Scroll Top

About Olio in Iowa

Olio in Iowa is a Midwest-based travel blog inspired by offbeat destinations, roadside attractions, and “world’s largest” things. Started in 2012, Olio in Iowa focuses on unique travel destinations and the joys of roadtripping. With readers located across the country, Olio in Iowa strives to highlight the nation’s sometimes overlooked locales and showcase the people who help create and maintain them.

GET ADVENTURES DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX!

Sign up for Olio in Iowa’s email list and receive exclusive content, expert tips and be the first to know when there’s a new post on the blog.

Latest Posts

Meet Big Ole, America’s Biggest Viking in Alexandria, MN

I’ve visited a lot of large roadside attractions, but Big Ole definitely has one of the strangest backstories. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, America’s Biggest Viking is much more than a random landmark.

Everything You Need to Know About the Iowa 80 World’s Largest Truckstop

I’m a frequent visitor of the World’s Largest Truckstop. Maybe you are too. For our household, this stop is a convenient halfway point when we travel along Interstate 80 from Des Moines to Chicago to…

The Secret of the Black Angel of Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City

In honor of Halloween and this especially spooky time of year, I decided to wait to share one of my Iowa adventures from a few months back. While near Iowa City, Kristen and I made a quick detour to Oakland Cemetery in search of the Black Angel…

Plan a Groovy Stay at The Highlander Hotel in Iowa City

I love seeing old spaces transformed into something new. In Iowa City, The Highlander Hotel is the perfect example of a classic space turned into a modern gem.

Available Now: Iowa Supper Clubs

From relish trays and Old Fashioned cocktails to prime rib and fried fish, supper clubs are a quintessential part of midwestern dining culture. In Iowa, hundreds of supper clubs once dotted the state’s rural highways and byways, serving as havens for hungry travelers and community gathering places for small towns. Today, fewer of these classic eateries remain, but the ones that do hold some unique stories and incredible dining experiences.

Iowa Supper Clubs Book Cover

FEATURED BY