I want to do some short day trips this summer to some of Iowa's hidden jewels. What are the best bets?

Where are some great places to camp in eastern Iowa?

Good morning, Patch readers. If you know much about me, you know I'm a bicycle rider -- a leisure rider, not a racer. Before our dialogue is over today, I'll be recommending a couple different bicycle experiences for you, family and friends -- nothing too rigorous but rather just enjoyable. So, as a sort of "primer" for your experiences on bikes this summer, let me recommend you attend this Saturday's first-ever "Iowa Bicycle Festival" in our Greene County seat town of Jefferson. It's got something for everybody, even the non-bicyclists. It's not an organized bike ride, but rather a kind of expo -- with a parade (decorate your bikes and be in it!), bicycle-themed art show, competitions, cycling "seminars" or conversations with leading Iowa bike advocates, a bicycling apparel fashion show, pedaling tours of the very ridable town (it's flat!), food vendors and more. Get out the crepe paper, streamers, flags and costumes; bring your bikes; come to Jefferson, and join the fun! Best thing: It's nearly all free! You can get lots more information at www.iowabicyclefestival.com or the Facebook page for "Iowa Bicycle Festival." I'll be moving on to other non-bicyclng recommendations in coming posts, as I answer your questions and give you suggestions for sampling Iowa this summer.

O.K., if you remember only one thing from my tips today,it should be this: Chocolate malt, soda fountain, Jay Drug Store, in my hometown of Shenandoah in southwest Iowa. Best. Malt. On. Earth!

Chuck, I'll be in Shenandoah next month, so Jay Drug Store soda fountain it is. I'd forgotten!

Ames has great entertainment options for you to enjoy all summer. Reiman Gardens, one of the largest public gardens in the state, is a great place to explore. Enjoy their greenhouses, indoor and outdoor gardens and the 2,500 sq ft butterfly wing. The 14-acre site has many unique displays including their brand new "Nature Connects" exhibit that includes 27 LEGO sculptures containing more than 500,000 LEGO bricks. You can also stroll through their stunning rose gardens that incorporate sustainable gardening practices, along with the beautiful flowering displays.

Ames' Main Street Cultural District is another great place to be. They have a great selection of locally owned restaurants and shops, in addition to live music and outdoor events in both the Bandshell Park and Tom Evans Park all summer long. Saturday mornings, the streets come alive during the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market. Bring the family and enjoy live enterainment, cooking demonstrations and activities for the kids, while you shop for fresh produce, crafts and other local specialties.

If you like golfing, try one of the great area courses, including Coldwater Golf Links, Veenker Memorial Golf Course, Homewood Golf Course and the Ames Golf and Country Club.

Then head to the Furman Aquatic center and enjoy some time on the lazy river.

Check out www.visitames.com for a listing of Ames area events and places to visit or ask us about specific questions that you may have.

Hey All! I’m a children’s librarian at Marion Public Library, part of the Metro Library Network (http://metrolibrarynetwork.org/) and a Mount Vernon native. I’m glad I was asked to be on this panel! I can offer some tips about what to do in Eastern Iowa, especially for your whole family!
Of course, my first suggestion is to check out what your local library has planned for the summer. Our Summer Reading Program begins June 4th, and we have some really fun stuff planned for all ages! I'm sure your library does too.
Let the questions begin! :)

Because of all my travels in Iowa over the last 40 years, I often get asked, "Where's the best place in Iowa?'' My answer usually surprises people. I think it's New Melleray Abbey, the Catholic Trappist monastery located about 12 miles southwest of Dubuque over in northeast Iowa. The 163-year-old monastery, which sits on about 3,000 acres, much of it forested, is beautiful and serene and welcoming to all. You do not have to be Catholic or even religious to stop there, walk through the church, guest house, gift shop and around the grounds. You can also make a fascinating stop -- and this may strike you as a little weird -- at the very successful "Trappist Caskets" headquarters across the road, to see how the monks and their employees are making fine, simple wood caskets, urns and furnishings. If you want to talk to a monk, ask for my pal Father Jim O'Connor, who in his mid 80s is still the best thinker and the best writer I've ever known. Of course, being at New Melleray would mean that you're close by Iowa's oldest restaurant & bar, Breitbach's Country Dining, in little Balltown. And it would also mean you're near Dubuque -- and I may tell you more about some places to go there in a later post here.

Any recommendations for a hike in for a few miles (or more), camp, hike out?

What rivers offer the best canoe trips in Iowa?

The Jackson Pollock exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center is worth visiting. I haven't been to Living History Farms in Urbandale for some time, but might put it on my list this summer. Any other day activities people can work in with their families without taking a lot of time off?

I'm also planning on spending a lot of time this summer at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines. The trail's great, so is the lake. Anyone have a dog I can borrow for the dog park?

When my kids were middle school & elementary school ages, for a couple years I would designate a "Des Moines Day," where I'd knock off work and away we'd go, doing "unusual" sorts of things. I took them to the choir loft of St. Ambrose Cathedral to see the big pipe organ (and we wound up playing it!). We went to what today is Principal Park and got permission to take a walk around the field, and take their photos doing fake-pitching on the mound with the Iowa Capitol in the background. We visited the Drake basketball lockerrooms, and I showed them the sign above the tunnel leaving Drake Stadium: "Through this tunnel pass the greatest athletes in the world," or something like that. Oh, and we went elevator-riding in downtown's tallest buildings. All kind of funky stuff, but the kids really got into it -- and guess how much it all cost?

Now, one recommendation that is a little costly, but I'm betting is worth it: In June, Carla and I will be staying at the Historic Park Inn in downtown Mason City. That's the newly renovated & preserved hotel that was designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright. I did a walk-thru when it opened last fall, but we'll stay there for the first time in June when a bicycle group of ours has a reunion there. If you go, hellos to Ann MacGregor, a great friend of us Offenburgers and the person who led the amazing renovation project.

Chuck, This sounds great. To you and the others, where is The One Place to go to be surrounded by luxury, whatever the cost?

Just a few ideas on inexpensive activities to do with children in Des Moines. Cross the arched downtown bridge and admire the Des Moines river. Explore the Asian garden and pagoda along the Des Moines River. Free educational leisurely stroll in the State Historical Museum. Some fresh salad rolls and other ethnic snacks from the New Oriental Food Store in the East Village. Walk up to the Capitol and enjoy the skyline from the Capitol. Take a guided tour of the Capitol and be amazed, most especially by the law library (better than the Harry Potter library, as the tour guide suggested). If you like Asian food, try Asian pizza at Fong's Pizza in the Court Avenue.

And don't forget Valley Junction, which has a terrific lineup of events throughout the summer and shops you can just lose yourself in for hours.

So, I took a lunch break from trying to think of great places for you to go around Iowa, and I ran an errand to ToJo's bar & grill in tiny Jamaica, which is about 12 miles west of Perry. While there, I discovered their noon special today was liver & onions -- and OMG! I'm not putting that on my list for you all -- liver & onions at ToJo's in Jamaica -- and now I need a nap!

Ooops! I just reported that I'm "not putting" the ToJo's liver & onions in Jamaica on the list for you. Duh! Here's what I meant:

So, I took a lunch break from trying to think of great places for you to go around Iowa, and I ran an errand to ToJo's bar & grill in tiny Jamaica, which is about 12 miles west of Perry. While there, I discovered their noon special today was liver & onions -- and OMG! I'm now definitely putting that on my list for you all -- liver & onions at ToJo's in Jamaica -- and I need a nap!

Couple of ideas from southern Iowa: A weekend at Honey Creek Lodge at Lake Rathbun. It's beautiful and for my money Rathbun has the least murky water of any of Iowa's Corps of Engineers Lakes. Rathbun is between the county seat towns of Albia and Centerville, which have beautifully preserved courthouse squares. Albia has more shopping options, but both have loads of antique stores to check out.

Glazed donuts at Bunkers Dunkers Bakery, east side of the courthouse square in Jefferson. That's all you need to know. These are REAL glazed donuts, I mean lunkers!

Todd Richissin asks an interesting, even if decadent, question: Where can you go in Iowa to be absolutely pampered in luxury, if you're not worrying about the cost? The Des Moines CVB came back with a good answer: The Suites of 800 Locust & Day Spa. We've stayed there one time, when we were leading a tour group, and the rooms, bar, food and service were fantastic. Another I'd recommend is the David Pattee Suite at the Hotel Pattee in Perry. At least that's my memory of what they call the finest suite at the hotel. Elegant furnishings, lotsa room, and we've always really liked the restaurant, lobby and all the art at the hotel. Side story: Roberta Ahmanson, the Perry native and California philanthropist, who renovated the hotel into a first class facility in the '90s, once told me that when she was in high school, she never had a date. "I was a Bible-thumping journalism nerd," she told me. "It was a deadly combination."

An experience that you really need to have, before it's too late: Go to Milford, just south of the Iowa Great Lakes, and go see brothers Herman & Emil Richter at The Three Sons clothing in their "Early American Building," as they call it. It's one of Iowa's finest stores for casual clothing -- really! -- and it's also the home of all the "University of Okoboji" apparel and fun. Whether you buy anything or not, get the Richters to tell you the story of how they started into business back in the 1960s when they were kids. When you hear the story, and then see what they've made themselves today, it's one heck of an inspirational story. Plus you'll be laughing so hard you'll cry at some of the crazy stories that have happened along their way. BTW, a couple weeks ago, Herman Richter was telling me that the No. 1 car for his wife Paula and him is a 1992 Buick Roadmaster, which is dark blue, big and long like a limo. As we talked, he checked the odometer and reported the car has 424,859 miles on it. Then he added, "The best part is that two more payments and it's mine!"

One more tip from my old hometown of Shenandoah -- the lemon coconut pie at The Sanctuary, a unique bistro two blocks south on Elm Street from the main intersection downtown. Mary Peterson came up with the recipe and instructions for making this delicious pie, and it's now being continued by Lucy Clark, who owns the place. Single best piece of pie I've ever had, although the peach pie made by 93-year-old Dorothy Adamson of Jefferson is a close second.

Speaking of pie reminded me of a few desserts I should mention! Creme Cupcake on South Union is divine. Creme even makes cupcakes for your dog! I'm also partial to the chocolate lava cake from Alba in Des Moines' East Village. Topped Doughnuts in Ankeny is delicious for a sweet treat early in the day and if you're a doughnut lover you must try it - my favorite is the old fashioned doughnut they make, but there are so many creations to try, including gourmet options like the maple bacon bar.

Des Moines CVB, what is the Fairy Door at Gray's Lake?

Here are some of my favorite places in Iowa that you might not think of for day trips: Fairfield, my pick as the most interesting, diverse town in Iowa. For luxury, check out The Raj spa – rumor is that Bianca Jagger goes there, and of course, you never know when you might run into one of the Beach Boys. Stick around for the food – lots of it locally grown. Fairfield has a charming town square filled with mom-and-pop shops and a lot of businesses you just wouldn't expect to find in southern Iowa.

While you're in that part of the state, don't miss the Villages of Van Buren County. You'll feel like you just stepped back in time. There isn't a single stoplight in the county, and the small villages ooze charm, charm, charm.

Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids. The Garst family has put thousands of acres in trust. You can stay in any number of farm houses on the property, and be sure to canoe down a breathtaking stretch of the Middle Raccoon River, where you'll see many unique geological formations.

What other staycation surprises does Iowa offer?

I haven't looked for it the last few times I've been out there, but I think it's still there. In one of the trees near the lake there is a small door at the base. There used to be a small notebook inside and people would leave messages, etc. If you don't know it's there you will miss it. My husband and I found it randomly a few years ago and thought it was so neat. Then, when I started the CVB Pinterest account, I found a blog post about it as well (it's linked at http://pinterest.com/desmoines). I have no idea what the story is or how it came to be, but it's fun for kids (and adults!) nonetheless!

These are some great suggestions. If I may throw in some new attractions for this year:

- The Union Pacific Railroad Museum opened a new exhibit on May 12. It's the first of its kind to incorporate Kinect gaming technology to immerse visitors in the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
- Iowa's matchstick master is at it again. Pat Acton's latest creation is Notre Dame Cathedral made from nearly 300,000 matchsticks. You can find it, along with other creations, at the Matchstick Marvel museum in Gladbrook.
- The National Czech & Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids will reopen on July 14. The building was severly damaged after flooding in 2008. It's been moved, expanded and elevated! Their opening exhibit features work from Alphonse Mucha.
So much more going on this year. Visit www.traveliowa.com or www.traveliowa.blogspot.com for more ideas.

Let me recommend another outing in my neighborhood, something that no one would probably think of -- a home game of the East Greene High School Hawks baseball team at beautiful Anderson Park in the small town of Rippey. The ball park is a classic, with its home-built grandstand, huge grain elevators in the centerfield view, and fantastic sandwiches & popcorn at the concession stand. In fact, this ball park is so cool that the Iowa High School Athletic Association once had state tournament games here for either spring or fall baseball, back when there were teams playing in those seasons. Now high school ball is a summer game. What would make a game at Rippey even more unique this summer is that this is the last hurrah for the East Greene Hawks, before they start whole grade sharing (and sports sharing) with Jefferson-Scranton High School.

While we're doing shout-outs for our hometowns, I need to mention my lovely Mount Vernon. Shop for antiques and unique items uptown in the storefronts and in the community center. If you're peckish, try some award-winning food from the Lincoln Cafe, or grab some organic grub from Big Creek Market. If you need a caffeine fix, stop by Fuel. For a beautiful hike or a great place to picnic, drive a little ways to Palisades-Kepler State Park (http://www.stateparks.com/palisadeskepler.html). If you're in the mood to celebrate, Mount Vernon Heritage Days is July 12-14.

I now live in Georgia, but I grew up in eastern Iowa and I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Maquoketa Caves State Park just about 7 miles northwest of the town of Maquoketa. I used to ride my bicycle over there as a boy. The caves are fascinating and cool with natural, underground, air-conditioning! - Fred Anderson