There are a number of exciting Des Moines day trips from covered bridges to windmills that are definitely worth visiting. In my previous post, Discovering things to see and do in Des Moines, Iowa I shared the fun sights and local dining experiences we enjoyed during our week stay in downtown. The two day trips we planned during our visit include: 1) the city of Winterset and the covered bridges of Madison County and 2) the Dutch community of Pella.
Winterset and the Covered Bridges of Madison County
Madison County is the historic covered bridge capital of Iowa. It features the most covered bridges located in a single area. The Covered Bridges Scenic Byway spans 82 miles, leading into the heart of America. The county built at least nineteen covered bridges between 1868 and 1889, with six remaining today. Due to the numerous rivers, creeks, and streams, crossings became essential for farmers. These covered bridges played a vital role in protecting the internal wooden trusses and floorboards, which decayed rapidly in the harsh weather conditions.
We visited five of the bridges today. The last one pictured below, Roseman Bridge, is probably the most famous. This bridge is featured prominently in the 1995 movie with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, The Bridges of Madison County. It’s hard to believe this year is the 30 year anniversary of the film.
One major head’s up when visiting each of these bridges is that they are all located in rural areas accessible only by dusty gravel roads. Your car may not be white when you start your journey, but it will certainly be covered in white dust when you finish. Thankfully, we have a rental 😉.
If you enjoy the history of covered bridges around the U.S., see my earlier post on Historic Stowe, Vermont and discovering its quaint covered bridges.
Winterset
The quaint city of Winterset is about 45 minutes from Des Moines. It is both the birthplace of Hollywood legend John Wayne and the setting for the book and film The Bridges of Madison County. The Madison County Courthouse (1869) is the centerpiece of the historic town square in Winterset.
Of course we couldn’t resist the famous local soft serve ice cream at Frostee’s (last photo). It’s been an ice cream shop since the 1950’s and is located in a 1917 Standard Oil Co. service station. The current structure, built in the 1920s, incorporates the gas pump area where the walk-up windows are now located.
St. Patrick’s Irish Settlement
Established in 1852 is the parish of St. Patrick’s in the Irish Settlement. The first church burned and the current wooden structure was built in 1868. One memorable afternoon in 1979, the congregation welcomed Pope John Paul II as he stepped out from a helicopter with an entourage of secret service and media on the church lawn. We didn’t tour inside the church today as it’s closed.
The Dutch community of Pella, Iowa
Pella is the place where Dutch heritage is in abundance in Iowa. This delightful town is located just a 45-minute drive from Des Moines. Every spring, the town plants hundreds of thousands of tulips and comes alive with its annual tulip festival. Once the tulips have bloomed, the town replaces the tulip beds with colorful flowers.
The Jaarsma Bakery (1898) offers home baked Dutch letters and many other Dutch treats. Dutch letters are flaky pastries that are filled with almond paste and then shaped like the letter S.
A Dutch canal
The Molengracht Plaza, in the heart of Pella’s business district, mimics a genuine Dutch canal. It spans more than 100,000 square feet. It beautifully merges offices, dining, retail and Old World Charm.
A musical clock and a windmill
The Klokkenspel is a musical clock with 4 foot tall mechanical figures moving to the tunes of a carillon driven by a 147-bell computer.
The Vermeer Windmill is over 124 feet tall and is the tallest working windmill in North America. Designed and built in the Netherlands, the windmill required reassembly after arriving in Pella.
Sunken Garden Park
Sunken Garden Park gets its name from its main feature, a sunken pond shaped like a Dutch wooden shoe. The rest of the 3 acre park features formal tulip beds, trees, a windmill, vintage benches from the turn of the century, and light poles. Popular with tourists all year round, the park is particularly beautiful in the spring when over 15,000 tulips are in full bloom. Many people also enjoy ice skating during the winter months.
If you happen to be looking for Des Moines day trips less than an hours drive away, then we highly recommend both Winterset and Pella. They are quaint towns that are quite unique and very easy to discover on your own.
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