old Market downtown area. I just adore noble pieces of public art such as this, so 5 YELP STARS for sure. But this Arch might need some help. In the omahabydesign story, it mentioned that the "recent condition survey completed by the Omaha Public Art Commission cited the piece as in need of extensive restoration. Although the arches appear complete and sound, there is staining, discoloration, crystalline deposits and drainage problems. It appears as though the drainage system may be clogged or insufficient to remove water from the top of the structure. Water is seeping through the mortar joints along the inside curve of the arch." Not good. Someone with local money needs to step forward or a fund-raising effort should be started to get Arch-y in better shape. Also troubling: minor abrasions, accumulated dust and dirt, bird droppings, lichen and self-adhesive stickers. I imagine some Midwestern graffiti has found it's way onto the Arches. I hope the Omaha-ians can find a way to fix up this distinctly classy reminder of what a lovely city this truly is.

Hidden gem in NW Douglas County. Take the gravel road down to the old farmhouse on the right…read more Walk the trails and try to find the old cemetery in the NE corner. Don't worry, you can't get lost. Best when there is a slight breeze and sky is blue. Good for easy trail running.

Life as a prisoner is not for me. There's a friendly…read moreattendant at the entrance to guide you and give info annoy the jail. Very interesting especially for my hubby and his friend.

Chances are that the Squirrel Cage Jail is unlike anything you have seen before…read more.. There were only 18 revolving/rotary jailhouses ever built -- and only 3 of them still remain as museums. Additionally, this one in Council Bluffs, Iowa was the only 3-story structure of this type. Built in 1885, it functioned as a county jail until 1969. You will enjoy visiting this unique place!

One of those "what is that?" place you should stop by if you have time. Built by local residents to…read morehonor the memory and burial location of a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, it's also the first National Park Historical Landmark. The views are terrific. Expect to take at least 15 minutes here - longer of the weather is favorable and you want to savor the river views from bluff top.

We visited the bridges of Madison County entirely by accident during the Covered Bridge Festival…read more That just happened to be the time that we were driving through the area and we honestly had no idea until we arrived. I honestly think the timing kind of put a damper on our experience. Instead of being able to take in the bridges quietly and enjoy this scenery, there were people everywhere including loud groups and dust was getting kicked up on us constantly. It was really difficult to find parking and there was just a general sense of disturbance of the piece and the beauty of the nature surrounding us. It was also virtually impossible to get any good photographs. I know we've come a long way and our phones can remove a person or two from a picture, but crowds of people make it much more difficult. After the first few Bridges, we figured if our visit was going to be disturbed in this way, we might as well balance things out by checking out the main festival in winterset. Unfortunately, when we arrived we realized that dogs are not allowed even though it's an outdoor fair. That made it even more frustrating because we couldn't even enjoy some kennel corn to make up for the overcrowded bridge visits. All that said, the bridges themselves are still really lovely and historical and I can see why this area is loved and that people would come from all around to celebrate the bridges. I would still recommend coming to take a look at them, but definitely to avoid the festival weekend if you're looking for a more peaceful, reflective experience.

I took a tour through the chamber of commerce and had Jewel as my tour guide. She was very…read moreinformative and fun to be around. I loved all of the history that she shared with me and all of the personal stories in between. Highly recommend!

Cute little, well maintained park. Front and center is a fountain of The Little Mermaid. American…read moreand Danish flags fly behind her. There are a few benches on a pathway around the fountain and would make a lovely spot for neighbors to gather on a nice day. On another, larger path that circles the fountain beyond the inner pathway, are a series of small sculptures highlighting other works by Hans Christian Andersen. The little match girl, the ugly duckling, the emperors new clothes and more. They are whimsicle and well executed. The town of Kimballton also boasts a Museum of Danish America and a working Danish windmill that was built and used in Denmark. In the 1970's it was dismantled, moved to IA and now serves as a museum. A covered pavillion with picnic tables and a playground are just behind the fountain. With three things to do in town bring your lunch and enjoy the day at the park.

This park was one of the little hidden gems we came across while working on our Freedom Rock tour…read morenear the Audubon County Freedom Rock... The park honors the stories of Hans Christian Andersen with The Little Mermaid statue and fountain at it's center.

Can visit when open or make arrangements for a volunteer to show you around. Johnny's 100 birthday…read moreis coming Oct 23, 2025. Make it a day. You can also visit Corning Center for the Fine Arts and the Opera House, noth on Davis Ave, the main street in town.

It was a super idea to put a tower at this spot because it provides great views of the entire…read moresurrounding area. Iowa has some beautiful countrysides and this tower allows sweeping views of the Loess Hills and the upper Missouri Valley region. Although the tower is constructed of wood, it is reinforced with some metal plates and is sturdy enough for anyone who is not afraid of hearing a few creaks as you climb. Scenic vistas reward visitors who make this tiny detour off the interstate.

Scenic Overlook Tower just South of Missouri Valley in the Honey Creek, Loveland IA area…read more Picnic tables are available in a large grassy area of the park. There is plenty of parking, handicap spots as well. A large paved loop allows for scenic looking from your vehicle and additional parking area. Restrooms were very well maintained and cleaned. Trash was emptied and ground are kept neat and looking great. No Wi-Fi or vending machines are available at this rest area. Really good place to climb up, check out the area or just grab lunch head out here and hang out a bit taking in the sights.

The "Little People's House," which is the politically correct term for what is technically, a…read more"Midget House," is also known as the "Bregant House." Whew! Built in Council Bluffs, Iowa for a tiny Coney Island, N.Y. vaudeville couple in 1912, the house was custom designed to fit the needs of Jean Bregant, who was 42 inches tall and Inez Lewis Bregant who was a robust 39 inches tall. The small home is termed a simple Craftsman Bungalow, which was a popular architectural style in the early part of the 20th Century. "Ceilings and doorways were built to normal height for when normal sized friends came to visit the Bregants, but the fireplace, bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances were scaled to fit the small couple," said a story on www.nonpareilonline.com I love the 40-inch-high fireplace, small kitchen appliances and mini claw foot bathtub. The home sits amidst several larger homes that now surround it. Best of all, this very quaint home was designated in 2013, as a local landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to www.frontporchnationcom, " A preservation group called Preserve Council Bluffs is raising money to restore the house. One of the most recent projects was restoring the front porch. That included shoring up the foundation and bricks, as well as restoring the original latticework in front." There is a gofundme page set up to solicit donations for Bregant House upkeep. https://www.gofundme.com/5ovym0 4 YELP STARS for this most unusual but fascinating historical home.