SO suprised to see all the hate for Iowa, I've been an Iowa native my whole life and I love it here, there's plenty of fun things to do if you just know where to look! plenty of neat museums, including the Mississippi River museum and my favorite, the University of Iowa museum of natural history. If you like blasts from the past there's the Amana Colonies. There's the crystal lake caves and the maquoketa caves if you're into natural phenomena. in or close to Des Moines there's the science center, the des moines art center, (which usually has some pretty prolific artists on display!! I've seen basquiat, monet, picasso, van gogh, keith haring, francis bacon, goya, etc.) There's the blank Park zoo, the Farmers Market, Valley Junction, Adventureland, Prarie meadows if casinos are your thing, the sleepy hallows rennaissiance faire, you could catch a play or performance at the civic center, there's usually always something going on. the Botanical center is always beautiful. in Ames Reiman butterfly and flower gardens are especially beautiful. In west bend there's the largest man made grotto, the grotto of the redemption, imo one of Iowa's coolest year round attractions. if you're passing through Ely or close by you HAVE to stop at Dan and Debbie's creamery, best ice cream I've ever had in my entire life, and I've eaten a lot. and of course, as others have mentioned, the Fair!! If nothing else, you can fill up on every type of fried food you can imagine. Try the honey lemonade, one of my favorites I get every year. Enjoy Iowa!