Get Outdoors & Sip Something New in Northeast Iowa This Summer by

If you are looking for a perfect mix of outdoor recreation and exploring local businesses, a trip to northeast Iowa might be the perfect solution this summer. This part of the state is packed with fun ways to get outside, from hiking the trails at Cedar Falls to paddling at a whitewater park plus fishing and exploring the waterways in a canoe.

The eastern Iowa city of Cedar Rapids is easily accessible from the small towns and rural communities of northeast Iowa, adding some arts, culture and events into your trip with just a short drive. To plan your itinerary, it’s also fun to incorporate a craft beverage

Alyssa L. Ochs

trail into your vacation to see what the local breweries, wineries and distilleries offer.

Summertime for Craft Beverage Businesses

In the summer, visitors will find craft beverage tasting rooms a bit livelier and often filled with music and games. But with the high temperatures and dry conditions, production often slows down because of how the weather impacts the processes of making spirits, beer and wine. Summer impacts on production are linked to everything from malting to mashing, fermenting and distilling.

Yet your local vineyards, in particular, are especially busy at this time of the year. When you visit a vineyard, you may see the employees working on vertical shoot positioning, bud rubbing and shoot selection. Tucking in, wire lifting and canopy securing with foliage clips are other common vineyard tasks in the summer.

Beverage Trails in Northeast Iowa

Are you interested to learn more about craft beverage production in Northeast Iowa? Here are a few regional and statewide trails to get you started!

• Northeast Iowa Beer Trail

• Iowa Wine Trail

• Iowa Craft Beer Passport

Northeast Iowa Featured Craft Producers

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery: Offers lovely views from its patio to go with its friendly wine experience on a 150-year-old family farm outside Decorah, Iowa.

• Worth

• Mitchell

• Howard

• Winneshiek

• Allamakee

• Cerro Gordo

• Floyd

• Chickasaw

• Fayette

• Clayton

• Franklin

• Butler

• Bremer

• Hardin

• Grundy

• Black Hawk

• Buchanan

• Delaware

• Dubuque

• Benton

• Linn

• Jones

• Jackson

Iowa Grape Vines Winery: A small, family-owned winery in Maquoketa, Iowa produces dry-to-sweet wines plus ice cream in the summer months.

Promiseland Winery: Located in the southern hills of Guttenberg, Iowa, has a spacious tasting room & a nice courtyard to enjoy music in the summer.

ARTISANAL BREWS Made with Tender Loving Care

by Tom, Linda & Carol

Hours:

Thursday.................. 4:00pm - 10:00 pm

Friday....................... 4:00pm - 11:00 pm

Saturday................. 11:00am - 11:00 pm

Sunday ..................... 11:00am - 6:00 pm

947 Main Street, Holy Cross, IA 52053

Phone: 563-210-2750

Website: tlcbrewworks.com

Empty Nest Winery: Near Waukon, offers wine, sangria, beer and hard ciders, so a little something for everyone. Stop by in the summer to relax and enjoy the family-friendly outdoor games and free popcorn.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.: Offers over 40 beers that rotate throughout the year in Decorah. You can join many fun events at the taproom, such as bingo, euchre and trivia.

TLC Brew Works: A brewery in Holy Cross. Here you’ll find a one-BBL nano-brewery with an onsite taproom serving artisan brews made with tender, loving care. There are typically about a dozen offerings on tap, including various beers, hard cider and hard seltzer.

Northeast Iowa Destinations & Information

Bluffton Resort and Bar: is a favorite summertime destination in Bluffton, for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy a good drink after an epic day of adventure. Make your campground reservation today so you can get away to unwind, relax, hike, kayak, fish, and listen to live music with a craft beverage.

We serve our menu all day and invite you to relax and enjoy award winning wine, food and flavors of Winneshiek Wildberry Winery. For more information on wines, foods and events visit our website listed below.

Cedar Falls Tourism: Check this tourism website for summer event listings and travel planning tools in the Cedar Falls, Iowa area.

Travel Dubuque Welcome Center: The “Taste” page of this visitor bureau website is an excellent resource for where to eat and drink in Dubuque, Iowa.

Summer Events & Festivals in Northeast Iowa

Local events start picking up in June, July and August in northeast Iowa. You can find many events to attend in the small towns and nearby larger cities, many of which have craft beverage tents set up for you to try a local drink or two. Here are some events you may want to check out in the region!

• 17th Annual Independence BrewBQ: Save the date for August 26, 2023, because this is when you can

Iowa Grape Vines

• combine your love of craft beer and slow-cooked barbecue in Independence, Iowa. The event hosts over 100 craft brews with two pass options. Food and drinks are available starting at noon at Riverwalks Parks. There’s a bike race in the morning and bands playing live music in the late afternoon and evening.

• My Waterloo Days: Visit Waterloo, Iowa on June 8-11, 2023, you can attend this free community event showcasing the best of Waterloo. There will be a parade, concerts, vendors, kids’ events and much more you don’t want to miss.

• Strawberry Days: On the second weekend in June, plan to visit the Strawberry Point for a carnival, parade, music and food.

• Sweet Corn Days: Celebrate northeast Iowa’s corn culture with a visit to Elkader, Iowa and ejoy this festival July 27-30, 2023. It will be a weekend filled with live music, activities and delicious corn this summer.

Attractions for Summer Fun

Outdoor recreation pairs perfectly with a locally brewed beer, wine with

Iowa-grown grapes or cocktail made with real Iowa ingredients. Here are ways to get active and outside along a craft beverage trail route in northeast Iowa.

• Camping: If you want to get in touch with nature and enjoy more time outside in beautiful northeast Iowa, some camping options are available for tents and RVs. Here are a few of the highly rated campgrounds ...

Spook Cave & Campground in McGregor, Iowa

Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah, Iowa

Bluffton Campground & Bar in Bluffton, Iowa

Morwood Campground & Resort in Hazleton Iowa

• Hiking: Want to exercise while exploring northeast Iowa on foot? You’re in luck because the region has some great trail systems. Some of our favorite spots for hiking are Effigy Mounds National Monument, Yellow River State Forest and Mt. Hosmer City Park.

• Lakes: Check out Lake Meyer, the lake covers 38 acres and offers opportunities for fishing, boating, and canoeing or kayaking. A network of trails offers hiking, and picnic shelters and a playground make it the perfect spot for family gatherings and events.

Volga Lake where Anglers can expect to find a variety of fish including Black Crappie, Bluegill, Carp, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch.

• Lost Island Themepark: This theme park in Waterloo, Iowa is popular for family attractions and thrill rides in Waterloo. During your visit, you’ll also find water rides, playgrounds, an arcade and dining options.

Come Visit Northeast Iowa

If you’re ready for some northeast Iowa adventures, now is a great time to start planning your trip! You can learn more about craft beverage destinations and summer events in this region by visiting our website...

www.trails-tales.net

PromiseLand is the perfect destination for a day trip! Right off of the Great River Road, which provides gorgeous views of the Iowa countryside. Our indoor space includes six boutiques that will fulfill your shopping and snacking needs, and our menu features a variety of freshly-baked pizzas if you’re craving something a little more. Our back courtyard is the beloved home to live music on Sunday afternoons, featuring wonderful local and regional talent (March through November).