May 2023
Iowa is pretty in a rolling hills and greenery kind of way, at least the part I drove through. I understand there are also some very flat parts with lots of corn. I toured only part of the state, stopping only in Mason City to check out the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright hotel and Des Moines before driving south to Omaha. In Mason City, I met two cyclists from Minnesota, Bill and Brian, who were just finishing up a race. I wish I had met them before leaving Minnesota as would have been nice to get to know them better but in travel, timing does not always happen in the ideal order. Iowa is another state where Dan stepped in to help, introducing me to his cousin Tom to provide local guidance. Tom enlisted his friend Anne and they supplied me with morning coffee, pastries, fabulous conversation, and a bike to tour around with for the day.
MASON CITY. The main reason to come here is the The Historic Park Inn, the last remaining Frank Lloyd Wright operational hotel. It was worth the side stop, both because of who I met and because the hotel is very cool. I asked the woman working the front desk whether she ever gets claustrophobic standing under the low ceiling and she said she did for a year or so but has adjusted. Had I not made plans for the next morning, I would have stopped and spent the night.
DES MOINES. I was in Des Moines many years ago for work but saw little other than the hotel, a conference room and a nice restaurant. This time I was able to tour it on bike thanks to Tom and Anne. Given it was Monday, Memorial Day, the downtown was empty (most of the town was actually as I think everyone headed for the legs for the long weekend). I had open roads to check out the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Capitol building, and ride along the scenic river. I ate at Big Grove Brewery, both nights. They have a great large patio, a fun bar, great beer and a really good Tuna poke bowl. I stayed slightly out of town at the Hilton Garden Inn which is a very nice business oriented hotel with huge rooms and with no events going on, a great value at just over $100.
