U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Iowa as the best state to live in the United States. They based the rankings off of these 8 categories: health care, education, economy, opportunity, infrastructure, crime, fiscal stability and quality of life. As someone who was born and raised in Iowa, here are my 8 reasons for why I think Iowa is the best state to live in.
1. The Iowa State Fair
Our state fair is the best state fair, don’t miss it! The Iowa State Fair has The Grandstand, which has hosted popular musical artists such as Train, John McCartney and Paramore. Fried food is everywhere! They have fried bacon, fried snickers and even fried Twinkies. Most foods are served on a stick, such as salads and peanut butter and jelly. Livestock is also a very important aspect of the fair, such as the Giant Bore and baby animals, which are worth checking out. The Butter Cow is also a must when it comes to the fair, and it is quite literally a cow carved out of butter. The fair is ten days of fun that every Iowan should check out.
2. Iowa Nice
No matter where you go in Iowa the people are always nice. Whether it be that people let you go first at a stop sign or they stop to help you change your tire. People are always willing to help you in a time of need and I would not have it any other way.
3. Des Moines
Okay, I am extremely biased here when it comes to my love for Des Moines because I have lived there my entire life. Des Moines is an amazing city to live in and has some awesome places to visit. Some remarkable restaurants in Des Moines are Centro (killer pasta), Zombie Burger (super unhealthy, but even more delicious), Jethro’s (I have dreams about their barbeque) and Fong’s Pizza (crab rangoon pizza sounds gross, but it’s so good). One of my favorite places to shop is Raygun, which now has several different locations in Iowa, but originated in Des Moines.
The Capitol Building is in Des Moines and is a beautiful building with a gold cover. The Farmers Markets are the best on Saturday mornings where downtown streets are filled with great food, fresh produce and local music. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a great place located downtown with some cool sculptures that are great for an Insta pic. Another attraction is Wells Fargo Arena, where musical artists such as Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran have performed. Overall, I would say that Des Moines may be the best city in Iowa.
4. The Food
One of my all-time favorite things about Iowa is being able to drive somewhere and see a stand for fresh sweet corn and other local produce. I love fresh sweet corn with some butter and salt in the summer. Country style food, as unhealthy as it may be, is the best comfort food, and is something Iowa specializes in. The fresh and local meats here in Iowa are also unsurpassed.
5. Mix of City and Country
Although Iowa is not a very well-known state, it is an exceptional place to live and is filled with amazing towns, big and small. Big cities such as Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames and Davenport all have fun things to do and each have their own unique qualities. Smaller Cities such as Grundy Center, Dyersville and Monroe are also unique places to visit and are often overlooked. Whether it be a local ice cream shop or a random museum, every town in Iowa has something to offer. And no matter where you go in Iowa, there is always a beautiful sunset.
6. Central Location in Midwest
Des Moines is not a big city compared to cities in states around Iowa, but bigger cities are not far. Chicago is five hours away from Des Moines, and if you’re willing to pay the toll, then it is worth it. Minneapolis, home of the Minnesota Vikings, is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive. Madison, Wisconsin, is a six-hour drive and coming from someone who has made the drive several times, it goes by fast and has beautiful scenery on the way. Omaha, Nebraska, another bigger city with a phenomenal zoo, is only two hours away from Des Moines. These places are perfect for a weekend get-away or day trip, if one gets bored in Iowa.
7. The Tourism
Although I mentioned the Capitol Building as a place to visit in Des Moines, the capital has not always been in Des Moines. The capital was originally in Iowa City, where the Old Capitol building is now a beautiful museum. For those who are into spookier thrills, the Valencia Murder House is a perfect place to stay. A family was killed by an ax in this house and the killer was never found. This house has been shown on Ghost Adventures, and some say it the most haunted place in Iowa.
Are you a Field of Dreams fan? This classic film was filmed in Dyersville, Iowa. Fans of the film can go check out some of the classic scenes of the movie there. American Gothic, a painting by Grant Wood, was painted in Iowa, and the house in the background still stands in Eldon, Iowa. These places are grand and each have something to offer for everyone.
8. The University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a fantastic school, and happens to be my second home. Football games are a riot with the fun tailgates and giant crowds. The University of Iowa has an amazing medical school, as well as writing program, but also excels in many other areas of study. Downtown Iowa City during the weekend is the place to be. Some restaurants worth eating at are Micky’s, Formosa and Iowa Chophouse.
The newest and best part of the University of Iowa is “the wave.” It is a new tradition where the audience and players at Hawkeye football games will wave to kids in the top floor of the hospital who are too sick with pediatric cancer to attend the games. Seeing the children smile and wave back has been my favorite experience here and makes the games extraordinary to attend.
So, as a proud Iowan, I can see why Iowa was ranked the best state! What are you reasons for lovin’ Iowa?