Davenport has a population of 98,359 as of year 2000. Its current mayor is Bill Gluba. Palmer College of Chiropractic and Saint Ambrose University are its 2 main institutions, making it the “birthplace of the wellness technique and chiropractic”.

Davenport boasts of several popular music festivals such as The Mississippi Valley Fair, The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival (dedicated to Bix Beiderbecke) and The Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. There is even the Bix 7, a 7-mile foot race that runs through one of the above-mentioned festivals.

When visiting Davenport, you can stay in any of their relaxing hotels like:

Clarion Hotel Conference Center
This hotel is located at 5202 Brady Street Davenport, IA 52806. It is conveniently situated near Interstate 80, a few miles from the Mississippi River. Popular activities in the region include rollerblading, walking and biking along their scenic trails.

This pet-friendly hotel lies in close proximity to attractions like the IMAX Theater, Figge Art Museum, and the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science. Amenities and facilities of the hotel include 288 elegant guest rooms, free airport-hotel transfers, wireless high speed Internet, hot tubs, heated indoor pools, a game room, fitness center and secretarial services as well as banquet rooms, meeting spaces, fax and copy services.

Each room is equipped with hair dryers, coffee makers, video game consoles, irons with iron boards and even whirlpool bathtubs as well as refrigerators, balconies and microwaves. You can even opt for handicap accessible and non-smoking rooms. Check in time is at 3PM while check out time is at 12NN.

La Quinta Inn Davenport
This 3-star pet-friendly hotel is located at 3330 East Kimberly Road Davenport, IA 52807. Enjoy elegant accommodations and closeness to everything that Davenport can offer. It is merely 8 miles to the Quad Cities International Airport and downtown Davenport. It is also in close proximity to shopping areas, restaurants and John Deere. You can also find the Mississippi River and Casinos as well as the largest golf course in the region.

The hotel provides a lot of amenities and facilities like an onsite fitness center, year round indoor heated pool, free breakfast and newspaper along with meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 3,000 guests, plus high speed Internet access and laundry facilities.

It has a total of 129 rooms in its 2 floors. Each room is guaranteed with color TVs, dataports, iron with boards, coffee makers and touchtone phones. They also provide free local calls, newspaper, hairdryers and alarm clocks. Nearby restaurants include Applebee’s, Red Lobster, Bennigan’s and Village Inn among others. The hotel accepts all major credit cards and coupons as well as certificates, traveler’s checks and vouchers.

Fairfield Inn Davenport
This smoke-free hotel is located at 3206 East Kimberly Road Davenport, IA 52807. It is very close to the North Park Mall which has JC Penney, Dillards, Younkers and Sears. Alcoa, John Deere, Rhythm City, Jumera as well as the Isle of Capri Casinos are just nearby.

They have a total of 62 rooms that are provided with complimentary Continental deluxe breakfasts, alarm clocks, air conditioners, hairdryers, Cable TVs and pay-per-view movies as well as refrigerators, microwave ovens and complimentary wireless high speed Internet. These guest rooms were renovated last Spring of 2004. Cribs and rollaway beds can also be requested.

For more information on Davenport Hotels and Davenport Attractions [http://www.davenport-hotels.net/davenport-attractions.php] please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann

Over the next 15 months, we made several long car trips to and from western Iowa to Chicago.  I remember always wanting to see the Mississippi River from the big window of our station wagon.

All these years later, the Mississippi River still holds a grip on me, but for an altogether different reason.  Now, historic river towns beckon with their architecture, scenery, and sense of place.  And so it was as we traveled west on I-80, destination eastern Iowa wine country and one of our favorite weekend destinations – Dubuque, Iowa.

Iowa Wine

Iowa has a long history of grape growing and wine making, much like other midwestern states.  The soil here is fertile and conducive to growing all sorts of crops, including grapes.  In particular, the river valleys in Iowa’s western and eastern regions are perfect for vineyards.

When Prohibition arrived in 1920, Iowa farmers turned to other pursuits and the wine industry here lay dormant until the late 1980’s.  Now, some 20 years later, the Iowa wine industry is in the midst of an exciting upswing.  Wineries number almost 60, and Iowa’s five wine trails are introducing travelers and wine lovers to some terrific wine.

Since Interstate 80 cuts directly through central Iowa, exploring any of Iowa’s wine trails is an ideal destination or scenic detour for anyone traveling cross country.

Of Presidents And Wine

Let’s start our exploration of the Eastern Iowa Wine Trail in the small town of West Branch, adjacent to I-80 and about 45 minutes west of the Quad Cities and the Mississippi River.

If West Branch sounds even vaguely familiar to you, congratulations, you’re an historian!  West Branch is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, our 31st president, and houses the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

This was our first stop, and it’s highly recommended.  Far from a stuffy and dusty old museum, the Hoover Presidential Library not only chronicles Hoover’s presidency, it features fascinating exhibits pertaining to all the presidents.  In reality, it’s a learning center devoted to American history and specifically presidential history.  We’ve visited several times over the years, and each time is more fascinating than the last.

Our first winery stop is along the Herbert Hoover Highway, about 4 miles from the Presidential Library.  It’s Wallace Winery, about as scenic a setting as you’ll find.  With a century old barn and a post and beam tasting room, you’ll want to linger.  We felt the white wines starred here, especially the Traminette, made from the gewurztraminer grape – a great buy at $13.

Also be sure to try and buy the Iowa Barn White.  This friendly, easy to enjoy white table wine is a tribute to a vanishing part of our national landscape, the old wooden barn.  In fact, Wallace Winery donates a portion of profits from the sale of these wines to the Iowa Barn Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic heritage barns.

From Wallace Winery, travel north on beautiful Iowa Route 1 toward the town of Anamosa.  On the way, you’ll drive right through the antiquing town of Mt. Vernon.  Stop, stroll around, and enjoy small town Iowa hospitality.

In Anamosa, you’ll find Daly Creek Winery on north Ford Street.  Located in a former creamery building, one of the first things you’ll notice is the Iowa red cedar tasting bar.  Adjacent is Daly Creek’s 50 seat bistro, and although we didn’t eat here, the menu is inviting.

On to Daly Creek’s wines.  Being a big fan of the movie “The Shawshank Redemption”, my first pour was Penetentiary Red, a Cabernet Franc that’s full bodied and full flavored.  Remembering our college art appreciation classes, we also enjoyed Daly Creek’s white table wine, Gothic White.  This wine is named after Anamosa, Iowa’s most famous resident, painter Grant Wood, most known for his classic painting “American Gothic”.

After grabbing a few bottles to take home, we headed east from Anamosa on Iowa Route 64.  It’s about 25 minutes to Baldwin, a small village that’s home to our next winery, Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery.

We were particularly pleased to visit here, as we’ve tried Tabor Home’s wines before.  Since 1997, Tabor Home has been adding to their wine offerings and racking up wine awards.  These are true Iowa wines, with most bottlings created from grapes grown in Tabor Home’s vineyard.

Introducing Dubuque

From Tabor Home, it’s a short 40 mile drive north on Iowa 51 to our overnight destination, historic Dubuque, nestled along the Mississippi River at the confluence of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Dubuque is a perfect long weekend destination that can be combined with its Illinois historic counterpart, Galena, just 20 miles away.  Dubuque has been described as a river town, a history town, and a college town.  Of course, it’s all three!

Dubuque:  The Particulars

In Dubuque, everything starts with the river.  Along the banks of the Mississippi, you’ll find a nationally noted aquarium, a 19th century restored brewery building, a redeveloped riverwalk, nightlife, boat rides, and entertainment options.  Just blocks away, there’s the historic downtown district with unique shops and live jazz at night.  Further west, it’s the college district, with its own style and vibe.

Dubuque is Iowa’s oldest city, celebrating 175 years in 2008, and it has long been a vibrant river city. Dubuque is particularly distinctive because of its steep hills and river bluffs – geographic features that many people don’t expect to find in Iowa. With 62,000 residents, it’s large enough to be diverse and small enough for easy navigation.

There are a number of “must sees” in Dubuque.  A good place to start is the Mississippi River Aquarium.  Here you’ll enjoy dynamic exhibits, including an up close and personal visit with a few river creatures like catfish and alligators.  Plan to spend a few hours.  At $10.50 per adult admission, this is one of the best bargains in the Midwest.

From here, you can take a boat ride on the river, or stroll the riverwalk.  We did the latter on our first day, up to the renovated Dubuque Star Brewery building, now housing a new winery, Stone Cliff Winery.

When you visit, you’ll taste wines made from grapes grown in Stone Cliff’s vineyard just west of Dubuque.  Our favorites were the Cabernet Sauvignon, a silver medal winner at the Indiana State Fair wine competition, and the Riesling, a semi sweet fruity gem of a wine.  Open in the Dubuque Star facility since May 2007, Stone Cliff is the newest Dubuque attraction along the riverfront.

Enjoying More Wineries

You’ll find this area’s next winery just 15 miles west of Dubuque.  It’s Park Farm Winery and Vineyard, surrounded by Iowa’s beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, trees, and terraced fields.

Park Farm Winery and Vineyard leans heavily on Iowa grown grapes and crops, with grape varieties like LaCrosse, Niagara, Marechol Foch, and Vidal to name a few.  It’s a warm and welcoming site, with a stunning new outdoor deck added to the chateau which houses the tasting room and gift shop.  The deck itself overlooks a lush valley, and it’s a visit you won’t want to rush.

Another area winery gave us the opportunity to travel north on Iowa Route 52, more or less along the river.  Eagles Landing Vineyard and Winery is located in Marquette, Iowa, just across the river from Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.

Eagles Landing is not only a winery, but a bed and breakfast as well.  Located directly on the banks of the Mississippi, this is a bird watchers paradise.  The name stems from numerous bald eagles who winter in this area, perching high in the trees or swooping onto the river for a meal.

There’s a separate tasting room in downtown Marquette offering 18 varieties of Eagles Landing wine.  Try the Frog Hollow Foch, a dry red finished in oak, with grapes grown in Eagle Landing’s Iowa vineyard.  There’s some great fruit wines here too.  You can also enjoy the Iowa Pearl, a semi dry white with a nose of apricot and a nice clean, fruity finish.

After exploring downtown Marquette and neighboring Prairie Du Chien (both well worth a stop to stroll around), we headed back to Dubuque.  We should mention there is one additional winery on this wine trail – it’s Winneshick Wildberry Winery in Decorah, about 1/2 hour away from Marquette.  We heard very good things about their fruit wines, so if you’re in the area, do stop in.

This part of Iowa is a scenic, relaxing place to visit, and Dubuque is perfectly located in the middle of the Iowa Wine Trail, making it an ideal overnight stop.  If your plans call for I-80 travel, or if you live in the upper Midwest, be sure to carve out some time for the wineries of eastern Iowa.

Wine Trails USA is the internet’s only site devoted to exploring U.S. wine trails and other wine travel destinations. For the complete travelogue on this and other U.S. wine regions, you’re invited to subscribe to our free twice monthly wine trails ezine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hofman

I was lucky. My father paid my college tuition, which was quite expensive the year I went out of state to the University of Delaware. I didn’t think about money at that time; my parents had just always paid for all the big things–school, car, rent, clothing. I paid for some things, but I never took my education seriously until I went to graduate school and paid for it myself. It was during the planning phase for graduate school that I realized life was going to become a heck of a lot more expensive and that I was going to have to borrow more money than I had ever earned in one year. So, rather than choose a college based on its reputation or alleged high quality of education, I chose a college that I could get into quickly, where I could learn what I needed to know, and where the overall cost wasn’t going to keep me in deep, dark debt forever. I went to Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Luckily I found low prices and excellent teachers who taught me what I needed to know.

Logan lies on the Wasatch Front, a 120-mile urban area on the west side of the Wasatch Range of Utah that is almost totally connected by a continuous development of suburbs and downtown districts. The largest downtown district is Salt Lake City, which is two hours south of Logan. The average cost of living along the Front Range is at or below the national average, and average home prices are typically lower than average, unless you live near any of the numerous ski resorts in the area. Average home prices in Salt Lake City run just under $200,000 and are $10,000 to $20,000 lower in nearby Ogden, which is just north of Salt Lake. Logan’s prices run about the same, although for me, as with the majority of students, that wasn’t such a concern because I was renting. Rental rates currently average just $500 in Logan, although I don’t remember finding any two-bedroom apartments for that price. Still, sharing an apartment, I never paid more than $500 all together for rent and bills. Food prices, health care, recreation, and entertainment also cost very little. Compared to my friends who live and go to school in Boulder, Colorado, this is an excellent bargain.

Plenty of other reasonably priced areas can be found in the Midwest and away from popular mountain and coastal areas. Avoid high cost areas such as the heart of the Northeast, Southern California, and Northwest coastal regions. However, if you don’t mind compromising a bit, you’ll find a few sweet spots not far away from the hotspots. For example, Syracuse, New York, hosts a university with the same name as well as a variety of other colleges; average home prices are almost half the national average there. Bellingham hosts Western Washington State University; home prices there are at the national average and the overall cost of living is just slightly above. And, California sports Eureka in Humboldt County, which is home to the College of the Redwoods and is by the coast. Eureka’s home prices and rental rates are only slightly higher than the national average (about $320,000), and the cost of living falls well below the cost of living found elsewhere in California.

The following selection of college towns are some of FindYourSpot.com’s finest and most popular among members. These towns boast reasonable home prices, relatively low rental rates, and low overall costs of living. They also all have colleges, most have low or very low crime rates, and all have quality health care facilities.

Abilene, Texas, home to Abilene Christian University and McMurry University, has rental rates that run just under $500 per month; the average home price is about $120,000; and the cost of living is 15-25% below the national average.

Home of Indiana University and Ivy Technical College, Bloomington, Indiana, boast monthly rental rates of $600 per month; homes cost an average of $170,000; and the overall cost of living is 3% below the national average.

Lynchburg, Virginia, hosts Lynchburg College, Randolph Macon Women’s College, and Liberty University. Rental rates are just under $500 per month; average home prices run about $172,000; and the cost of living is 10-15% below the national average.

Athens, Georgia, which is consistently ranked as one of America’s Top College Towns, hosts the University of Georgia. Average monthly rental rates are about $520; average home prices are $175,000; and the cost of living runs between 1-5% below the national average.

Iowa City, Iowa, home to the University of Iowa, boasts monthly rental rates of $600; average home prices run about $220,000; and the overall cost of living is approximately equal to the national average.

Burlington, Vermont, is home to a college of the same name, the University of Vermont, and St. Michael’s College. Average monthly rental rates are just a touch higher than $600; the average single family home costs about $230,000; and the overall cost of living falls 1-10% below the national average.

Fort Collins, Colorado, home to Colorado State University, is another city that consistently ranks among America’s Best Places to live. Average rental rates here are around $800 according to a variety of sources I checked. However, I have a friend who rents a beautiful three-bedroom home for $775 that’s just 10 minutes from the university. Average home prices in the city run close to $250,000; and the overall cost of living is just a touch above the national average.

Eugene, Oregon, home to the University of Oregon, boasts monthly rental rates that are just a touch above $600; the average price for a single family home is $275,000; and the overall cost of living is about 6% above the national average.

Chico, California, home to California State University, has relatively low monthly rental rates of less than $600. Home prices are just slightly higher than average, running about $350,000; and the overall cost of living is just 10-20% above the national average, making Chico another of California’s sweet spots.

Hilo, Hawaii, home to the University of Hawaii, boasts fairly low monthly rental rates of about $550 per month; average home prices are especially low for Hawaii, running about $355,000; and the overall cost of living is 20-25% above the national average.

Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona, are home to numerous universities. This sprawling area has the full gamut of rental rates, although the average is between $500 and $600 per month. Home prices also range widely, although the average home price is on par with the national average of just under $300,000. The overall cost of living here is just slightly higher than the national average.

Lizzy Scully Managing Editor http://www.FindYourSpot.com, the Internet’s best source of relocation information [http://www.findyourspotrelocationwebsite.blogspot.com] [http://www.retasblog.blogspot.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lizzy_Scully

Davenport has two major universities, namely the Palmer College of Chiropractic and Saint Ambrose University. These schools are the home of wellness technique and chiropractic. Numerous famous annual music festivals occur in this region, including the Mississippi Valley Fair, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival that is dedicated to their native Bix Beiderbecke.

Davenport has a humid continental climate and the summer is known for their temperate hot days. Winter season in the region features high winds and a freezing temperature. Expect snowfall from the months of November to January. The average snowfall in Davenport is 30.7 inches per month. The month of January is, on average, the coldest month while the month of July is the warmest in Davenport. The highest temperature traced in Davenport is about 101 degrees Fahrenheit on the month of July.

Downtown Davenport has numerous points of interest such as Putnam Museum, River Music Experience, Figge Art Museum, the Davenport Skybridge, IMAX Theater and the Davenport Public Library and Modern Woodmen Park that is home of the Centennial Bridge and the Quad City River Bandits baseball team.

Davenport has about 27 parks that have 2,200 acres of land. The major park is Credit Island which has a 420-acre park all in southwest Davenport, situated beside the Mississippi River. The Fejervary Park contains a children’s zoo and a pool, where in, about 20,000 guests come here every year.

The Jungle Park is located beside the Duck Creek Parkway and has softball and baseball fields. This is along with a basketball court and sand volleyball sections. The Vander Veer Botanical Park welcomes about 25,000 guests with their continuous floral shows. The conservatory and rose garden are especially well known as the best wedding sites.

Davenport offers several river-related activities. Celebration Belle has a river cruise from one and a half hours of sightseeing cruise to all day three-meal cruises up to Dubuque, Iowa. Channel Cat Boat offers rides across the river and has three shops in Illinois and two stops in Iowa as well as connected bike paths for each state, having a riverfront.

There are many hotels located in the Davenport Iowa. One of which is the Quality Inn Maingate West. This hotel is one and a half mile away from Disney World’s main gate. Visitors of the Disney World’s could buy their Disney Park tickets in the lobby in order to avoid long ticket lines. The entire family can enjoy a kitchenette suite that features refrigerators and small stoves. Everyone can enjoy standard amenities like coffee makers, colored cable television and in-room electronic safes.

Baymont Inn Davenport Hotel is one and a half mile away from the Wackey’s Water Park. It is also two miles away from the North Park Mall and 15 miles away from the Quadcities Airport. The hotel has laundry facilities and an indoor pool with a spa tub, complementary deluxe breakfast and free newspaper in the hotel lobby. The hotel’s guestrooms provide voice mail, coffee makers, free local calls and satellite television amenities. Baymont Inn Davenport Hotel is situated at #400 Jason Way CT Davenport Iowa.

For more information on Cheap Davenport Hotels [http://www.davenport-hotels.net/davenport-cheap-davenport-hotels.php] and Pet Friendly Hotels in Davenport [http://www.davenport-hotels.net/davenport-pet-friendly-hotels-in-davenport.php], please visit our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wasim_Ahmad

Over the next 15 months, we made several long car trips to and from western Iowa to Chicago.  I remember always wanting to see the Mississippi River from the big window of our station wagon.

All these years later, the Mississippi River still holds a grip on me, but for an altogether different reason.  Now, historic river towns beckon with their architecture, scenery, and sense of place.  And so it was as we traveled west on I-80, destination eastern Iowa wine country and one of our favorite weekend destinations – Dubuque, Iowa.

Iowa Wine

Iowa has a long history of grape growing and wine making, much like other midwestern states.  The soil here is fertile and conducive to growing all sorts of crops, including grapes.  In particular, the river valleys in Iowa’s western and eastern regions are perfect for vineyards.

When Prohibition arrived in 1920, Iowa farmers turned to other pursuits and the wine industry here lay dormant until the late 1980’s.  Now, some 20 years later, the Iowa wine industry is in the midst of an exciting upswing.  Wineries number almost 60, and Iowa’s five wine trails are introducing travelers and wine lovers to some terrific wine.

Since Interstate 80 cuts directly through central Iowa, exploring any of Iowa’s wine trails is an ideal destination or scenic detour for anyone traveling cross country.

Of Presidents And Wine

Let’s start our exploration of the Eastern Iowa Wine Trail in the small town of West Branch, adjacent to I-80 and about 45 minutes west of the Quad Cities and the Mississippi River.

If West Branch sounds even vaguely familiar to you, congratulations, you’re an historian!  West Branch is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, our 31st president, and houses the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

This was our first stop, and it’s highly recommended.  Far from a stuffy and dusty old museum, the Hoover Presidential Library not only chronicles Hoover’s presidency, it features fascinating exhibits pertaining to all the presidents.  In reality, it’s a learning center devoted to American history and specifically presidential history.  We’ve visited several times over the years, and each time is more fascinating than the last.

Our first winery stop is along the Herbert Hoover Highway, about 4 miles from the Presidential Library.  It’s Wallace Winery, about as scenic a setting as you’ll find.  With a century old barn and a post and beam tasting room, you’ll want to linger.  We felt the white wines starred here, especially the Traminette, made from the gewurztraminer grape – a great buy at $13.

Also be sure to try and buy the Iowa Barn White.  This friendly, easy to enjoy white table wine is a tribute to a vanishing part of our national landscape, the old wooden barn.  In fact, Wallace Winery donates a portion of profits from the sale of these wines to the Iowa Barn Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic heritage barns.

From Wallace Winery, travel north on beautiful Iowa Route 1 toward the town of Anamosa.  On the way, you’ll drive right through the antiquing town of Mt. Vernon.  Stop, stroll around, and enjoy small town Iowa hospitality.

In Anamosa, you’ll find Daly Creek Winery on north Ford Street.  Located in a former creamery building, one of the first things you’ll notice is the Iowa red cedar tasting bar.  Adjacent is Daly Creek’s 50 seat bistro, and although we didn’t eat here, the menu is inviting.

On to Daly Creek’s wines.  Being a big fan of the movie “The Shawshank Redemption”, my first pour was Penetentiary Red, a Cabernet Franc that’s full bodied and full flavored.  Remembering our college art appreciation classes, we also enjoyed Daly Creek’s white table wine, Gothic White.  This wine is named after Anamosa, Iowa’s most famous resident, painter Grant Wood, most known for his classic painting “American Gothic”.

After grabbing a few bottles to take home, we headed east from Anamosa on Iowa Route 64.  It’s about 25 minutes to Baldwin, a small village that’s home to our next winery, Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery.

We were particularly pleased to visit here, as we’ve tried Tabor Home’s wines before.  Since 1997, Tabor Home has been adding to their wine offerings and racking up wine awards.  These are true Iowa wines, with most bottlings created from grapes grown in Tabor Home’s vineyard.

Introducing Dubuque

From Tabor Home, it’s a short 40 mile drive north on Iowa 51 to our overnight destination, historic Dubuque, nestled along the Mississippi River at the confluence of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Dubuque is a perfect long weekend destination that can be combined with its Illinois historic counterpart, Galena, just 20 miles away.  Dubuque has been described as a river town, a history town, and a college town.  Of course, it’s all three!

Dubuque:  The Particulars

In Dubuque, everything starts with the river.  Along the banks of the Mississippi, you’ll find a nationally noted aquarium, a 19th century restored brewery building, a redeveloped riverwalk, nightlife, boat rides, and entertainment options.  Just blocks away, there’s the historic downtown district with unique shops and live jazz at night.  Further west, it’s the college district, with its own style and vibe.

Dubuque is Iowa’s oldest city, celebrating 175 years in 2008, and it has long been a vibrant river city. Dubuque is particularly distinctive because of its steep hills and river bluffs – geographic features that many people don’t expect to find in Iowa. With 62,000 residents, it’s large enough to be diverse and small enough for easy navigation.

There are a number of “must sees” in Dubuque.  A good place to start is the Mississippi River Aquarium.  Here you’ll enjoy dynamic exhibits, including an up close and personal visit with a few river creatures like catfish and alligators.  Plan to spend a few hours.  At $10.50 per adult admission, this is one of the best bargains in the Midwest.

From here, you can take a boat ride on the river, or stroll the riverwalk.  We did the latter on our first day, up to the renovated Dubuque Star Brewery building, now housing a new winery, Stone Cliff Winery.

When you visit, you’ll taste wines made from grapes grown in Stone Cliff’s vineyard just west of Dubuque.  Our favorites were the Cabernet Sauvignon, a silver medal winner at the Indiana State Fair wine competition, and the Riesling, a semi sweet fruity gem of a wine.  Open in the Dubuque Star facility since May 2007, Stone Cliff is the newest Dubuque attraction along the riverfront.

Enjoying More Wineries

You’ll find this area’s next winery just 15 miles west of Dubuque.  It’s Park Farm Winery and Vineyard, surrounded by Iowa’s beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, trees, and terraced fields.

Park Farm Winery and Vineyard leans heavily on Iowa grown grapes and crops, with grape varieties like LaCrosse, Niagara, Marechol Foch, and Vidal to name a few.  It’s a warm and welcoming site, with a stunning new outdoor deck added to the chateau which houses the tasting room and gift shop.  The deck itself overlooks a lush valley, and it’s a visit you won’t want to rush.

Another area winery gave us the opportunity to travel north on Iowa Route 52, more or less along the river.  Eagles Landing Vineyard and Winery is located in Marquette, Iowa, just across the river from Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.

Eagles Landing is not only a winery, but a bed and breakfast as well.  Located directly on the banks of the Mississippi, this is a bird watchers paradise.  The name stems from numerous bald eagles who winter in this area, perching high in the trees or swooping onto the river for a meal.

There’s a separate tasting room in downtown Marquette offering 18 varieties of Eagles Landing wine.  Try the Frog Hollow Foch, a dry red finished in oak, with grapes grown in Eagle Landing’s Iowa vineyard.  There’s some great fruit wines here too.  You can also enjoy the Iowa Pearl, a semi dry white with a nose of apricot and a nice clean, fruity finish.

After exploring downtown Marquette and neighboring Prairie Du Chien (both well worth a stop to stroll around), we headed back to Dubuque.  We should mention there is one additional winery on this wine trail – it’s Winneshick Wildberry Winery in Decorah, about 1/2 hour away from Marquette.  We heard very good things about their fruit wines, so if you’re in the area, do stop in.

This part of Iowa is a scenic, relaxing place to visit, and Dubuque is perfectly located in the middle of the Iowa Wine Trail, making it an ideal overnight stop.  If your plans call for I-80 travel, or if you live in the upper Midwest, be sure to carve out some time for the wineries of eastern Iowa.

Wine Trails USA is the internet’s only site devoted to exploring U.S. wine trails and other wine travel destinations. For the complete travelogue on this and other U.S. wine regions, you’re invited to subscribe to our free twice monthly wine trails ezine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hofman

The Key Lender Factors

1. Cost

2. Flexibility

3. Customer Service

Also take into consideration:

Most popular lenders.

Firstly, lets look at Iowa Student Loan Lender Costs

It’s true that Federal US Student loans – like the Stafford and Perkins Loans do have the same interest rate and also fees. But there are other factors to take into consideration – these include the repayment incentives which are often called the “borrower benefits”. These include the interest rate reductions and full or partial origination fee financial rebates. Even the principle balance reductions also need to be taken into consideration. As you can see there are many factors involved that can end up making a huge financial difference in which lender you choose from.

There are over 300 possible Iowa Student Loan lenders and many more to choose from nationally. With so so many places to look at and take into consideration, you need to be sure you select the one for you that matches your circumstances.

Lenders will also reward borrowers who use automatic or direct debt facilities on their bank accounts. These are for making monthly or fortnightly payments.

Iowa Student Loan – General cost savings

Generally cost saving are immediate but others will demand that the Iowa student will be required to make a certain number of payments before this discount takes effect. These can be from 12,24, 30, 33, 36, and 48 monthly payments. These payments need to be made on time. They also have to agree to continue to make these payments on time to keep the rate or finical discount going.

Iowa Student Loan – US Student Loan Guarantee Agencies

Generally speaking. Repayment incentives or financial benefits offered by a particular lenders will depend on the Loan Guarantee Agency that actually insures the loans against the default. In addition it also depends on the secondary financial market which the lender will sell it’s loans onto.
As you can see it’s complex and there are many factors involved and to be aware of . For example many lenders are actually just marketing companies appearing like financial company but they actually sell your loan onto the secondary market. It’s more common then not that your loan will be on-sold, this is not necessary a bad thing but you should be aware of it.
Some Student Loan Guarantee Agencies will have waived the one percent default fee – or what’s know as the guarantee fee – on the student loans that they insure against default.

Iowa Student Loan Participating Lenders

To take advantage of Iowa Student Loan’s Borrower Benefits Program and save money on your Federal Stafford, Federal PLUS loan or Federal GradPLUS Loan, search for a particular lender by the institution’s name or city. The city listed for an institution may be the main location or its branch. In some instances, all locations for an institution appear. In others, only one location is listed. You may need to find your institution by a location other than where you conduct your business. You can choose any lender on this list to receive the borrower benefits offered by Iowa Student Loan (unless otherwise noted by an asterisk).

Then, use this lender’s name and code number when applying for your loan. (If you are completing your application online and that application does not allow you to select your Iowa Student Loan lender, simply contact your college.)

Download and print a Federal Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you have ever used a Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS or Federal GradPLUS Loan in the past, you may not need to complete a new MPN. Please refer to the instructions on the first page of the MPN to determine whether you need to complete one.

Remember be careful – read up and weight out all the options of Choosing a Lender that matches you individual Iowa Student Loan circumstance.

To find an Iowa Student Loan [http://www.american-studentloan.com/iowa.php], check out http://american-studentloan.com

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The Cyclones nickname first came about in 1895, after Iowa State routed Northwestern 36-0, to which a Chicago Tribune reporter remarked that Northwestern would’ve had more success playing against a tornado. Iowa State immediately adopted the name, which was also fitting given the area’s propensity for tornadoes, and created Cy the Cardinal to be their mascot. Their logo has undergone several revisions, with the most recent version of a graphically intensive and busy logo of a half-cardinal, half-tornado, a style of logo popular in the 1990’s, being scrapped in favour of a more distinguished logo featuring a capital I superimposed over the word State, in a new font type the school is calling cyclone.

During a men’s football game at Jack Trice Stadium in 2005, Cy the Cardinal famously took a backseat as the team’s mascot when a real tornado touched down in Ames, Iowa, very near to the stadium. Fans were evacuated to the parking lot or the nearby Hilton Coliseum until the danger had passed. Iowa State would use that as motivation is the game, as they would upset the favoured Colorado Buffaloes 30-16.

Iowa State competes against Kansas State, the University of Colorado, the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, Baylor University, Oklahoma State, Texas A & M, Texas Tech, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Texas. Iowa has won 14 conference championships over the years, but none in more than a dozen years, as the school has slashed funding to its sports programs.

Iowa State has few major rivalries, with the most notable being their clashes with the University of Iowa, in which the Cy-Hawk Trophy is put up for grabs. The trophy features both schools mascots, Cy the Cardinal, and Herky the Kawkeye, emblazoned on the front of the trophy, with a football player running with a ball atop it, much like the Heisman Trophy.

One sport where Iowa State receives national attention is their wrestling program, which has won 8 national titles, and produced a number of world class wrestlers and Olympians. Most recently, Cael Sanderson, the current head coach of the Iowa State wrestling program, won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens following a four year collegiate wrestling stint in which he went undefeated with a record of 159-0. Cael has led the current program to three straight conference titles, and a 2nd place finish nationally in 2007.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching college football on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is ah big fan of Iowa State and college football. Check out his Iowa State Watch or his Alabama Belt.

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There are over 28,000 students enrolled at the University of Iowa. The makeup of students is diverse. 64% of students enrolled at the University of Iowa are residents of Iowa. Another 21% of students come from the adjoining states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. 8% of students come from other states in the U.S. There are also students from 106 countries around the world represented at the University Of Iowa. This provides for a population that is extremely diverse and interesting.

The University of Iowa consists of eleven colleges, or fields of study. Many of them are considered to be some of the very best programs west of the Mississippi. They are:

-Liberal Arts and Sciences

-Business

-Dentistry

-Engineering

-Education

-Law

-Medicine

-Nursing

-Pharmacy

-Public Health

-Graduate

The life for a student at the University of Iowa is filled with things to do. The University provides many types of financial aid to both in state and out of state students. There are also resources for on-campus and off-campus housing. The University boasts excellent student health and safety resources, and the variety of campus activities and clubs make sure that any student can find something to suit their individual needs and interests. Most students feel very comfortable with the amenities offered by the University and enjoy campus life and activities. Some students find participating in student government to be an excellent way to get involved in campus life at the University Of Iowa.

The University Of Iowa has an excellent sports program. The Iowa Hawkeyes are the students participating in various sports. The faculty and the students support the Iowa Hawkeyes, and events are well attended.

Many of the students who graduate from the University of Iowa have excellent job prospects, both in state and in other parts of the U.S.

http://iowahq.com Facts about Iowa from tourism to buying and selling real estate.

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If you’d like to experience Des Moines and Central Iowa for yourself, take a page from my travel journal and discover the charms of this place that’s both steeped in Americana and uniquely cosmopolitan.

Friday night:
Rolling down the windows and opening the sunroof of my Buick Lucerne, I hit the road!

My first stop… First Fridays Artwalk in Fairfeld. This monthly Central Iowa event draws crowds from all over the Midwest – and with dozens of galleries representing many untold artists, plus musicians playing gigs throughout downtown – it’s the perfect place to start the weekend.

After the evening wound down, I hopped back in my Buick and headed to Ottumwa (on the way to Des Moines), where I stopped for the night at a charming bed and breakfast.

Saturday: After wandering around downtown and grabbing a bite to eat at the world-famous Canteen in the Alley restaurant (where Richard Nixon and a host of other celebrities and politicians have noshed on delicious loose-meat sandwiches), I drove my Buick down the meandering roads from Ottumwa to Des Moines.

Once in the city, I couldn’t pass up the chance to do a little more gallery hopping in Central Iowa. So I spent the afternoon bouncing from one amazing place to the next. Some stops on my list included:

• The Des Moines Art Center

• Gortz Haus Gallery

• Hoyt Sherman Place

• Kavanaugh Art Gallery

• Olson-Larsen Galleries

After a day of exploring the best arts scene in the state, I had finally had my fill (and a few stunning purchases I was able to fit into the trunk of my Buick). So I checked into my room at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, then headed down to the Forty Three for a cocktail and some fantastic French brasserie fare.

Fuled up and ready to go, the night was spent chatting with friends new and old at Star Bar, and listening to the best Blues in the city until the early morning hours at Blues on Grand.

Sunday: A few strong cups of coffee and a truly superb chocolate croissant at Gateway Market later, I bade Des Moines and the rest of Central Iowa farewell and hit the highway once again.

Even if art isn’t your thing, Central Iowa (and Des Moines in particular) are worth your time. There’s so much happening – from clubs to sports, art to music – in Iowa, there really is something for everyone.

About the Author: Kate Madigan is a master baker who grew up in the heart of Des Moines and currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her college professor husband. And while her beloved bakery keeps her in The Twin Cities most weekends, her Buick Lucerne gives her the freedom to travel to her favorite places throughout Central Iowa. For more information about the Buick Lucerne, visit http://www.iowabuick.com.

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