Contrasting traditions in Denison

On a recent business trip to Denison, located along the Lincoln Highway in West Central Iowa, I enjoyed comparing old and new traditions. Denison may be best known as the hometown of Donna Reed, the television and movie actress who was famous for “The Donna Reed Show” and won an Academy Award for her performance in “From Here to Eternity.”

At the Donna Reed Performing Arts Center, I visited with Jerry Peterman, who clearly had great knowledge of local history and knew everything about the restoration of this 1914 German Opera House. Jerry showed me around the theater, including backstage. I admire the hard work this community put in to restore and maintain the theater for movies, plays, music and special events. It’s a lovely, intimate setting for the performing arts. Browse around the lobby of the theater to see displays featuring photos and memorabilia about the life and career of Donna Reed. Souvenirs are available, too. You can see Donna’s Oscar in the 1885 McHenry House, a local history museum.

If Donna Reed is the traditional tourism draw here, Cronk’s Restaurant is the traditional eating and gathering place. Right off Highway 30, Cronk’s has been serving up comfort food as long as I can remember, and our breakfast was especially good (and inexpensive). Such a contrast to the night before, when at Caleta Buena (Good Harbor) Restaurant in downtown Denison, we sampled coconut shrimp, garlic shrimp, and ceviche, chosen from a large menu of seafood specialties. Freshly prepared and spiced just right, these dishes provided a taste of Latin America in a homey and colorful setting.

Other local attractions include an aquatic center, the Crawford County Speedway, and Yellow Smoke Park.

Boulders Inn and Suites is located on the Majestic Hills Golf Course on south edge of town, with a state-of-the-art conference center and the Majestic Hills Bar & Grill on site. Whether you’re passing through on business, or meandering along the Lincoln Highway, stop in Denison for a western Iowa welcome.

Kathy Bowermaster, Iowa Tourism Office

Who needs George Clooney?



One at a time, we shot footage of our four actors inside an SUV
pretending as though they – and their animated counterparts –
were headed off for an Iowa adventure!

I’ve never been to Hollywood, but last week a bit of Hollywood came to me.

On a cold, windy, cloudy spring day in Iowa, we gathered at a private home in West Des Moines to shoot the Iowa Tourism Office’s commercial for an ad campaign that will run during April and May in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Chicago.



Our “boy” and “girl” actors, aka Bella and Max, were outstanding.
And they appreciated this opportunity to come inside
and warm up after shooting in the cold and wind.



I had never been a part of such a project and was stunned at the amount of work involved in shooting a 30-second ad and the many talented people who make the whole project work. From make-up artists and hair stylist to producers and sound technicians, more than 15 people played in a role in accomplishing what was a full day’s shoot. (I have a new appreciation for the work involved in filming and editing a sitcom, or – gasp – a full-length feature film!)

Producer Brad Morford positions a camera in the front seat
while “girl” actor, Bella, prepares for her moment in the spotlight.

This year’s ad is a fun blend of animation and a family of four who are heading to Iowa for an affordable, close-to-home getaway. The magic of technology means the animation will join the video later, but our family of actors did a great job interacting with animated objects that weren’t there. In the studio over the next few weeks, the team will edit the video footage, add the animation, record the voiceover and select just the right music to create an ad that positions Iowa as an ideal family vacation destination.

If you live in the Milwaukee, Minneapolis or Chicago markets, look for the Iowa Tourism Office’s ad – and corresponding billboard ads – coming to your television and expressway soon. Or follow us on Facebook or Twitter where we’re already making plans to debut the advertisements. I promise they’ll have you packing your bags for Iowa!

Shawna Lode, Iowa Tourism Office

Quad Cities: Four (or five or six) times the fun

A recent whirlwind tour of the Quad Cities convinced me that I need to plan a weekend getaway there soon! From LeClaire to Bettendorf to Davenport and (shh! don’t tell) across the river to Illinois, we found way too many attractions to visit in the few hours we had.

My favorite stop was the brand-new Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire. It’s situated right along the river on LeClaire’s historic and charming main thoroughfare. Using grains and other ingredients from within 25 miles of their distillery, brothers Garrett and Ryan Burchett make River Baron vodka and will soon release River Rose gin. Their bourbon should be ready in the fall. An interesting and entertaining tour taught me a few of the fine points of this craft. I must say I’m not a vodka drinker ordinarily, but after hearing about the skill and care that goes into the process, I was game for a sip. The high-ceilinged sample room offered great views of the river. Customers can purchase this Iowa beverage on site or at many grocery stores in eastern Iowa.


If you watch the History Channel, you know about American Pickers. And yes, you can visit Antique Archaeology, the home base for Frank, Mike and Danielle. The American Pickers Festival will debut this June 4-5 in LeClaire, so mark your calendar. LeClaire’s downtown offers lots of little boutiques and antique shops, with several restaurants interspersed among the stores. 



Crane & Pelican, LeClaire



New to me was the Crane & Pelican, housed in a brick mansion on a hill not too far from the pickers. A tasty shrimp salad and even tastier cheesecake was presented very nicely. I loved the historic atmosphere. Upstairs is a small gift shop. The town offers restaurants for a variety of tastes, from traditional to trendy.

Be sure you stop at the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center, perched on top of the hill right off Interstate 80. Have a free cup of coffee while you browse for Iowa products, including local wine, art, jewelry, and other gifts. Pick up brochures and maps for tourism attractions and destinations in the area.



The river is the main attraction for the Quad Cities, which by the way, officially encompasses Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, East Moline, and Rock Island, Illinois. The best place to experience the river is aboard a riverboat, and you have your choice of two.

The Twilight docks in LeClaire and offers a round-trip cruise to Dubuque, with overnight at the Grand Harbor Resort. There’s entertainment all day, plated meals cooked fresh on board, and of course the wonderful scenery.



Celebration Belle



The Celebration Belle riverboat departs from Moline and offers a wide variety of day-long and overnight cruises to points in Iowa and Illinois, as well as fall foliage, sightseeing, and themed cruises. Another great way to enjoy the river? Rent a bike from the QC CVB and ride along miles of trails that follow the river. You can even cross the river on the Channel Cat Water Taxi – just load your bike on board and buy one ticket that allows you to get on and off in several locations on both sides of the river.

Overnight lodging options are varied and plentiful in all of the communities. Take a peek inside the elegant lobby of the newly restored Hotel Blackhawk, a downtown Davenport landmark since 1915.

I’m running out of space – and you’ll run out of time to enjoy all of the sites in the Quad Cities!

Kathy Bowermaster, Iowa Tourism Office

Iowa's Best Breaded Tenderloin for 2011

Since 2003, the Iowa Pork Producers Association has named a Best Breaded Tenderloin in the state. (Except for in 2004 when they named the best grilled version.) I've devoured six of the award-winners, indulging in the current winner just last month at Buck's Bar and Grill in Mitchellville.

Truthfully, I'm really not much of a tenderloin fan. It's not something I typically order while dining out, but for some reason I'm drawn to trying the award winners.

I arrived at Buck's about 1 p.m. and hungry. Which was a good thing because the tenderloins are huge. I'm talking spilling way out of the bun huge. Did I mention it's also served with fries? It took me a while, but I did manage to eat the whole tenderloin. And I have to say, it was quite delicious!

Here's the full list of winners. How many have you had? Where do you think best tenderloin is?

2003 - Darrell's Place, Hamlin
2004 - Suburban Restaurant, Ames (grilled)
2005 - Dairy Sweet, Dunlap
2006 - The Town House Supper Club, Wellsburg
2007 - Larsen's Pub, Elk Horn
2008 - Augusta Restaurant, Oxford
2009 - Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe, Prairie City
2010 - Buck's Bar & Grill, Mitchellville

Jessica O'Riley, Iowa Tourism Office

Comfort Food at its Finest: Breitbach's

Earlier this month I visited Balltown. Located just a short and scenic drive north of Dubuque, this tiny town - population 47 - has made a big impact on visitors. What I didn’t know about Balltown was that it has one of the best views of the Mississippi River. There is a nice lookout area and on a clear day you can see 70 miles into Wisconsin. I was most taken with the bluffs on the Iowa side sprinkled with farms. It looked like a Grant Wood painting had come to life in front of my eyes.

Balltown is also home to Iowa’s oldest bar and restaurant – Breitbach’s Country Dining. Opened in 1852, but bought by the Breitbach family in 1862, the Breitbach’s have been in continuous ownership since that time and are now in their sixth generation of ownership. The first five generations of owners had it pretty easy compared to the challenges that its current owner, Mike Breitbach, has overcome. On December 24, 2007, the restaurant burned down. It was rebuilt and then 10 months later, burned down again.

The reubilding process, both of them, are amazing stories of community and courage. People came from miles away  to help rebuild. Which makes you wonder, what is it about this place that would inspire people to roll up their sleeves and rebuild a restaurant. Not once, but twice! After all, aren’t their restaurants all over the place? What’s so special about Breitbach’s?

Like every good restaurant, the food is delicious! Made from scratch. Comfort food. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing that I’m still thinking about, and the best peach pie. Additionally, Breitbach’s gives you a feeling of history, family and love. It reminded me of a place that my grandparents would have taken me to as a child. They always took us to the best places.

Colleen Murphy, Iowa Tourism Office

Doing da Vinci

When I heard we were going to be getting an exhibition on Leonardo da Vinci, I will admit I was probably like many people who think, “What does he have to do with science; he only painted the Mona Lisa?” But hey, I never said I was one of the science-savvy people at the Science Center of Iowa. However, as Da Vinci – The Genius started to roll into our building and filled up the 14,000 square feet, I realized – this guy did everything. He was an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician and architect. He’s the definition of a renaissance man.


The exhibition displays authentic replicas of his codices (old word for book or journal), inventions, works of art, and ideas. Many of these inventions are things that we use today. It boggles your mind someone thought of this 500 years ago!

It has truly amazed me the distance this exhibition has reached people outside of Iowa. We’ve had people from 27 different states come and visit Da Vinci. It’s sad to think we only have a few days left with Da Vinci here! Spring Break will be the last chance people will be able to check Da Vinci before it leaves the Midwest. If you haven’t visited yet – make sure you do it before March 20!


And stay tuned! SCI always has more exciting things coming down the pipeline!


Chelsea Webb, School and Group Sales Coordinator, Science Center of Iowa

Food, wine and conversation at Baru 66

A recent culinary experience totally transcended me and my husband into an evening of food, wine and conversation.

For Christmas we had received a gift certificate to Baru 66 of Windsor Heights, a semifinalist for the "Best New Restaurant" award from the prestigious James Beard Foundation. According to the Des Moines Register Datebook, "That's not just for the Midwest. That's Best New Restaurant in the United States." So we booked our reservations and made a night of it.

Feeling a bit adventurous we chose the "Chef's Selection," which meant that every course would be selected by the Chef. This turned out to be a delightful surprise each and every time. Our server graciously announced and explained each course and we were able to take our time and enjoy each bite. Two hours after arriving we had our final sip of wine, bite of dessert, and became a bit sad to leave into the night.

But, there are many more evenings to be enjoyed, because.....


According to Datebook, "three other restaurants snagged nominations for Best Chef, Midwest: Steve Logsdon of Lucca (Des Moines), Jason Simon of Alba (Des Moines) and Matt Steigerwald of Lincoln Cafe (Mount Vernon)." The awards ceremony is scheduled for May.

Another Iowa chef, Carly Groben of Proof and Flour (Des Moines) was a finalist for Food & Wine magazine's "The People's Best New Chef" award. Groben was one of ten nominees in the Midwest category, and the only chef from Iowa.

While these Iowans have received very prestigious nominations, other chefs throughout the state are developing more amazing culinary experiences. Make your reservations and enjoy them. Enjoy!

LuAnn Reinders, Iowa Tourism Office

Cedar Rapids: A Resilient City

Upon arriving in Cedar Rapids in April 2010, I could not believe all the stories, pictures, exhibits and media coverage I saw and read of the Floods of 2008. As a former Iowan, I had followed the national media coverage in 2008 very closely. What a difference to arrive and hear the stories first hand from the people that lived it, including the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau staff.

The feature of Iowans that I have always loved and admired is the strength of character to pick ourselves up and start over. Cedar Rapidians are prime examples of this remarkable character.

On Saturday, January 22, I attended the “Signs of Progress” community event honoring many of the men and women that came together to aid their families, friends and strangers during and after this terrible disaster. It was a wonderful event to recognize some of the many community heroes and to pat ourselves on our backs for the accomplishments that have been made in the last two and a half years.

Cedar Rapids is a vibrant and resilient community. The work has just begun to rebuild and the opportunities are limitless. It is not too late to be a part of making our hometown the best place to live in the State of Iowa and the United States of America.

To learn more about the “Signs of Progress,” please visit http://www.signsofprogresscr.com/ or pick up a Signs of Progress brochure and map at the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 119 1st Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids.

Marilee Fowler, President, Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau