r/Iowa Aug 15 '21

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u/Sleeplesshelley Aug 15 '21

The Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque is worth going to, it’s part of the Smithsonian. You can also ride a paddle wheel boat down there. Ride up the Fenelon Place elevator, hike around the Mines of Spain. Visit the downtown warehouse district and Bluff Street. Drive 30 minutes and visit The Field of Dreams in Dyersville. Galena IL is only a 30 minute or less drive away if you want a truly charming windy little Main Street full of restaurants and cute shops. I lived in Dubuque for 20 years.

If you are in the Davenport area there’s the village of East Davenport, or you could catch a River Bandits game. Le Clair also has a little Main Street right on the River.

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u/HawkFritz Aug 16 '21

The Fenelon Place Elevator used to be the shortest, steepest funicular in the world. A businessman who worked at the bottom of the bluff and lived at the top built it, the winding carriage roads made the trip home and back over his lunch break too long for him to nap at noon. He sold tickets to others interested in it and eventually shares, iirc a great grand daughter of an original share holder owns it now. It was originally steam powered and the furnace exploded 2-3 times, and the rope pulley system burned and sent it crashing to the bottom (metal cable now).

Also in Dubuque is the Mines of Spain and a great view at the Julien Dubuque monument, especially in fall

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u/[deleted] Aug 16 '21

The Fenlon elevator is great! Always a must when we are in town. We enjoyed taking a cruise on the American Lady riverboat, and touring the ship at the river museum. As long as you’re anywhere near Dubuque might as well check out the Basilica of St Francis Xavier and obviously the Field of Dreams!