An “Iowa Nice” Kind of Day!
I spent the Fourth of July this year in the Okoboji area in Iowa, as I sometimes do. This year, due to flooding in Northwest Iowa (heartbreaking), I had to take a different route than normal to get there. On the way home I was looking for fun stops on Google Maps and I spotted Lost Island Lake Nature Center a ways south of Spencer, Iowa. So I paid it a visit on the Sunday afternoon after the 4th.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a lovely and large lake with an interesting nature center for kids of all ages. On the way there Google Maps took me on several miles of gravel, but it was a beautiful drive, with marsh and wetlands on both sides of the road. When I reached Lost Island Lake Park, there were folks enjoying the lake via fishing, swimming, and sunbathing. It was a typical holiday weekend at the lake.
Camping area too! ⬇️
I meandered through the park and located the Nature Center, situated overlooking the lake. When I entered I discovered a fun and inviting facility with a number of interesting exhibits to explore. Let me show you a few of them.
The Outdoor Entry Area
Inside the Nature Center
⬇️ I’ve never seen one like this before! 😮
After browsing the exhibits I spoke with a staff member who was just as friendly and enthusiastic as could be. It looks like a fun place both to take classes and explore as a family! The facility website is below. ⬇️
Website ⬇️
Map Link ⬇️
After I visited the nature center, I walked down to the lake and discovered a fun picnic table right next to the lake with a descending staircase with pretty rocks to make it feel more dramatic. I loved the beauty of the lake and the coziness of the picnic area. I sat on a nearby bench for a while to enjoy the scene.
Exiting the Parking Lot
On my way out of the park I called my mom to tell her about my stop and she told me she heard on the radio that a local country church nearby was having a dinner as part of the local Bully Bullhead Weekend but she thought I had missed it. With a little help from my good friend Google I located the church and learned the event was in a hour. So, I took a slow Sunday afternoon drive like my grandparents used to take and went through the small town of Ruthven, Iowa. I drove right past a Freedom Rock (see earlier post) so I stopped to take photos of that and the unique water tower in town. I then headed out to the church and discovered a lovely little country church with a cemetery across the road. Idyllic! 🫶
After I entered the church I discovered there was an organ concert starting so I went in and enjoyed one song while sitting in the back pew. Apparently this concert was part of a progressive organ concert in three towns and this church was the last stop. It happens annually. Fun!
I made my way downstairs because I wanted to beat some forecasted storms and enjoyed a wonderful meal of maid-rites (like I had as a kid), sides (including pickled beets! 😋), lemonade and homemade pie and treats while visiting with two other ladies from a nearby town. There was also a small fair trade gift shop with lovely items from Guatemala in one corner and I took the opportunity to purchase a few Christmas gifts and a computer tote bag for myself. Everyone was so friendly and happy to visit with a stranger from out of the area, although they beamed when I said I grew up not too far away. 😁
On the way home, I marveled at the unique clouds and pulled over a couple of times to take a few photos. I later got to drive through some rough weather about 40 miles from home, but thankfully it was only a few miles worth.
So I had a wonderful impromptu day enjoying all things “Iowa Nice” thanks to the web, a beautiful park and countryside, friendly folks, and my mom. I don’t know how my mom does it, since she doesn’t use the internet, but she always knows fun places or events to go to.
I guess I’ll just leave this here - my mom seems to know everything! 😉😂🫶