Earlier this week, I shared some of Olio in Iowa readers’ favorite posts from the past year. But when I sat down to look back on my year in travel, I realized there were so…
Decorah
It’s been a bit of a crazy year—both personally and from a travel perspective. I’ve traversed across the Midwest and explored new areas of the south in my trusty old Acura (RIP, old friend) and…
Summer festivals are staples of many small Iowa towns. Earlier this summer my mom and I traveled through the rolling hills of northeast Iowa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nordic Fest. While Decorah is a beautiful…
What do you do while celebrating Decorah, Iowa’s 50th annual Nordic Fest? Visit the Vesterheim Museum—the National Norweign-American Museum and Heritage Center—of course! But even when it’s not the town’s biggest summer celebration, the Vesterheim Museum is a great place to learn more about the area’s rich heritage.
Northeast Iowa is full of hidden gems, but Decorah’s Seed Savers Exchange is an easy favorite. If you have even half an interest in horticulture, this heritage farm is a necessary stop if you happen to be in the area.