Kerstmarkt: Pella’s Dutch Christmas Market (2025)

Cordova Observation Tower sits on the north shore of Lake Red Rock in Marion County, Iowa, and is one of the tallest observation towers in a public park in the Midwest. Location: Cordova Park, 1293 Emerald Drive, Otley, IA 50214 When is the Cordova Observation Tower open? According to the Cordova Park webpage, it is…

As winter breaks and spring temperatures rise, Iowans look forward to landscapes turning green and flowers starting to bloom. That includes the thousands of tulips in Pella, Iowa that blossom every spring near the end of April / start of May. Here’s a collection of some of my favorite tulip shots from Pella, Iowa over…

Most evening-lighted parades in Iowa happen during the month of December – but if you’re looking for a lighted parade during warmer weather, be sure to check out the nightly evening parades during the annual Tulip Festival. During the Tulip Festival, they hold two parades each day: an afternoon 2:30 pm parade and an evening…

It’s an old railroad bridge that now serves as a narrow level B road over an old channel of the Des Moines River. During the summer, the trees nearly cover the top of the trusses, making a canopy over the bridge. It’s an interesting place to explore. You’re welcome to drive across the bridge or…

Each spring, Pella, Iowa comes alive in a way few towns can match. Streets, parks, and historic landmarks burst into color as hundreds of thousands of tulips bloom just in time for one of the state’s most beloved traditions — Tulip Time. Held annually in early May, Tulip Time celebrates Pella’s Dutch heritage with parades,…