Enter to WIN!!!

What is your favorite place along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway? Is it Mt. Hosmer in Lansing, the Waukon Aquatic Center, Yellow River State Park, or maybe it’s your own home or farm? The Driftless Area Scenic Byway is a 100 mile stretch of roadway in Allamakee County which boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in Iowa. As Project Assistant for the Northeast Iowa Scenic Byways Project at Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, I got the opportunity last week to spend a day with my sons exploring the byway. We had a great time and were amazed at how much there was to see and do! Northeast Iowa RC&D is hosting a contest to get the word out and raise awareness of the amazing resource we have in the Driftless Area Scenic Byway. The DASB begins in Postville and travels through the communities of Harpers Ferry, Waukon, Churchtown, and Lansing. Please take some time to discover the byway and choose a favorite place. Then, draw, photograph, or write a poem or story about it! Northeast Iowa RC&D is accepting entries from all ages! Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each category for participant’s ages 5 to 14 and every entry will have the potential to be used in byway publications and on a new byway website! Please submit entries by August 7, 2009 to Northeast Iowa RC&D, Inc. PO Box 916 Postville, IA 52162. Contact Kristin Rodas at (563) 864-7112 or kristin@northeastiowarcd.org with questions or to be added to our newsletter mailing list to learn more about this exciting project and to find out other ways you can be involved!

Want to Know More...?

In an effort to get the word out and raise awareness about the opportunities for communities along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway, we are working with several groups to arrange speaking engagements. If you know of a community group or other organization that would be interested in learning more about this project, please contact Kristin Rodas with more information.Email kristin@northeastiowarcd.org or contact me by phone at (563) 864-7112. There are so many exciting things happening and we can’t wait for people to realize the potential this project has for their communities.

DASB Map

I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to spend the day exploring the Driftless Area Scenic Byway with my sons. Although I was born and raised in Northeast Iowa, I was amazed at how much there was to see and do along this 100 mile stretch of roadway in Allamakee County! We started in Postville where we grabbed some donuts and headed out on our way. En-route to Lansing we stopped in Churchtown for some deliciously fresh cheese-curds. Once in Lansing we did a little shopping and then headed up to Mt. Hosmer. My boys were amazed! We spent time at the overlook and then playing at the playground up above. Upon leaving Lansing, we set out to explore Yellow River State Forest. What a beautiful place! The boys played in the water by the campground and after they had their fill of that we checked out the beautiful scenic overlooks. By this time all three of us had worked up an appetite. I knew my kids would get a kick out of Bucks ‘n Bulls in Harpers Ferry. I told them I had a surprise for them and as we walked in they were definitely surprised. My children happen to be slightly obsessed with deer hunting so seeing all of the antlers on the wall made their day! They promptly counted all of the horns and made up stories of how they thought each hunt played out. After filling our tummies with some delicious food we headed to Waukon. We played at the city park and explored Indian Springs Pond, cursing ourselves for forgetting our fishing poles. Next we decided to cool off at the Waukon Aquatic Center. The boys had a wonderful time and were absolutely exhausted after a fun-filled day along the byway! Please take some time this summer to discover the gem we have in the Driftless Area Scenic Byway and make some memories with the ones you love!

-Kristin Rodas