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	<title>inside-iowa.com &#187; valley</title>
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		<title>Pet-Friendly Davenport Hotels</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/94/pet-friendly-davenport-hotels</link>
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		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:31:03 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Davenport lies around the Mississippi River of Iowa. It is Scott County&#8217;s county seat. It was founded last May 14th of the year 1836 by a certain Antoine LeClaire, following the peace treaty signing that ended the Black Hawk War. The city&#8217;s name was derived from Antoine LeClaire&#8217;s friend, Colonel George Davenport.
Davenport has a population [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Davenport lies around the Mississippi River of Iowa. It is Scott County&#8217;s county seat. It was founded last May 14th of the year 1836 by a certain Antoine LeClaire, following the peace treaty signing that ended the Black Hawk War. The city&#8217;s name was derived from Antoine LeClaire&#8217;s friend, Colonel George Davenport.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 &#8220;birthplace of the wellness technique and chiropractic&#8221;.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When visiting Davenport, you can stay in any of their relaxing hotels like:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Clarion Hotel Conference Center<br />
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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">La Quinta Inn Davenport<br />
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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s, Red Lobster, Bennigan&#8217;s and Village Inn among others. The hotel accepts all major credit cards and coupons as well as certificates, traveler&#8217;s checks and vouchers.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Fairfield Inn Davenport<br />
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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For more information on Davenport Hotels and Davenport Attractions [http://www.davenport-hotels.net/davenport-attractions.php] please visit our website.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann</p>
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		<title>Top Five Must-See Locations When You Travel to Des Moines, Iowa</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/91/top-five-must-see-locations-when-you-travel-to-des-moines-iowa</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:29:33 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Located at the center of the great state of Iowa &#8211; known to many as the corncob state because of the many miles of sprawling cornfields &#8211; you will find the clean and pristine, bustling city of Des Moines. Originally founded in mid-1800s as a fort for the US military, this city has grown proportionally [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Located at the center of the great state of Iowa &#8211; known to many as the corncob state because of the many miles of sprawling cornfields &#8211; you will find the clean and pristine, bustling city of Des Moines. Originally founded in mid-1800s as a fort for the US military, this city has grown proportionally ever since and now is the largest city in the state. Aside from being an epicenter for American farmers, Iowa is actually one of the insurance company capitols of the world, sitting in third place next to London and Hartford, Connecticut, respectively. There is much to see here aside from flashy insurance company buildings and cornfields, however. If you are planning on traveling to Des Moines in the near future, then make sure that you add a few of these top five must-see destinations and attractions to your list before embarking on your trip.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Iowa State Capitol<br />
Originally constructed during the late 1800s, this building represents the very best of the early 1900s architectural designs. The steel and brick dome is coated with a thick layer of gold leaf that really makes it stand out on a bright and sunny day. The city offers free daily and guided tours of this amazing capitol building. Make sure that you don&#8217;t miss this structure when you travel to Des Moines.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Des Moines Botanical Center<br />
One of the coolest botanical centers in the country, this awesome fourteen acre center sits adjacent to the Des Moines River and is one of the most popular of all attractions that can be found in this city. It annually sees hundreds of thousands of visitors and can be very packed during certain times of the year. Make sure that you call ahead when you are here so that you can find out the best time to visit this must-see destination. Also make sure that you set aside plenty of time to really take in all of the sights that are here; it is recommended that you set aside at least half a day.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Blank Park Zoo<br />
The mission statement for this zoo reads as follows, &#8220;To inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education and recreation.&#8221; This is exactly how you will feel and what you will find when you visit this not-to-be-missed, world class zoo in Des Moines. Take a gander at over a hundred different species of animals and nearly 1,500 different specimens as you browse through this awesome, must-see attraction.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Walnut Woods State Park<br />
This preserved state park is awesome. Its 260 acres of preserved land meet at the Raccoon River in West Des Moines. This park is open 365 days per year and hosts many different activities that vary by season including, but not limited to: cross country skiing, backpacking, hiking, hunting, camping, horseback riding, fishing, bird watching, waterside activities such as rafting and boating, and many more.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Jordan House<br />
This house is the historically preserved house of the original founder of Valley Junction, James Jordan; one of the coolest, perhaps, historical mansions that you can visit when you travel to Des Moines. The gothic and Victorian architecture is literally awe-inspiring. There is a rich history attached to this mansion, which is best known for being a part of the intricate Underground Railroad that helped to free southern slaves to the north during the 1800s and the Civil War. Today it is a museum where you can enjoy a guided tour, and it is also one of the oldest houses in the state.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For more free information on Des Moines travel, and for a complete top ten list of things to see and do please visit: [http://www.Des-MoinesVacationTravelsGuidi.com]</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Jon_Lazar</p>
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		<title>Do You Want to Learn About Taking A Fun Valley Ski Vacation In Iowa?</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/88/do-you-want-to-learn-about-taking-a-fun-valley-ski-vacation-in-iowa</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:28:37 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Fun Valley is located in Montezuma, Iowa, with 14 named runs and 5 trails, with only 30 inches of average snowfall a year. With 35 acres of skiable area, they use 100% of snowmaking for the winter enjoyment of their skiers and snowboarders. Catering to beginners and intermediates, the Fun Valley ski resort makes a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Fun Valley is located in Montezuma, Iowa, with 14 named runs and 5 trails, with only 30 inches of average snowfall a year. With 35 acres of skiable area, they use 100% of snowmaking for the winter enjoyment of their skiers and snowboarders. Catering to beginners and intermediates, the Fun Valley ski resort makes a great place for families with children and beginners to learn how to ski, or to learn how to snowboard. Snowboarders are also welcome, with a gentle terrain available. Eight paths are for snowboarders alone with no cross-country available. Unfortunately, no handicap accessibility is available but night skiing is there. Group lessons are in one-hour increments, for 6-years and older and private lessons are offered 5-years and under. Skiing and snowboarding are in both private and group packages with advance reservations preferred, so it would be a good idea to book in advance for the lessons. Snow tubing is also available as one of the winter activities, in addition to snowshoeing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups of ten or more. Birthday packages are also fun, exciting and wonderful for that special day for kids, and their friends and family, ages twelve and under. Every Wednesday and Thursday night the ski resort offers a student night with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass Friday&#8217;s are also popular &#8211; bring your friends and you will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite Saturday&#8217;s at Fun Valley, where you can participate in three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are Family Four Pack Day. There is no doubt about it, today when family values are questionable, going skiing is a way for everyone to have fun with each other and also, by doing something different.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1,201 feet, with a vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new learning Adventure Centre is something to see &#8211; and experience if you are a beginner. All students are allowed to develop their skills at their own pace, with seven stations providing a fun evironement for the development of mobility and balance, stopping, direction change, linked controlled turns, green stripe evaluation in a Slalom Course, introduction to chairlifts, and rhythmical turns on a green slope. Between the Ski Adventure Centre and the Snowboard Ride Centre, there is no reasons why teaching cannot be fun!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Check out http://www.winter-sportz.com/ for more articles on lake tahoe ski resorts and snow ski vacations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Singh</p>
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		<title>Wine Tours &#8211; Iowa&#8217;s Thriving Wine Country</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/70/wine-tours-iowas-thriving-wine-country-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.inside-iowa.com/70/wine-tours-iowas-thriving-wine-country-2#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:31:45 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Way back in the mid-1960&#8217;s, 1966 in fact, the state of Iowa entered into my consciousness.  As a five year old at the time, it wasn&#8217;t much of a consciousness.  All I really knew was Dad took a temporary job transfer and we&#8217;d be leaving Chicago to live in Iowa for a year.
Over the next [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Way back in the mid-1960&#8217;s, 1966 in fact, the state of Iowa entered into my consciousness.  As a five year old at the time, it wasn&#8217;t much of a consciousness.  All I really knew was Dad took a temporary job transfer and we&#8217;d be leaving Chicago to live in Iowa for a year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">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 &#8211; Dubuque, Iowa.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Iowa Wine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s western and eastern regions are perfect for vineyards.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When Prohibition arrived in 1920, Iowa farmers turned to other pursuits and the wine industry here lay dormant until the late 1980&#8217;s.  Now, some 20 years later, the Iowa wine industry is in the midst of an exciting upswing.  Wineries number almost 60, and Iowa&#8217;s five wine trails are introducing travelers and wine lovers to some terrific wine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Since Interstate 80 cuts directly through central Iowa, exploring any of Iowa&#8217;s wine trails is an ideal destination or scenic detour for anyone traveling cross country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of Presidents And Wine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Let&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If West Branch sounds even vaguely familiar to you, congratulations, you&#8217;re an historian!  West Branch is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, our 31st president, and houses the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This was our first stop, and it&#8217;s highly recommended.  Far from a stuffy and dusty old museum, the Hoover Presidential Library not only chronicles Hoover&#8217;s presidency, it features fascinating exhibits pertaining to all the presidents.  In reality, it&#8217;s a learning center devoted to American history and specifically presidential history.  We&#8217;ve visited several times over the years, and each time is more fascinating than the last.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our first winery stop is along the Herbert Hoover Highway, about 4 miles from the Presidential Library.  It&#8217;s Wallace Winery, about as scenic a setting as you&#8217;ll find.  With a century old barn and a post and beam tasting room, you&#8217;ll want to linger.  We felt the white wines starred here, especially the Traminette, made from the gewurztraminer grape &#8211; a great buy at $13.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From Wallace Winery, travel north on beautiful Iowa Route 1 toward the town of Anamosa.  On the way, you&#8217;ll drive right through the antiquing town of Mt. Vernon.  Stop, stroll around, and enjoy small town Iowa hospitality.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Anamosa, you&#8217;ll find Daly Creek Winery on north Ford Street.  Located in a former creamery building, one of the first things you&#8217;ll notice is the Iowa red cedar tasting bar.  Adjacent is Daly Creek&#8217;s 50 seat bistro, and although we didn&#8217;t eat here, the menu is inviting.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On to Daly Creek&#8217;s wines.  Being a big fan of the movie &#8220;The Shawshank Redemption&#8221;, my first pour was Penetentiary Red, a Cabernet Franc that&#8217;s full bodied and full flavored.  Remembering our college art appreciation classes, we also enjoyed Daly Creek&#8217;s white table wine, Gothic White.  This wine is named after Anamosa, Iowa&#8217;s most famous resident, painter Grant Wood, most known for his classic painting &#8220;American Gothic&#8221;.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After grabbing a few bottles to take home, we headed east from Anamosa on Iowa Route 64.  It&#8217;s about 25 minutes to Baldwin, a small village that&#8217;s home to our next winery, Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We were particularly pleased to visit here, as we&#8217;ve tried Tabor Home&#8217;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&#8217;s vineyard.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Introducing Dubuque</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From Tabor Home, it&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s all three!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dubuque:  The Particulars</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Dubuque, everything starts with the river.  Along the banks of the Mississippi, you&#8217;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&#8217;s the historic downtown district with unique shops and live jazz at night.  Further west, it&#8217;s the college district, with its own style and vibe.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dubuque is Iowa&#8217;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 &#8211; geographic features that many people don&#8217;t expect to find in Iowa. With 62,000 residents, it&#8217;s large enough to be diverse and small enough for easy navigation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are a number of &#8220;must sees&#8221; in Dubuque.  A good place to start is the Mississippi River Aquarium.  Here you&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When you visit, you&#8217;ll taste wines made from grapes grown in Stone Cliff&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Enjoying More Wineries</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You&#8217;ll find this area&#8217;s next winery just 15 miles west of Dubuque.  It&#8217;s Park Farm Winery and Vineyard, surrounded by Iowa&#8217;s beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, trees, and terraced fields.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;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&#8217;s a visit you won&#8217;t want to rush.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There&#8217;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&#8217;s Iowa vineyard.  There&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 &#8211; it&#8217;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&#8217;re in the area, do stop in.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Wine Trails USA is the internet&#8217;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&#8217;re invited to subscribe to our free twice monthly wine trails ezine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hofman</p>
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		<title>Vacation Ideas &#8211; Village of East Davenport, Iowa, USA</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/61/vacation-ideas-village-of-east-davenport-iowa-usa</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:17:47 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Village of East Davenport is located on E. River Drive, (HW 67) and Mound Street. The village provides an alternative to malls and big box stores in the form of a beautiful, historic neighborhood with lots of friendly service.
The Village of East Davenport features:

o Shopping
o Galleries
o Parks
o Celebrations
o Pubs &#38; eateries
o A Mighty Mississippi [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">The Village of East Davenport is located on E. River Drive, (HW 67) and Mound Street. The village provides an alternative to malls and big box stores in the form of a beautiful, historic neighborhood with lots of friendly service.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Village of East Davenport features:</p>
<p><span id="more-61"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Shopping</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Galleries</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Parks</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Celebrations</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Pubs &amp; eateries</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o A Mighty Mississippi view</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Your day at the Village of East Davenport in Iowa can be totally unstructured, just strolling leisurely from place to place and discovering their unique surprises among the gift and gallery shops. Plan enough time to eat and drink there as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You can also visit the Village of East Davenport with a particular mission in mind such as finding your wedding needs, clothing, fragrances, stationery, candies, wines, hair styling and makeup, gifts, tea parties, and enjoying relaxing massages. They strive to offer the best to their visitors and guarantee you friendly services.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This community boasts of beautiful views and great attention to preserving an historic neighborhood.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Village of East Davenport Directory of Businesses includes:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Antiques</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Artists, crafters &amp; Galleries</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Clothing, Jewelry &amp; Body Care</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Food &amp; Drink Establishments</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Foods and Flowers</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Landmarks</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Offices</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Services</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Health &amp; Beauty Services</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Specialty Shops</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Upcoming special events:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Christmas in the Village: November 30 to December 1 and December 7 to December 8, 2007: This event has occurred for over 25 years and features living store windows, live music throughout the village, animals, a special appearance from Santa Claus, and a living Nativity.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While you are in the Iowa areas inquire about Iowa&#8217;s trails that include:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o The American Discovery Trail: The nation&#8217;s first coast to coast non-motorized recreation trail</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o American Trails</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Biking Trails</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Mississippi River Trail</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Raccoon River Valley Trail</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Cedar Valley Nature Trail</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Great Western Trail</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Sugarbottom Mountain Bike Trails</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">o Wabash Trace</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Source: The Village of East Davenport Online</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Written by: Connie Limon. For more vacation ideas visit http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Limon</p>
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		<title>Railroad Buffs Must Visit Boone, Iowa</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/49/railroad-buffs-must-visit-boone-iowa</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[The City of Boone, Iowa, has a lot going for it. It is home to several fascinating attractions, as well as being close enough to Des Moines to include many of the happenings there. Boone is where Mamie Doud Eisenhower was born, wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. You can [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">The City of Boone, Iowa, has a lot going for it. It is home to several fascinating attractions, as well as being close enough to Des Moines to include many of the happenings there. Boone is where Mamie Doud Eisenhower was born, wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States. You can enjoy a guided tour of the home while in Boone. It is home to the Boone Speedway, where the Super Nationals racing series appears and the Iowa Municipal Band Festival is held annually. The weekend after Labor Day of each year, you can experience Pufferbilly Days, which is a terrific fun-filled festival. One of the top attractions and one of the most exciting for railroad buffs is a ride aboard a steam-powered railway car.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Boone Railroad Historical Society</p>
<p><span id="more-49"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Chicago and North Western Railroad purchased the area rail line in 1968 and decided not to use some portions of it. A group of concerned citizens devoted to the preservation of the track founded the Boone Railroad Historical Society (BRHS) in 1983 and The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum was born. The historical society purchased 11.3 miles of track and bridges to preserve the historic value and scenic beauty of this location.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Last Commercially Manufactured Steam Engine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The BRHS was responsible for the purchase of the last commercially manufactured steam engine in the world in 1989. The beloved JS8419 was built in Datong, China, and now makes its home in Boone, Iowa. It is this steam engine that creates much of the attention for the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum (BSVRR). It is a formidable steam locomotive. Its beauty and its power are something to behold. If you are a railroad buff and love history, the sight of it chugging along will take your breath away.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A Variety of Train Rides</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The historical society has largely been successful in its attempts to draw tourists to this one-of-a-kind attraction. They have designed a variety of train adventures to delight little tykes, too. Nearly every child loves trains, and with the initiation of the Dessert Train, the Picnic Train, Thomas the Tank Days, the Pumpkin Express, the Santa Express, and the Easter Bunny Express, each season brings a new reason to visit. The 1920s Excursion Train and the Dinner Train are great for adults, as well.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The very popular steam engine operates the 1920s Excursion Train, weather permitting. The seasonal and event-specific train rides are often powered by an equally formidable diesel locomotive.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Boone, Iowa</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The City of Boone, Iowa, has a population of nearly 13,000, while Boone County claims just over 26,000 residents. It is centrally located in the state and near Des Moines, Iowa, which brings a plethora of attractions of its own. Boone is conveniently located close to Interstates 35 and 80, and not far from the Des Moines International Airport.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Sherry J. Irvin, staff writer for Unreel Media</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Irvin</p>
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		<title>More About Accommodations in Davenport, Iowa</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/46/more-about-accommodations-in-davenport-iowa</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:32:27 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Davenport is the city beside the Mississippi River in Iowa. It is situated about 170 miles east of the Iowa state capitol of Des Moines and 170 miles west of Chicago Illinois. The city is located around 265 miles southeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota and 200 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri.
Davenport has two major universities, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Davenport is the city beside the Mississippi River in Iowa. It is situated about 170 miles east of the Iowa state capitol of Des Moines and 170 miles west of Chicago Illinois. The city is located around 265 miles southeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota and 200 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p><span id="more-46"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s zoo and a pool, where in, about 20,000 guests come here every year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s main gate. Visitors of the Disney World&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Baymont Inn Davenport Hotel is one and a half mile away from the Wackey&#8217;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&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wasim_Ahmad</p>
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		<title>Wine Tours &#8211; Iowa&#8217;s Thriving Wine Country</title>
		<link>http://www.inside-iowa.com/28/wine-tours-iowas-thriving-wine-country</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:56:53 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[Way back in the mid-1960&#8217;s, 1966 in fact, the state of Iowa entered into my consciousness.  As a five year old at the time, it wasn&#8217;t much of a consciousness.  All I really knew was Dad took a temporary job transfer and we&#8217;d be leaving Chicago to live in Iowa for a year.
Over the next [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Way back in the mid-1960&#8217;s, 1966 in fact, the state of Iowa entered into my consciousness.  As a five year old at the time, it wasn&#8217;t much of a consciousness.  All I really knew was Dad took a temporary job transfer and we&#8217;d be leaving Chicago to live in Iowa for a year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p><span id="more-28"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 &#8211; Dubuque, Iowa.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Iowa Wine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s western and eastern regions are perfect for vineyards.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When Prohibition arrived in 1920, Iowa farmers turned to other pursuits and the wine industry here lay dormant until the late 1980&#8217;s.  Now, some 20 years later, the Iowa wine industry is in the midst of an exciting upswing.  Wineries number almost 60, and Iowa&#8217;s five wine trails are introducing travelers and wine lovers to some terrific wine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Since Interstate 80 cuts directly through central Iowa, exploring any of Iowa&#8217;s wine trails is an ideal destination or scenic detour for anyone traveling cross country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of Presidents And Wine</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Let&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If West Branch sounds even vaguely familiar to you, congratulations, you&#8217;re an historian!  West Branch is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, our 31st president, and houses the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This was our first stop, and it&#8217;s highly recommended.  Far from a stuffy and dusty old museum, the Hoover Presidential Library not only chronicles Hoover&#8217;s presidency, it features fascinating exhibits pertaining to all the presidents.  In reality, it&#8217;s a learning center devoted to American history and specifically presidential history.  We&#8217;ve visited several times over the years, and each time is more fascinating than the last.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our first winery stop is along the Herbert Hoover Highway, about 4 miles from the Presidential Library.  It&#8217;s Wallace Winery, about as scenic a setting as you&#8217;ll find.  With a century old barn and a post and beam tasting room, you&#8217;ll want to linger.  We felt the white wines starred here, especially the Traminette, made from the gewurztraminer grape &#8211; a great buy at $13.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From Wallace Winery, travel north on beautiful Iowa Route 1 toward the town of Anamosa.  On the way, you&#8217;ll drive right through the antiquing town of Mt. Vernon.  Stop, stroll around, and enjoy small town Iowa hospitality.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Anamosa, you&#8217;ll find Daly Creek Winery on north Ford Street.  Located in a former creamery building, one of the first things you&#8217;ll notice is the Iowa red cedar tasting bar.  Adjacent is Daly Creek&#8217;s 50 seat bistro, and although we didn&#8217;t eat here, the menu is inviting.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On to Daly Creek&#8217;s wines.  Being a big fan of the movie &#8220;The Shawshank Redemption&#8221;, my first pour was Penetentiary Red, a Cabernet Franc that&#8217;s full bodied and full flavored.  Remembering our college art appreciation classes, we also enjoyed Daly Creek&#8217;s white table wine, Gothic White.  This wine is named after Anamosa, Iowa&#8217;s most famous resident, painter Grant Wood, most known for his classic painting &#8220;American Gothic&#8221;.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After grabbing a few bottles to take home, we headed east from Anamosa on Iowa Route 64.  It&#8217;s about 25 minutes to Baldwin, a small village that&#8217;s home to our next winery, Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We were particularly pleased to visit here, as we&#8217;ve tried Tabor Home&#8217;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&#8217;s vineyard.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Introducing Dubuque</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">From Tabor Home, it&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;s all three!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dubuque:  The Particulars</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Dubuque, everything starts with the river.  Along the banks of the Mississippi, you&#8217;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&#8217;s the historic downtown district with unique shops and live jazz at night.  Further west, it&#8217;s the college district, with its own style and vibe.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dubuque is Iowa&#8217;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 &#8211; geographic features that many people don&#8217;t expect to find in Iowa. With 62,000 residents, it&#8217;s large enough to be diverse and small enough for easy navigation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There are a number of &#8220;must sees&#8221; in Dubuque.  A good place to start is the Mississippi River Aquarium.  Here you&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When you visit, you&#8217;ll taste wines made from grapes grown in Stone Cliff&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Enjoying More Wineries</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You&#8217;ll find this area&#8217;s next winery just 15 miles west of Dubuque.  It&#8217;s Park Farm Winery and Vineyard, surrounded by Iowa&#8217;s beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, trees, and terraced fields.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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&#8217;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&#8217;s a visit you won&#8217;t want to rush.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There&#8217;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&#8217;s Iowa vineyard.  There&#8217;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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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 &#8211; it&#8217;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&#8217;re in the area, do stop in.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">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.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Wine Trails USA is the internet&#8217;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&#8217;re invited to subscribe to our free twice monthly wine trails ezine.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hofman</p>
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