Essential Iowa Travel: Decorah Guide

IOWATravel

EssentialIowa

Receive Our E-Mail Newsletters

Advertise

On Essential Iowa

Learn About

This Website

Submit Articles

For Publication

E-Mail Us With Your Comments

CHEATSheet: Decorah

TRAVELLinks

TRIED AND TRUE

LOCAL FAVORITES

EATS

Decorah is home to the largest museum in the U.S. to

focus on the

immigrant experience. The Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum (523 W. Water Street) focuses on Norwegian settlers who picked northeast Iowa because it reminded them of their homeland. Adults will find plenty to fascinate them: folk art galore, a relocated home from the 1800s, traditional clothing, etc. Kids will enjoy seeing the boat that two bachelors took across the Atlantic to get here. If there's a Norwegian on your Christmas list, be sure to stop at the excellent gift shop for books, music, food, folk art, and other reasonably priced goods. (563) 382-9681. Admission.

MUSEUM

SHOPPING

MUSEUM

Decorah residents are outdoors enthusiasts and northeast Iowa is a haven for cyclists, paddlers, hikers and anglers. Dunning's Springs is a perfect place to enjoy a beautiful day in Winneshiek County any time of the year. Head to the Oneota Cooperative, 415 W. Water Street (just across the street from the Vesterheim) and pick up a picnic lunch from the deli, or choose from the interesting selection of organic and locally grown foods in the aisles of the eclectic grocery store. Then head to Dunning's Springs for lunch. If the weather is warm -- or if you are brave -- you can wade through the cool spring waters. Take College Drive to Quarry Street and head east until you reach the park. The Decorah Chamber of Commerce, (563) 382-3900. 300 W. Water Street, can point toward rental canoes, bikes, etc.

Ask a local about breakfast and they’ll send you to Ruby’s Restaurant and Catering on main street in downtown Decorah. The menu is loaded with breakfast staples: pancakes, bacon or sausage, and eggs. The biscuits and gravy are a satisfying plate: fluffy buttermilk biscuits topped with creamy sausage gravy. But the star of the breakfast menu is the famous Ronnie’s Rolls, a 60 year old recipe that own Jo Olson purchased for $425 when Ronnie’s Café closed in the fall of 1991.

SITES

Under the direction of Chef Andrew Shawver, the Dayton House Cafe,

(563) 382-9683, 516 Water St., serves sophisticated American cuisine alongside Norwegian favorites such as varme polse (sausages wrapped in fresh lefse) and rommegrot (cream porridge with cinnamon and sugar). Excellent bistro menu on Friday and Saturday nights: It's not open for dinner the rest of the week.

Exchange to drool over the extensive array of heirloom fruits and vegetables in the organization's test gardens. Seed Savers offers impossible-to-find seeds and plants at minimal prices and great gardening advice free of charge. Visitors are welcome April through December. The farm is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A donation of $1.00 per visitor is suggested. (563) 382-5990.

Gardeners from around the world make trips to the Seed Savers

It's easy to miss one of the funkiest clothiers in town whilst wandering down main street. In the spring and summer, the Decorah Hatchery, (406 W. Water Street,

563/382-4103) is just as the name implies, butduring the rest of the year the hatchery offers an outdoor

togs, particularly suitable for the array of winter activities in northeast Iowa. This is where you buy one of the most popular souvenirs available in Decorah, the t-shirts with the hatchery logo which reads: “Another Quality Chick from the Decorah Hatchery.” There's also an assortment of more than 700 stocking caps.