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CS Iowa Car Rental
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Iowa, a gently rolling land of prairies and rivers, is a state in the American Midwest. Once a part of Wisconsin, Iowa gained statehood only in 1846. Its nickname, ‘the Hawkeye State,’ is said to be a tribute to Hawkeye, a character from J.F Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans. Today, art and history are the bedrock of the state’s tourism sector, while corn is the backbone of the state’s economy. Pre-book your Iowa car rental with Enjoy Travel for a stress-free trip.
Guide to Iowa
Geography
Iowa is divided into seven regions: the Des Moines Lobe, Loess Hills, Northeast Iowa Plains, Iowa Surface, Paleozoic Plateau, Missouri Alluvial Plain, and Southern Iowa Drift Plain. The state’s eastern, western and southern borders are formed largely by rivers – the Mississippi, Missouri and Big Sioux, and Des Moines rivers, respectively.
Climate
Fall (September-October) is the best time to visit Iowa. Summers here are hot, winters are cold, and spring is riddled with severe weather conditions. Rainfall is mostly in the month of June.
Traditional food in Iowa
Iowa is the birthplace of sliced bread and home to one of the biggest state fairs in the nation. You’re likely to find everything from fried butter to fried chocolate bars there.
Things to do in Iowa
Explore art in Des Moines
The Des Moines Art Centre is a major cultural hub in the state. It displays the works of modern artists from across the world, including Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, and Takashi Murakami. Once you have finished looking at all its exhibits, head to the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on the same grounds.
Learn about Native history
Near the town of Harpers Ferry, over 200 mounds, built by the ancient Woodland Culture, dot the landscape. These mounds, all part of the Effigy Mounds National Monument, are shaped like different animals – bears, birds, foxes, and so on. Many of Iowa’s Native American people consider the area sacred; anthropologists think that the mounds had some ceremonial purpose. Take a guided tour here to learn more about Iowa’s first inhabitants.
Venture into the wilderness
The Maquoketa Caves State Park includes a large number of limestone caves that you can explore. Once, these caves had several stalagmites, stalactites, and Native artifacts; while these objects are now mostly gone, the caves are still a beautiful reminder of the richness of nature. Carry a torchlight, wear outdoor clothes, and maybe plan to set up camp for a day or two.
Eating out in Iowa
Burgers are great, but burgers with zany names? Even better! For starters, at Short’s Burger and Shine in Iowa City, try the Essex, Gravity, Baxter, and Cylinder burgers. La Juanita, in Storm Lake, makes spicy but delicious house salsa to be enjoyed with hot tacos. Amana’s Ox Yoke Inn, opened in 1940, is a German-American restaurant that makes excellent wiener schnitzel cutlets and sauerbraten. If you’re thinking of running for president, try Waveland Cafe, in Des Moines. Their hashbrowns have been endorsed by a surprising number of rising politicians.
Iowa Transport
Airport
The Des Moines International Airport (DSM), the state’s largest airport, is located 3 miles from Des Moines. To get from there to the city center, take a Des Moines Area Regional Transit bus.
Getting around
The best way to get around Iowa is to drive on the outer highways, which are never too far from places of interest. The most reputable car rental agencies serving Iowa include Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget.