Under the Golden Dome, Too

By: 
Linda Upmeyer

Summer fun in Iowa
 
Summer Adventures
    County fair season has officially kicked off in District 54 with the Butler County Fair this week. I really enjoy visiting each of the county fairs in the district because it gives me an opportunity to talk with constituents and hear about their ideas and concerns. 
    With the official start of summer, many families will be making plans for vacations and weekend getaways.  Iowa is full of hidden treasures, which makes our state a perfect place to plan your summer adventure. Here are a few suggestions on where to travel this summer:
 
Visit one Iowa’s beautiful state parks
    Whether you’re into boating, fishing, camping, or hiking, Iowa’s state parks have something for everybody.  Iowa has several biking and hiking trails for beginners and experts all across the state.  We also have lakes in almost every corner of the state for fishers and boaters to enjoy a nice summer day.
    Some of the best memories are made sitting around a campfire telling stories and grilling s’mores.  Reserving a campsite is as easy as visiting the reservation portion of the Iowa DNR’s website whether you’re bringing your camper or your tent.
    You can find a full list of Iowa’s state parks and preserves on the Iowa DNR’s website.
 
Ride across Iowa on RAGBRAI
    Bicyclists travel from across the country each year to participate in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).  Each year, bikers travel from the western coast of Iowa, beginning at the Missouri River, to the eastern coast, ending at the Mississippi River. 
    This year, bikers will begin in Glenwood and travel through southern Iowa, making stops in Glenwood, Shenandoah, Creston, Leon, Centerville, Ottumwa, Washington, and finally ending in Muscatine.  RAGBRAI is a great way to stay active over the summer while also taking in the beautiful sights of Iowa on a trip across the state.
    This year’s RAGBRAI will take place July 24-30.  You can find more information at RAGBRAI.com.
 
Check out one of Iowa’s many county fairs
    Iowa is recognized nationally for agriculture.  As America’s top producer of pork, corn, soybeans, and eggs, agriculture is vitally important to Iowa’s economy.  County fairs give us the opportunity to showcase the importance of this industry to many people that aren’t involved in agriculture.
    We all know and love the Iowa State Fair for its promotion of Iowa agriculture, but county fairs give us a local view to our state’s agriculture.  County fairs are an opportunity to introduce our kids and grandkids to agriculture and teach them about its importance to Iowa.  Many events at county fairs give students real world experience that they can use in the future through a variety of programs and activities like raising and showing livestock.
    County fairs also provide world-class entertainment ranging from rides to nationally known musicians.  We also shouldn’t forget about all of those delicious fair foods!
    Several county fairs have already kicked off this year, and will extend into the late summer. 
 
What else to do?
    There are numerous other summer adventures across Iowa to spend time this summer.  Visit the birthplace of Herbert Hoover in West Branch to learn more about the only President from Iowa.  Enjoy the thrills of a race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton or visit the Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville.  Visit Iowa’s original Capitol building in Iowa City and explore the beautiful University of Iowa campus.  There are plenty of fun activities and places to visit across Iowa this summer.
    I hope that you’ll join me in visiting these Iowa sights this summer as a day trip or a mini-vacation.  One of Iowa's lakes, a music festival, or an art fair gets you out to see the treasures in Iowa communities across the state.  Another benefit to traveling Iowa is that all of these options make for economical family fun and they help support our local communities and economies.
    To find more unique Iowa adventures, visit TravelIowa.com. 
    As always, please keep in touch, and be sure to say “hi” if you see me out!  I look forward to traveling the district and much of the state continuing to visit with Iowans over the coming months.  If you would like to touch base in the meantime, you can reach me at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.govor 515-281-3521.

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