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Sunday, May 29, 2016
SUMMER TRAVEL
2 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
Waterways a path to fun Rent canoe, kayak for summertime floating JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — In Black Hawk County, paddlers can go on a loop water trail. Or float on an easy body of water. Or they can tackle one of the more difficult creeks in the state. And they don’t have to leave the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. In a state with 916 miles of designated water trails, a route that puts the paddler back where they came in is a rarity, said Vern Fish, Black Hawk County Conservation. The Cedar Valley Paddlers Trail loops along lakes at the Hartman Nature Reserve in Cedar Falls, the Cedar River, lakes at George Wyth State Park and back. “Most of our water trails in Iowa are linear,” Fish said. The whole route takes about four hours to complete and requires about three miles of portage. For those not interested in dragging a boat for a total of three miles, any one of the lakes on the route is good for a more casual paddler. Katie Shelton, program coordinator at the Hartman Reserve takes school students on field trips onto the water three or four times a week from April through June. Lake Manatt is an easy body of water,” Shelton said. “So it’s nice for beginners.” The lake’s proximity to the nature center and in between Waterloo and Cedar Falls reassures teachers and parents of students on field trips there. But that doesn’t take away from the experience children have. “If you haven’t been to the wilderness, it feels like the wilderness,” Shelton said. Shelton also hosts a bi-weekly Paddle in the Park at the south side of Big Woods Lake. Every other Friday now through Sep-
PHOTOS BY BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
American coots take off ahead of paddlers at Sweet Marsh near Tripoli
Pelicans take flight at Sweet Marsh near Tripoli. tember, Shelton hosts the allages event. Boats are provided on site. People can rent kayaks for $5 or canoes for $10 for the event. People camping in a Black Hawk County park can participate for free if they show their camping receipt. People can schedule large group trips by contacting the Hartman Nature Reserve. And those are areas in town. For people interested in a more remote float, the nearby Wapsipinicon River through Bremer County, Black Hawk County and Buchanan counties, has multiple accesses and is surrounded by conservation land or private land put into the federal Wetland Reserve Program. “It’s almost a continuous greenbelt from Sweet Marsh to the Black Hawk County-Bu-
chanan County line,” Fish said. “You have a sense of being out Vern Fish of touch.” The river is groundwater fed so it stays at a level to support boats when other waterways can become difficult to navigate in late 615 4th Street S.E. Independence, Iowa 50644 summer. County conservation boards have provided frequent DON and Bus Train entry points to the river. BETTE BUTLER “You can plan half-day or fullTours day trips,” Fish said. Air The wetlands around the river Ph. Charters Cruises give paddlers opportunities to (319) 334- 2416 spot native wildlife. Nesting bald eagles and feeding herons aren’t uncommon sights on the waterSeptember 10 Montana Yellowstone Glacier Park way. The weetlands also buffers 11 days, $1299/person the waterway from rising too dramatically during heavy rain. November 2-5 The Upper Iowa River, through Branson’s Top Shows Howard and Winneshiek counties, Dublin’s Irish Tenors and the Celtic Ladies, Legends in Concert
Butler’s Travel Service
Please see WATERWAYS, Page 3
$599 per person, dbl occupancy
SUMMER TRAVEL
Sunday, May 29, 2016 | 3
Waterways From 2
offers close-up views of wildlife and passes along some of Iowa’s driftless zone bluffs. “The Upper Iowa is probably one of the most scenic rivers in the state,” said John Wenck, Iowa Department of Natural Resources water trails coordinator. However, on most summer weekends, it can also be one of the busiest. “They’ve got issues with over use,” Wenck added. Other waterways get less use such as the Des Moines River in the southeast corner of the state through Wapello, Davis and Van Buren counties. “We’ve got different stretches of rivers across the state receiving different levels of use,” Wenck said. The Iowa DNR is working to try to change that. Currently, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources only lists the Wapsipinicon through Buchanan County as one of the stat’e official water trails. the rest of the river through Bremer and Black Hawk counties, the Upper Iowa River and the Des Moines River in southeast Iowa aren’t yet officially designated trails. Those rivers are part of an additional 807 miles of waterways being studied for trail designation. Most of Iowa’s official water trails were designated about 10 years ago. Since then, the Iowa DNR has adopted new policies to promote uniform signage, cooperation with adjacent land owners and emergency response plans. The 807 new miles of water ways were already waiting for designation as the Iowa DNR developed the new system. Creating a legal log jam for Iowa’s waterways. “It’s kind of like doing a piolot project on all of them at the same time,” Wenck said. “If we started a new water trail project it’s a two-to-three, up to fiveyear process.” Part of the planning is to identify how to promote use and mitigate impact of heavy use as well.
A Canada goose keeps a wary eye However, even if the trail hasn’t For now, the best source of my www.mycountyparks.com on paddlers from atop a muskrat been officially designated, lo- information is the local county to find navigable waterways in mound at Sweet Marsh near cal county conservation boards conservation boards or going to your area. Tripoli. provide signage and access to the waterways. Once the other pieces are in place, the Iowa DNR will grant Lawler Lawler the trails official designation and help the local governing bodM ake plans now to join us June 17 –19, 2016, T T ies promote them by providing for another exciting 3-day celebration of Lawler’s rich heritage funds for maps and brochures. featuring events and entertainment for the entire family.
Irish Fes
Stage Entertainment Friday, June 17 - begins at 6:00 pm
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IRISH STYLE • Sweet Siren (Classic Rock, Edgy Country, Top 40)
Activities • Nineteen Pints (Rockin’ the “Sham” out of “Shamrock!”) Friday, June 17-beginning at 5:00 pm • Wicked Andersons (Classic Rock) • Sweet Siren (Special Guests appearance– • Casual Get-together; Time to Visit Old and New Friends preview of Saturday’s performance) • 4-Person Best Shot Golf Tournament (9:00 am) Saturday, June 18 - begins after Parade • Introduction of Grand Marshals (6:00 pm) • 5K Run (reg. @ 6:15 pm - starts @ 7:15 pm ) • Drouthy Duck Pipe Band (traditional • Bouncy Inflatables (all ages) bagpipers) • 35 YRS. & UP Softball Exhbition Game • Guilty Kilts” (traditional Irish) • Lil’ Lad & Lassie Contest (6:30 pm) • Foy Irish Dancers (traditional • Specials at Local Establishments Irish dance) • Historic Lawler Photo Gallery • Shillelagh Lads (traditional Irish) • Teen Street Dance • INTERMISSION Saturday, June 18 - beginning with • Shillelagh Lads volleyball tournament at 9:00 am • Foy Irish Dancers • Derek Warfield & The Young Wolftones • Volleyball Tournament (9:00 am} (Ireland’s greatest ballad singer) • Parade (11:00 am) • Car and Tractor Show www.lawleririshfest.com
Irish Fes
• • • • • • • • • • •
Adult Kickball Tournament Bingo and Cakewalk Best Legs (men’s) Contest Children’s Activities, including New Hampton FFA Pedal Pull Celtic dance lessons with Foy Irish Dancers (for children) Bouncy Inflatables (for all ages) Various games/activities for children Vendors (food/merchandise) Historic Lawler Photo Gallery Shanachie—Irish Story Telling with Roger Croell Lion’s Club barbeque chicken dinner
Sunday, June 19
beginning with Mass at 8:30 am • Mass – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church • Breakfast (Mount Carmel Church) • Bean Bag Tournament – rain or shine – Main Tent (10:30 am sign-up) Schedule subject to change without notice.
For details on each activity, or if you’d like to help sponsor this event, visit our website at: www.lawleririshfest.com
SUMMER TRAVEL
4 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
Hike, fish at Backbone State Park MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
STRAWBERRY POINT — A half dozen or so fisherman were scattered along a length of the Maquoketa River inside Backbone State Park. One fisherman climbed up the bank carrying a heavy string of trout. Fishing was good on this cool, overcast spring day. Throughout the park, hikers wound their way along 21 miles of trails, up and down rocky staircases beneath trees, open blue sky and through occasional meadows filled with wild phlox, over bridges and past masonry walls and buildings constructed by the Civilian Construction Corps in the 1930s. Picnickers gathered around picnic tables and shelters for a leisurely meal, all the while enjoying the quiet, scenic surroundings and listening to occasional calls of orioles in high in the cedar trees. There are even trails designated for mountain bikers with names like Bluebird and Barred Owl. Backbone State Park is Iowa’s first state park, dedicated in 1920. The park was named for steep and narrow ridge of bedrock called “the Devil’s Backbone,” which was formed over thousands of years by the ebb and flow of the Maquoketa River. It is the highest point in northeast Iowa, and a scenic destination no matter the weather or season There’s even a CCC Museum near the park’s west gate that is open on weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day. The park also boasts dams on the river forming Backbone Lake, cabins and camp grounds, a boat house, an auditorium and other amenities. Here’s what else the Iowa State Parks has to say about what Backbone State Park has to offer: Rock climbing: Climbers and rappellers will find many challenges at Backbone with its
cliffs of rugged dolomite limestone throughout the park. The most popular climbing spots are located near the popular Backbone Trail. Climbers must register at the park office. Bicycling: The Northeast State Park Bike Route is a 130 mile route which connects Backbone State Park, Wapsipinicon State Park, and Pikes Peak State Park utilizing county highways. Fishing: If trout fishing is your passion, you’re in the right place. Backbone is well known for its exceptional trout fishing. Backbone’s cold, clear, quick-flowing stream is fed by Richmond Springs, which pumps more than 2,000 gallons per minute and is located near the north end of the park. A variety of shady and universally accessible trails (portions paved) are available for enthusiastic anglers looking for their “secret spot.” Only electric trolling motors are allowed on the lake.
Facilities
Backbone is a great vacation destination with several overnight accommodation options, including several campsites, within two campgrounds, and many different modern cabins to reserve. A boathouse for renting boats and a swimming beach as well as a concession stand are all located near the southeast end of the lake. Cabins: Modern two-bedroom and one-bedroom cabins are available and are equipped with heating and air conditioning. Camping: There are two campgrounds. The South Lake Campground, which contains both electric and non-electric sites as well as two shower buildings, a playground and a dump station and the Six Pine Campground, near the west entrance of the park, contains non-electric sites and pit latrines. P i c k n i c k i n g /s h e l te rs / lodge: Backbone is a beautiful place for a family picnic. Several open shelters and the auditorium
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A view of the Maquoketa River at Backbone State Park. may be reserved. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Stone Lodge, overlooking the lake, may be rented for a number of events including family reunions, weddings and other large gatherings. Nearby attractions: Backbone State Park is located three miles south of Strawberry Point in northwestern Delaware County. Dundee lies one mile to the south and Lamont 5 miles to the west. Amenities: Boat rental, boat launch ramp, playground, restrooms, canoeing and more.
35 acres of beauty to explore! Admission $3/adult $1/child Children under 5 free Hours Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm Sunday 11am - 7pm 1927 E. Orange Rd., Waterloo IA | 319.226.4966 | www.cedarvalleyarboretum.org
SUMMER TRAVEL
Sunday, May 29, 2016 | 5
Blood Run National Historic Landmark, Lyon County STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTO
Elevating heritage of Blood Run landmark JEN BANCESCU State Historic Sites Manager State Historical Society of Iowa
LYON COUNTY — The Blood Run National Historic Landmark was designated in 1970. It is the largest known and most complex site of the Oneota tradition, which was practiced here by the Omaha/Ponca, Ioway and Otoe Tribes from about A.D. 1500 until shortly before 1714. Still dotting the landscape today are numerous earthen mounds that they constructed. Below ground is a well-preserved archaeological record that tracks changes in village social organization, diet, economic patterns, trade and ceremonial practices in the form of ceramic, stone, bone, antler, shell and metal items, food remains and numerous elaborately decorated catlinite pipes
and tablets and the byproducts of their manufacture. Subsurface features include human interments (burials), mound foundations, habitation remnants, hearths, and storage pits. The site was visited by earlier groups extending back to the Middle Archaic (ca. 6500– 4500 BP). Currently, the state of Iowa is working to develop a cultural landscape master plan for the Blood Run National Historic Landmark in Northwestern Iowa. This master plan will help the state move forward in a way that will respect, preserve, protect, and emphasize the unique heritage of the study area; foster appreciation of the regional Native American culture, local history, the current community and natural resources; and foster understanding, use and enjoyment through education,
interpretation, and compatible recreation. The documentation and evaluation of the landscape have been undertaken using a cultural landscape approach in accordance with National Park Service guidelines. The Blood Run site extends into both Iowa and South Dakota. Currently, the two states are working together on a bistate park initiative that will promote the preservation and education of the site as a whole. In Iowa, the Cultural Landscape Master Plan has been a collaborative process between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Native American Tribes that serve as primary contact for the master plan are the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska,
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Otoe-Missouria Tribe, and the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. Local partners include Keep Iowa Beautiful, the Lyon County Historical Society, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Lyon County Economic Development, Preservation Iowa and Western Iowa Tourism. State partners include the
State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees, South Dakota State Parks, South Dakota Historical Society, National Park Service and the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist and its Indian Advisory Council. The planning effort will conclude in July, but the efforts will continue in order to implement this plan over the coming years.
BREMER COUNTY FAIR Waverly • July 24-30
July 24 - Farmer Tractor & Truck Pull • July 25 - Tuff Truck Madness July 26th - Kids Day • July 27th - Combine Demolition Derby July 28th - Scrambles & Pie Auction July 29th - Tribute Extravaganza featuring Almost Kiss, Change of Heart & Revelation July 30th - NTPA Truck & Tractor Pull
For a complete schedule and to purchase grand stand tickets please go to bremercountyfair.com
SUMMER TRAVEL
6 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
SUMMER FESTIVALS
COURIER FILE PHOTO IOWA TOURISM PHOTO
National Balloon Classic, Indianola
JUNE
Ice Cream Days Celebration, Lemars, June 18. Kalona Days, June 18. Iowa Craft Brew Festival, Des Moines, June 18. Snake Alley Art Fair, Burlington, June 19. Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, June 20-July 4. Bash on the Farm, Forest City, June 24-25. Sturgis Falls Celebration, Cedar Falls, June 24-26. Cedar Basin Jazz Festival, Cedar Falls, June 24-26. Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum, Burr Oak, June 24-26. Des Moines Arts Festival, June 24-26. Prairie Land Music Festival and Camp Out, Iowa City, June 24-26 Lazy River Beer and Wine Fest, Marquette, June 25. Artfest Midwest The Other Art Show, Des Moines, June 2526. Quad City Air Show, Davenport, June 25-26.
Iowa Arts Festival, downtown Iowa City, June 3-June 5. Story City Scandinavian Days, Story City, June 3-5. Oelwein Celebration, Oelwein City Park, June 4. My Waterloo Days Festival, June 9-12. Glenn Miller Festival, Clarinda June 9-12. America’s River Festival, Dubuque, June 10-11. American Gothic Days Festival, Eldon, June 10-12. New Hampton Heartland Days, June 10-12. Macnider Arts Festival, Mason City, June 11. Centerville Wine and Fine Arts Festival, June 11. Lewis and Clark Festival, Onawa, June 11-12. Iowa Sculpture Festival, Newton, June 11-12. Burlington Steamboat Days, June 16-19. Dubuque … and All that Jazz, June 17. College Hill Arts Festival, Cedar Falls, June 17-18. La Porte City Festival of JULY Trails, June 17-18. Iowa City Jazz Festival, July Greene River Days, June 17-18. 1-3.
Waterloo East High School’s Trojan Nation Drill Team and Drumline perform on Park Avenue at the 2015 My Waterloo Days Parade. Fireworks Festival, National Cattle Congress grounds, Waterloo , July 2. Iowa Falls Riverbend Rally, July 2-4. America’s Hometown July Fourth Celebration, Charles City, July 4. Lincoln Highway Antiques Extravaganza, Mount Vernon, July 4. Plum Creek Art Festival, Fredericksburg, July 9. Large crowd at Cedar Valley Pridefest. Hudson Days Celebration, July 14-16. National Balloon Classic 2016, Indianola, July 29-Aug.6. Davenport Street Fest, July 29-30. Junkin’ in the Junction, West Des Moines, July 30.
AUGUST
What Cheer Summer Flea Market, Aug. 4-7 Iowa Irish Fest, Lincoln Park, Waterloo, Aug. 5-7. Hometown Days, West Branch, Aug. 5-6. Cedar Valley Pridefest, Waterloo, Aug. 20. Railroad Heritage Days, Oelwein, Aug. 20-21. Elkader Art in the Park, Aug. 20-21.
POWDER
& POP
We’re totally ut. wigging o
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Now - Oct 2, 2016
Immortal: Warhol’s Last Works Large-scale prints from Andy Warhol’s last decade alive Sponsored S by CRST International
Aug 113 - Dec 31, 2016
Amadeus: Costumes for the Obsessed and Vengeful Academy A Award-winning costumes from fr the 1985 film, Amadeus, directed by Miloš Forman
This his year the exhibits e feature a couple of big-wigs… who wore big wigs: Andy & Amadeus NCSML.org • 319-362-8500 • 1400 Inspiration Place SW • Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
SUMMER TRAVEL
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 |
7
Water trail meanders in Madison County One of Iowa’s newest Water Trails has recently been established on Middle River in Adair and Madison County. The trail begins in eastern Adair County at their Middle River Forest County Park and meanders downstream, covering approximately 45 river miles, and currently ends at the historic Holliwell Covered Bridge located approximately 3 ½ miles southeast of Winterset. All the accesses, and routes to the accesses, are marked by signs. All developed accesses on designated Water-Trails on various rivers located throughout Iowa are numbered by the corresponding river-mile number nearest to each re-
spective access. Middle River is a scenic stream that flows easterly through a mixture of lazy country side of croplands and rolling pasture, forested hills and limestone bluffs. It twists and turns through these landforms creating a moderately challenging paddle, especially at high or low water levels. Middle River provides an exciting paddle with occasional chutes and ledges that can be navigated with moderate effort. Along with the natural beauty found along Middle River, there are also a few historic manmade features that add to cultural experience of the Water-Trail. Spanning the river are two of Madison
County’s famous “Bridges of Madison County,” Roseman Covered Bridge and Holliwell Covered Bridge. Paddlers must also portage around the historic “ford” at Pammel Park that was constructed in the early 1900’s. And while making this portage, be sure to inspect the “Harmon Tunnel,” originally constructed in 1858, and later enlarged to become the first vehicle tunnel on a State Highway in Iowa. The following accesses, and descriptions of the river sections between each access, are listed in order from west to east along the Middle River Water-Trail. Madison County’s Roseman Bridge Source: Madison County tourism
Explore historic trails across Iowa History comes to life as you follow one of thes historic trails that travel throughout Iowa. Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, along I-29 in western Iowa: Follow in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark as they discovered and recorded the value of President Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon Bonaparte. Today’s route takes modern-day explorers to marinas, nature preserves and parks along this historic trail. Cody Trail, Eldridge to Le Claire in eastern Iowa: The Wild West was a little bit wilder thanks to Buffalo Bill Cody. William Cody, born in Le Claire, was a Wild West showstopper, fur trapper, gold miner, Pony Express rider and Army Scout (where he earned his nickname “Buffalo Bill” for his hunting prowess). This 25-mile historic
route honors his legacy. Explore the Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village, learn about the Cody family at their original homestead and admire National Historic Register buildings and the Buffalo Bill Museum in Le Claire. White Pole Road, Adair, Casey, Menlo, Stuart and Dexter in western Iowa: Advertised as “The Best Marked Road in the United States,” the White Pole Road was designated in 1910 and lined with poles painted white. Drivers were encouraged to travel the “Great White Way” across Iowa. Now when you travel along this recreated section, you’ll be able to explore heritage sites such as the location of a Bonnie and Clyde shootout and the site of the first Jesse James Gang robbery of a moving train. Source: TravelIowa.com
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2016
AUGUST 20-21
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Come visit the Amish community outside of Fairbank and surrounding areas. Shop locally where you are sure to find quality products and services in each of the Amish businesses. Pine Grove Store, LLC Fabrics, Fishing Tackle & Supplies, Boots & Shoes, General Merchandise Dan & Millie Helmuth 1460 165th Street Independence
Closed Sundays & Holidays Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 8AM-5PM, Thu 8AM-7:30PM
Detweiler’s Greenhouse Henry and Mary Beth Detweiler
Open Mid-April through June | September & October
Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm
Yoder’s Discount Grocery Large assortment of grocery items! Canned goods Boxed Dinners Candy Household Items Toys Toiletries Footwear And Much More!
1st and 3rd Saturday of each month we have discounted meat and produce Open: Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Closed: Sundays & Holidays
1456 130th Street Hazleton, Iowa 50641
Samuel & Martha Gingerich 1620 110th Street Hazelton, Iowa 50641
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A Large Assortment of Grocery Items From Canned Goods to Toiletries, Seasonal Fresh Produce and Flowers William & Ada Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:00AM-5:00PM Closed Sundays & Holidays 1543 Fairbank/Amish Blvd., Hazelton, IA
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Shop Local For Your Outdoor Gear • Boots • Outdoor Gear • Ground Blinds • Gun Scopes • Dog Collars • Hunting Accessories
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SUMMER TRAVEL
10 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
At 144, Yellowstone as hot as ever DARRYL FEARS Washington Post
appy birthday, Yellowstone. H It’s been 144 years since Ulysses S. Grant established the United States’ first national park at the headwaters of the Yellowstone River in Wyoming, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” Yellowstone is still one of the largest national parks in the world, certainly the largest in the United States, and is among the nation’s five most visited parks with about 3.5 million people coming and going each year. The Interior Department, which manages the park through the National Park Service, celebrated with a blog that boasted about its hotness. Namely, it’s the site of a supervolcano. In 1870, two years before the area was pressed into service as a park, 30-year-old Army Lt. Gustavus Doane climbed to the top of Mount Washburn and noticed a gap in a strip of Rocky Mountains. Doane thought there could only be one explanation, Washington Post reporter Joel Achenbach wrote for National Geographic last year: “The great basin,” Doane wrote, “has been formerly one vast crater of a now extinct volcano.” He was correct. Half of the hydrothermal features in the entire world are found within the park, about 10,000 — “an extraordinary collection of hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles… and — of course — geysers,” Interior wrote. Heat-craving microorganisms known as thermophiles live in those areas, giving Yellowstone its pretty bright colors. The park’s biggest draw is arguably Old Faithful, a geyser that blows water and steam skyward more than 15 times per day. But the park lays claim to one of the largest active volcanoes in the world. Its first major eruption two million years ago blew ash over nearly 600,000 square miles, a fact that has fueled a few doomsday scenarios from speculators who worry that it might
A yellow mineral creek runs through Biscuit Basin, part of the Upper Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. be primed to erupt again. The last lava flow, Interior said, was 70,000 miles ago. The U.S. Geological Survey, University of Utah and the park service created the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory near the turn of the century to keep an eye on it. Although the U.S. government preserved and recognized the area as a park more than a century ago, Native Americans have a far longer relationship, dating back 11 million years, long before that eruption. In addition to its impressive collection of hot spots, Yellowstone is home to the largest collection of mammals in the contiguous United States — 67 species, including grizzly bears, WASHINGTON POST PHOTOS BY BONNIE JO MOUNT elk, moose and fox. There are also about 300 species of birds, A bison heads for a meal after lounging at the edge of Mud Volcano/Sulphur Caldron (which smells like rotten eggs because of hydrogen sulfide). 16 types of fish.
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SUMMER TRAVEL
Sunday, May 29, 2016 | 11
Celebrate Grant Wood’s 125th birthday JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com
Grant Wood’s artwork made Iowa’s colorful, undulating rural landscape known throughout the world. His iconic pieces were part of an art movement known as “regionalism” which eschewed city life and depicted rural scenes. People can explore the rolling countryside that inspired and is depicted in Wood’s work. The home depicted in his iconic work, American Gothic, stands in Eldon southwest of Fairfield. Travelers can explore the hilly cropland by taking a trip on the Grant Wood Scenic Byway. The unincorporated town of Stone City, a subject of one of Wood’s well-known paintings and where he later established an artist colony, receives hundreds of visitors a year. Wood’s birthplace and final resting place in Wood Anamosa draw tourists to the Jones County community. East of Anamosa is Antioch School, the one-room schoolhouse where Wood taught houses an art gallery. These sites and stops will likely see more traffic this year as Jones County marks the 125th anniversary of Wood’s birth. Events commemorating Woods are planned all year in Jones County in and around Anamosa and Stone City. Six-foot tall replicas of the famous gothic-style windows decorated by various artists are being erected throughout Anamosa. They will be up until the end of the year for tourists to pose for photos, said Dusty Embree, Jones County Economic development Director. The events will add an extra experience for people looking for sites associated with Wood. “People come to town pretty regularly looking for Grant Wood-related locations,” Embree said. The Cedar Rapids Museum
of Art houses the largest collection of Grant Wood works in the world, as well as works by Marvin Cone. The two artists began their lifelong friendship in Cedar Rapids, attended high school together and were an active force in the Stone City Art Colony. The exhibit will focus on their shared interest in Iowa’s rolling countryside, farms and the people who inhabit them. The Waterloo Center for the Art also houses a collection of Midwest art that includes pieces by both Wood and Cone. On June 12, at Antioch School, Paint & Palette will host a Grant Wood Memories Days demonstration. People can see how school was taught at the oneroom school house, play vintage games and eat at a lunch wagon. The gallery will be open for visitors all day. On June 26, the Stone City Foundation will hold horsedrawn wagon tours of the town’s historic stone buildings and the art colony. A blacksmith will work and hold demonstrations near the location that inspired Wood’s “Stone City” painting. On August 28, the Edinburgh Fall Festival at Edinbugh Pioneer Village will feature displays, demonstrations (including oat threshing) and re-enactments. Grant Wood American Gothic cottage This year’s event theme is “Dinner for Threshers,” one of Wood’s well-known paintings. On Sept. 18, the Stone City Festival begins in Stone City.
College Hill Arts Festival
Stone City
The Stone City General Store, constructed from local limestone, is an old-fashioned general store that has been transformed in a popular restaurant and bar located on the Wapsicipinicon River. Its claim to fame is its depiction in Grant Wood’s first major landscape, “Stone City Iowa,” painted in the same year — 1930 — as “American Gothic.” Wood’s affection for the area was such that he formed a summer artist’s colony in Stone City that he ran from 1932 to 1933.
June 17-18, 2015 www.collegehillartsfestival.com FRIDAY • Noon - 8pm | SATURDAY • 10am - 4pm Cedar Falls, Iowa | West 23rd and College
75 Juried Artists | Music | Kids Activities | Free Admission | Free Parking
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SUMMER TRAVEL
12 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
KC surprises visitors with delights MARK TAYLOR Tribune News Service
My wife and I arrived in Kansas City, Mo., knowing little of its history or cultural attractions and expecting even less. We’d driven through it, mostly on our way to other destinations and stopping only to sample barbecue. So we were astonished — and a little embarrassed — to discover this clean, livable western Missouri city as a treasure-trove of great food, fine museums and musical and artistic delights. Here are just a few reasons why you should love Kansas City: Because it’s a down-toearth, friendly town that offers the planet’s best barbecue, a world-class art museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, that is free, and you can park almost anywhere for little or nothing. Because it’s a city of surprising beauty, culture and history, where the unexpected seems ridiculously commonplace. Beautiful buildings and impressive monuments seem to leap out of the prairie and beckon visitors with alluring attractions. Because it’s the home of the only World War I museum in the United States, with great exhibits, a wide display of weapons, uniforms, trenches and amazing historical facts. Because it boasts more fountains than any world city but Rome. Fountains are ingrained in the city’s identity and offer gurgling oases throughout the city. The more than 200 fountains feature statuary, waterfalls and color and light displays. Because the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets in the World Series, the team that trounced Cubs fans’ hopes for the first North Side World Series victory in 107 years. (For Cubs fans, isn’t that reason enough?) Because it is home to both The American Jazz Museum and The Negro Baseball Leagues Museum, which share space in the Lincoln Building in the historic 18th and Vine neighborhood, a
TNS PHOTOS
The National World War I Museum and Memorial offers a grand view of Kansas City from its 217-foot observation deck. center of black culture and entertainment through the 1960s. That area, which produced jazz giants like Count Basie and Charlie Parker, is home to many jazz clubs even today. The neighborhood also hosts the annual 18th and Vine Jazz & Blues Festival. Kansas City also boasts some fascinating neighborhoods, including the old Power & Light District downtown with its architecturally significant buildings, theaters and restaurants and the historic City Market area, where the resurrected Steamboat Arabia, “The Titanic of the Missouri River,” sank in 1856 and is now restored as a museum. There’s also the Crossroads Arts & Design District, featuring art galleries, nightclubs and the soaring arches of the Moshe Safdie-designed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and Westport, site of a Civil War battle and the city’s original entertainment district.
Barbecue is a religion here and besides classic joints like Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q, and newer eateries like Plowboy’s BBQ and Q 39, there are barbecue tour buses and outdoor competitions throughout much of the year. But there’s more to eat in KC than just barbecue. Since its stockyards made the city a center for livestock transport and processing, meat has been a Kansas City staple and fine steakhouses abound. The area’s growing Hispanic population has spawned some fine Mexican restaurants, and visitors will enjoy sushi and pan-Asian offerings to complement a handful of old-school German spots. AT RIGHT: This iconic sculpture, titled “Bird Lives,” honors jazz icon Charlie “Bird” Parker. It stands on the Charlie Parker Memorial Plaza on the grounds of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City.
Sunday, May 29, 2016 | 13
Popcorn, jazz and other events ake a trip around the state pieces of artwork. Additionally, six T and enjoy these sights and ac- key intersections on the route will be repainted with artistic designs. tivities. The group’s goal is to have the trail in place prior to the Des Moines Arts Largest popcorn ball On June 18, Sac County residents Festival, which starts June 24. will construct a new world’s largest popcorn ball. Organizers plan Jazz Festival to pack, punch, mold and shape Davenport’s legendary cornetist an 8,000-pound popcorn ball. The Bix Beiderbecke is celebrated each completed ball will be encased in year with a festival filled with jazz Lexan plastic and on display at the music. This year marks the 45th anSac City Museum in Sac City. nual event. Activities will be held August 4-7, 2016, at the Waterfront Monster Roller Coaster Center and Isle of Capri Hotel and Slated to open in Altoona in June Convention Center in Bettendorf. 2016, the $9 million Monster roller coaster is Adventureland’s first new Vesterheim marks 140 coaster since 1993. The 2,500-foot- years long ride includes a 133-foot vertiThe Vesterheim-Norwegian Amercal lift hill followed by a 101-degree ican Museum turns 140 in 2017 drop. Ten “air-time” moments will In 1877, Norwegian Americans leave riders feeling like they’re gobegan collecting and preserving obing to fall out. jects at Luther College in Decorah. Those initial items have grown into Art Trail The Greater Des Moines Public Art one of the country’s most compreFoundation is working to develop a hensive museums dedicated to a 6.6-mile art trail in Des Moines single immigrant group. The museum and heritage center stretching from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park to the Iowa State Capitol. boasts more than 33,000 artifacts, The path will be painted along 12 historic buildings, a Folk Art downtown sidewalks and lead to 87 School and a library and archives.
KEVIN E. SCHMIDT/ THE QUAD-CITY TIMES
A canvas depicting Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke hangs on the rear facade of the German-American Heritage Center in Davenport. Local artist Bruce Walters created the piece to help celebrate Beiderbecke’s German heritage.
SUMMER TRAVEL
14 | Sunday, May 29, 2016
Pig out at the new Spam Museum TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
he Spam Museum has T opened under the bright lights of downtown. OK, so maybe the lights aren’t so bright in downtown Austin, Minn., but the world’s saltiest, most pork-forward museum opened recently in a more tourist-friendly location in the southern Minnesota town of 25,000. For 15 years, the museum lived in a not-so-tourist-friendly Hormel Foods corporate office complex. The town and Hormel agreed that moving the museum to its new home would benefit both parties, as well as visitors who can walk from downtown Main Street’s restaurants and shopping to its ode to pork. The Spam Museum’s new home is slightly smaller — 14,000 square feet — than its predecessor. But the important elements remain, like “Spambassadors” circulating “Spamples” at the end of pretzel sticks. (Only two types of Spam are handed out per day, though all
Spam Museum hours April-October: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.; First Thursday of every month, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. November-March: Monday, closed; Tuesday through Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. Closed: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 15 are for sale in the gift shop — even Portuguese Sausage Spam, which is on shelves only in Hawaii.) Nicole Behne, marketing director of Hormel’s grocery products division (though she said “Spam Expert” is also an acceptable title), said the space features a less traditional museum feel. Gone is the theater that showed a 10-minute Spam orientation film, and in its place
are 19 interactive video screens peppered throughout. Three previous galleries have been moved to the new digs; they detail the history of Spam, its rise in American culture via the military and how it is made. And how is it made? “It’s just six simple ingredients: pork, salt, water, potato starch, sugar and sodium nitrate,” Behne said. “We showcase what those ingredients are and show a visual on where (the meat) comes from on the pig. Six ingredients are not a lot.” The rest of the exhibits are largely new, including an interactive game that allows a user to simulate making Spam, and a Spam ruler. (“I’m 23 Spam cans tall,” Behne said.) “It’s more about celebrating things in pop culture and American history that have brought the Spam brand to where it is today,” she said. “It’s a fun, vibrant, updated space.” But don’t worry: Spam still tastes exactly the same. And admission to the museum is still free.
It’s all about pork and pop culture at the Spam Museum.
NEW exhibits, paved trail, picnic areas, green roof, & outdoor fitness equipment.
check out our LEGO play area, Design Store, Genealogy Center, & historic homes!
ALSO
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Authentic homesteaders cabin. A few miles north of I-80 exit 54.
HORMEL PHOTOS
The new museum measures 14,000 square feet, slightly smaller than the original museum that was in the Hormel plant.
ELK HORN, IA | DANISHMUSEUM.ORG
SUMMER TRAVEL
Sunday, May 29, 2016 | 15
Scenery, sunsets on Dells boat tour acationers looking for a bit V of quiet in the bustling Wisconsin Dells, can get an up-close view by boat of the famous river bluff rock formations that were the earliest attraction drawing visitors to the area more than 160 years ago. An Upper Dells Boat Tour by day, or a scenic Sunset Dinner Cruise summer evenings, provide a relaxing way to see the spectacular scenery and learn about the history and geology of the sandstone cliffs that stand sentinel along the Wisconsin River where it winds through the Dells.
Upper Dells Boat Tour
The most remarkable views are found on the Upper Dells of the Wisconsin River. The waterway is broken into two sections by a dam about the midway point of the 7.5mile stretch of the river where the bluffs are most prevalent. Upper Dells Boat Tours are offered from spring through early fall. The twohour excursion winds its way up river with guides providing details about the channel, its famous rock formations, native species and the earliest settlers. The tour also features two renowned shorelandings exclusive to Dells Boat Tours. Passengers disembark at Witches Gulch, a shady gorge that cuts deep into the river bank, a boardwalk leading the way into the extraordinary cavern. A second stop takes visitors to the famous Stand Rock, a towering rock outcropping where a trained dog jumps the five-foot gap from the main cliff, a classic photo-op for generations. Visitors wanting to see the en-
tire stretch of Wisconsin Dells can complete their journey on a Lower Dells Boat Tour, saving money by purchasing the two tours as a package. The Lower Dells features peaceful, beautiful scenery and guided narration.
Sunset dinner cruise
Mother Nature puts on a show nightly in the Dells as the setting sun casts a canopy of rich colors against the towering sandstone cliffs. Visitors can absorb the beauty when they steal away for a Sunset Dinner Cruise summer evenings beginning Memorial Day Witches Gulch at the Wisconsin Dells. weekend and running through Saturday, Sept. 10. The scenic nightcap excursion travels the Upper Dells and includes an open bar for the first hour upon boarding (after that a cash bar). The excursion also features a surf n’ turf meal, live musical entertainment and a stroll through a torch-lit canyon. Along the 2¼-hour tour, boat pilots and guides provide some brief narration about the geology and history of the region, another great complement to the stunning scenery accentuated by the setting sun. Sunset Dinner Cruises depart from the main landing building at 11 Broadway in downtown Wisconsin Dells. Tickets are $62.50 for adults (ages 12 and older) and $47.50 for children ages 4 to 11. Children ages three and younger are free without a meal. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (608) 254-8555, or by visiting one of the several in-area ticket booths when you arrive in Wisconsin Dells. A complete schedule can be found at dellsboats.com.
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
R E A D LY N Readlyn, Iowa 50668 Shell Rock, Iowa 50670 319-885-4391 319-279-3396 www.readlynshellrockcoop.com
2015
96 Readlyn - Shell Rock
A Farmer-Owned Cooperative Serving Bremer & Butler Counties
Taking Good Care of You...and one old Grump!
Readlyn Savings Bank 141 Main Street Readlyn, IA 50668 319-279-3321 www.readlynsavingsbank.com
Drive-Up Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8am-4:30pm Fri to 6pm; Sat 8am-10am
Lobby Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-3pm Fridays until 6pm
HOME OF THE GRUMP READLYN GRUMP DAYS 2016 - JUNE 16-19 Thursday, June 16 Dusk - Family night Friday, June 17 8:00am - “Grumpsters” Readlyn Annual Golf Tournament 5:00pm - 7th Annual Grump Cup Fireman’s Softball Tournament 5:00pm - Pedal Pull 6:00pm - Little “Grumpsters” Crowning / Crowning of 2016 Readlyn Grump, 2016 Miss Readlyn, and Outstanding Volunteer 7:00pm - Pepper Tourney 8:30-12:30am - Dance in the tent to “L&J Sound” 9:00pm - 5k Glow Run/Walk 10:00pm - Fireworks Saturday, June 18 7:00-9:00 am - Boy Scout Breakfast 10:00am - PARADE
11:00am – 2:00pm - “Cedar Valley Blue Grass Band” 11:00am – 2:00pm - Kids in the Park 1:00pm - Bean Bag Tournament 1:00pm - Schafskopf Card Tournament 2:00-5:00pm - The Grump’s 1st Show & Shine Cars, bike, & trucks 2:30pm - Turtle Races 2:30-4pm - Bingo for All Ages 3:00pm - Warrior Games 3-3:30pm - Farmer’s Tan Competition 3:30pm - Cutest Baby Contest up to age 3 5:00pm - Magician 7:30pm - Hypnotist – Ray Thompson 9:00 pm - Dance to DJ with a Beat 11:00pm-?? - Breakfast Sunday, June 19 10:30 am - Community Church Service in the tent
READLYN MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION Serving The Community Since 1875
279-3893
234 Main Street
HOME • FARM www.readlynmutual.com
Affiliated with Grinnell Mutual
Experienced, Responsible and Courteous • Spraying • Fertilizing • Aerating • Seeding • Thatching • Leaf Removal • Mowing
Del’s Auto Repair Since 1957
Mechanical & Body Repairs, 24-Hour Towing We service all makes and models! 2306 Piedmont, Readlyn Dan Wedemeier: 319-269-6753 • Elton Schutte: 319-231-5104 weeds.onfire@yahoo.com • www.weedsonfire.com
(319) 279-3785 www.delsautorepair.com