MAIN Travel North America USA Iowa

Once a wilderness of grassy plains when French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet visited in 1673, Iowa emerged as a U.S. territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

A half century later, Iowa was admitted as a state and has since grown to become known as the Corn State although it can claim to be the entire "breadbasket" for the U.S., producing over $10 billion in crops and livestock annually.

Today, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines continues to draw a million people annually, along with year-round tourist attractions at the Amana Colonies, Bonaparte Riverfront District, the historic village at Kalona and the John Wayne Birthplace in Winterset.

More about Iowa travel around the Web:

Travel Iowa - Top directory to cities and regions, plus a searchable directory of hotels and restaurants, major attractions throughout Iowa, with maps & directions.

Central Iowa Tourism Region - America's heartland laid out by region and searchable by location or keyword, including guides to camping, fishing, hunting, hotels, dining and more.

The Western Iowa Tourism Region - Places to go and things to do, event calendar, photos, related links.

See Des Moines.com - News & events, major attractions, restaurant guide, online hotel booking, maps, photos.

Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce - On the banks of the Mississippi with information on river festivals & boating tours, major & nearby attractions, sports & recreation, restaurant & shopping guides.

Sioux City Tourism - Major attractions with special focus on the Convention Center, Orpheum Theater and Tyson Events Center, hotels and dining, shopping, maps & directions.

Cedar Falls Visitors and Convention Bureau - Top travel destinations, festivals and events, comprehensive guide to nearby leisure trails, photos, maps, directions, hotel and restaurant info.