Lisa’s guidebook

Lisa
Lisa’s guidebook

Food scene

Local coffee shop that roasts coffee beans fresh daily. Great place for breakfast - try the waffles with a honey lavender latte for sure! Friendly staff is very helpful.
Euphoria Coffee
124 E Elm St
Local coffee shop that roasts coffee beans fresh daily. Great place for breakfast - try the waffles with a honey lavender latte for sure! Friendly staff is very helpful.
Made from scratch pizza, crust and all....lots of wings variety, sandwiches, appetizers, and lots of COLD beer variety!!!
Dt's Pub & Primetime
228 S Main St
Made from scratch pizza, crust and all....lots of wings variety, sandwiches, appetizers, and lots of COLD beer variety!!!
Charlie and Brenda offer lots of local produce, baked goods, flowers and more. Open daily from May through October, at the corner of Ivy Road and Hwy 150.
Down's Produce
Charlie and Brenda offer lots of local produce, baked goods, flowers and more. Open daily from May through October, at the corner of Ivy Road and Hwy 150.
The place to go for a delicious hot breakfast and more.
Gus & Tony's Town House Cafe
The place to go for a delicious hot breakfast and more.
You can’t get any fresher than this! Fresh salad greens, cheeses, milk, yogurt and more at this self-serve farm store 15 minutes from Heaven. Don’t skip the soft serve frozen yogurt!
Country View Dairy
15197 230th St
You can’t get any fresher than this! Fresh salad greens, cheeses, milk, yogurt and more at this self-serve farm store 15 minutes from Heaven. Don’t skip the soft serve frozen yogurt!
Dotzy’s | Restaurant and Saloon
240 Center St
Amazing food and great beer served on the outdoor patio overlooking the Turkey River in Elkader. Don’t miss this gem!
Schera's | Algerian American Restaurant & Bar
107 S Main St
Amazing food and great beer served on the outdoor patio overlooking the Turkey River in Elkader. Don’t miss this gem!
So many amazing beers and great food to boot! Dine inside or out. Brewery tours available. Home of Pseudo Sue beer! Fun place 45 minutes from Heaven.
48 locals recommend
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co
1600 Prosperity Rd
48 locals recommend
So many amazing beers and great food to boot! Dine inside or out. Brewery tours available. Home of Pseudo Sue beer! Fun place 45 minutes from Heaven.
Excellent Chinese food in West Union, available for dine in or take out.
China Kitchen
Excellent Chinese food in West Union, available for dine in or take out.
Iconic old-time drive in located in West Union. Best onion rings ever!
Barrel Drive In
Iconic old-time drive in located in West Union. Best onion rings ever!
Fun little brewery in beautiful Decorah, Iowa. Bring food with you or get delivery from a local spot.
39 locals recommend
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
207 College Dr
39 locals recommend
Fun little brewery in beautiful Decorah, Iowa. Bring food with you or get delivery from a local spot.
Ampersand
Over 40 beers and ciders on tap. Try the Strawberry Point Rhubarb Sour - Lisa’s favorite. Great food and outdoor seating, too!
8 locals recommend
PIVO Brewery
101 Huber Dr
8 locals recommend
Over 40 beers and ciders on tap. Try the Strawberry Point Rhubarb Sour - Lisa’s favorite. Great food and outdoor seating, too!

Outdoor Recreation

Enjoy the beauty of our NE Iowa Driftless area.
Volga River State Recreation Area in scenic northeast Iowa is often referred to as “Little Switzerland” because of its rugged topography. Old steel bridges cross the Volga River and striking rock formations, prairie areas and natural woodlands characterize the 5,700-acre area. Hike or Bike more than 20 miles of multi-use trails at Volga River. Trails are groomed for equestrian riders, and are popular for mountain bikers, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers in different seasons. Please call the park office about trail conditions and accessibility. Fish for bluegill, crappie, ringed perch, largemouth bass and more at Frog Hollow Lake. A floating fishing pier, shoreline sidewalk and fishing jetties are all universally accessible and provide great fishing access. Anglers can also fish in the Volga River, which meanders through the southern portion of the recreation area. The river contains channel catfish and bass, and float trips for kayaks and canoes are popular activities on the river. Boat fin the waters of Frog Hollow Lake. Kayaking and canoeing are popular lake activities, and a universally accessible, three-lane boat ramp is available. Any size boat motor can be operated at “no wake” speeds on the lake. Hunt at Volga River, which is also a 5,700-acre public hunting area. A variety of wildlife species including waterfowl, small game, wild turkey and whitetail deer are abundant in the region. The Don Avenson Archery range is west of the scenic overlook and includes a trail with 40 targets for visitors to practice their skills from mid-April through the end of September.
Volga River State Recreation Area
10225 Ivy Rd
Volga River State Recreation Area in scenic northeast Iowa is often referred to as “Little Switzerland” because of its rugged topography. Old steel bridges cross the Volga River and striking rock formations, prairie areas and natural woodlands characterize the 5,700-acre area. Hike or Bike more than 20 miles of multi-use trails at Volga River. Trails are groomed for equestrian riders, and are popular for mountain bikers, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers in different seasons. Please call the park office about trail conditions and accessibility. Fish for bluegill, crappie, ringed perch, largemouth bass and more at Frog Hollow Lake. A floating fishing pier, shoreline sidewalk and fishing jetties are all universally accessible and provide great fishing access. Anglers can also fish in the Volga River, which meanders through the southern portion of the recreation area. The river contains channel catfish and bass, and float trips for kayaks and canoes are popular activities on the river. Boat fin the waters of Frog Hollow Lake. Kayaking and canoeing are popular lake activities, and a universally accessible, three-lane boat ramp is available. Any size boat motor can be operated at “no wake” speeds on the lake. Hunt at Volga River, which is also a 5,700-acre public hunting area. A variety of wildlife species including waterfowl, small game, wild turkey and whitetail deer are abundant in the region. The Don Avenson Archery range is west of the scenic overlook and includes a trail with 40 targets for visitors to practice their skills from mid-April through the end of September.
The only 18-hole golf course in NE Iowa.
Big Rock Country Club
9684 146th St
The only 18-hole golf course in NE Iowa.
Camping and recreation area. Playground.
Klocks Island Park Campground
Camping and recreation area. Playground.
38 locals recommend
Dunnings Spring Park
Ice Cave Road
38 locals recommend

City/town information

Movie theater, Opera house, coffee shops, antique stores, art collective, quilting store, clothing boutiques and wonderful dining. Plus the drive to Elkader is gorgeous.
Iowa 56
Movie theater, Opera house, coffee shops, antique stores, art collective, quilting store, clothing boutiques and wonderful dining. Plus the drive to Elkader is gorgeous.

Points of Interest

Stroll the lovely campus of this Division II school located in Fayette.
Upper Iowa University
605 Washington St
Stroll the lovely campus of this Division II school located in Fayette.
Home to Luther College, Decorah is a cool little cosmopolitan town 40 minutes from Heaven. Don’t miss the Vesterheim museum. You’ll also find great dining and nightlife plus shopping galore!
33 locals recommend
Vesterheim The National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center
520 W Water St
33 locals recommend
Home to Luther College, Decorah is a cool little cosmopolitan town 40 minutes from Heaven. Don’t miss the Vesterheim museum. You’ll also find great dining and nightlife plus shopping galore!
Historic home to a former Iowa Governor, located in the quaint little town of Clermont.
Montauk
26223 Harding Rd
Historic home to a former Iowa Governor, located in the quaint little town of Clermont.