Fall is a beautiful time in Iowa. From the clear blue skies overhead miles of golden fields of soy beans and corn ready to harvest, to the rolling hills covered with trees in hues of red, orange, & yellow—it’s nature’s artistry at its finest.
If you’re looking for places to visit in Central Iowa this fall, here is a list of six of my favorites:
Scratch Cupcakery
A picture is worth a thousand words, but I will tell you a little about Scratch Cupcakery anyways—although if these cupcakes don’t have you running to the nearest Scratch location, I don’t know if we can be friends. Kidding, of course.
Scratch is an ever growing local business with four locations in Iowa—Cedar Falls, Waterloo, West Des Moines, and Coralville. The business started in a tiny little shop just off of Main Street in Cedar Falls and quickly won the hearts (and taste buds) of nearly everyone who tried their decadent treats.
It’s really a great place to visit all year, but in the fall they have wonderful seasonal flavors (in addition to the regulars) like Apple Pie, Apple Dumpling, Harvest, Maple Donut, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Sweet Potato (depending on the month).
Bloomsbury Farm
Located in Atkins, Bloomsbury Farm has something for everyone. Whether it’s pumpkins you’re after, a corn maze, petting zoo, a pumpkin cannon, pedal carts, a hayride, or paint ball—they have all of that and more.
It’s a good place for families to have a lot of fun and spend time outdoors. Just don’t get lost in the corn maze!
Wills Family Orchard
Wills Family Orchard is located in the beautiful countryside just outside of Des Moines in Adel. The Wills family is environmentally conscious and all of their orchards are Certified Organic.
There is no admission fee, but you can pay a small fee if you want to find your way out of a corn maze or take a hay wagon ride. The orchard sells organic apples, has a u-pick pumpkin patch, a barn yard petting zoo, plenty of delicious foods like apple cider donuts for sale in their shop, and gourd painting.
Volksweg Trail
With all of these delicious fall treats, you may want to spend some time biking, running, or walking along the Volksweg Trail to burn off some of those calories—so you can eat another apple cider donut and sneak some of your kid’s Halloween candy.
Volksweg Tail connects Pella with the Red Rock Dam. It’s a nice, short 13 mile trail with lots of hills. The best part? Surrounded by a heavily wooded area and with beautiful lake views, it is the most beautiful bike trail I’ve ever seen. While biking, I saw fawns hopping across the trail and numerous beautiful butterflies fluttering around. Simply peaceful.
Des Moines Farmer’s Market
Des Moines Farmer’s Market
Strolling through the Des Moines Farmer’s Market is a fun experience. There’s fresh produce, a delicious variety of foods and drinks, flowers, pumpkins, art, you name it. It’s open Saturday mornings May through October.
Cabin Coffee Company
Cabin Coffee Company has six locations across Iowa in: Waterloo, Mason City, Forest City, Clear Lake, Osage, and Lisbon. They sell coffee that is locally roasted and fresh—it really is some of the best in Iowa!
You’ll have a hard time deciding what you want when you take a look at their menu. But if you’re looking for flavors of fall, you might want to go with the Cinnamon Latte, Caramel Apple Cider, or Chai Tea—just to name a few! Enjoy time with friends in a cozy atmosphere.
What’s your favorite place to visit in the fall?
