Detour to Dyersville

Opening day for baseball is always one of my favorite days. It means that spring is truly upon us and that Iowa will be in full bloom in no time. April 1 is the traditional opening day for one of the most famous baseball fields in the world that is located right here in Iowa. Let me give you a hint: "If you build it, he will come."

The Field of Dreams Movie Site is located in Dyersville, just a short drive west of Dubuque in the northeast corner of the state. I had a chance recently to visit the field for some pre-season fun. It was as perfect as I had remembered it from the last time I was there, except for the missing corn. Don’t worry about that, it will grow as the days warm up. The Field of Dreams Movie Site is a great place to run the bases, play catch or just sit in the sun and imagine the players taking the field.

Dyersville may be a small community, but it’s big on activities for a traveler. One of only 52 basilicas in the country, the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier boasts 64-stained glass windows and is more beautiful than I had imagined. I had lunch at Country Junction Restaurant where you’ll fill up on delicious foods and you must save room for dessert. Don’t worry, I don’t think calories count when you’re on vacation.

And a trip to Dyersville isn’t complete without checking out the National Farm Toy Museum. This museum offers an array of 10,000 farm toys, trucks, banks and other toys of interest to both the serious collector and casual visitor.

Sure, at the end of the day you’ll wonder, is this heaven? But rest assured you're still in Iowa. And when you venture outside of Dyersville, you’ll find the rest of Iowa makes you ask that same question.


Colleen Murphy, Iowa Tourism Office