Tourism By Region

In Mason City, Iowa, discover an array of award-winning attractions, from puppets to prairie school architecture, museums to malls, and an assortment of festivals uniquely blended with facilities catering to visitors. Mason City is located in North Central Iowa, in Cerro Gordo County, only a few miles from beautiful Clear Lake. The community is the hometown of Meredith Willson, composer of "The Music Man". Plus, the area is legendary as it was the final site of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson's concert. Mason City is also home to Prairie School Architecture with several buildings in the community designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The largest collection of Bil Baird's puppets can also be seen in Mason City.

Be our guest. . . new and aggressive business opportunities await. Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation invites you to experience the change of the four season. . . a wealth of green spaces. . . world-class health care. . . outstanding educational facilities. . . a safe environment. . . attractions that bring a sense of community. . . and a place to call home. Mission Statement The Kossuth County Economic Development Corporation will coordinate job retention, business development, housing, tourism, value-added initiatives and provide leadership to help improve the quality of life for all residents of Kossuth County, Iowa. Lajos Kossuth - Hungarian Online Resources

Why Iowa? Iowa is overflowing with genuine hospitality, significant historic sites, sophisticated cities, beautiful rolling countryside and four seasons of nature at its very best. The land between two rivers awaits you with an easy, friendly, at-home charm that's sure to leave you refreshed and restored. To make the most of your Iowa travel, begin by exploring Iowa’s 10 travel areas. Northwest Immerse yourself in Iowa's sun-drenched Great Lakes Region for year-round recreation. Visit Sioux City landmarks, and retrace the footsteps of Lewis & Clark. Experience festival traditions that bring old and young together in celebration. more... West Central Take in the beauty of Iowa's western prairie as you meander down trails on foot or horseback. Visit the picturesque Loess Hills, and marvel at a sky darkened by flocks of migrating waterfowl. Step back in time as you join in the festive revelry at heritage celebrations. more... Southwest Southwestern Iowa exudes its western flair with a championship rodeo and superb game hunting. Visit a one-room schoolhouse for a glimpse of prairie life a century ago. Or camp at the edge of a lake and let peace and tranquility wash over you. more... North Central Ply the waters past the prehistoric contours of the land. Walk through a tallgrass prairie. Pay tribute to a frontier settlement. Follow the beat of legendary musicians. And visit a city square dedicated to early 20th century movie magic. more... Central Arts and cultural pursuits are central to this region. A day of roller coasters followed by a night of baseball is sure to thrill. And for a glimpse of the area's rich past, visit a 19th century farm and village and a wildlife refuge where buffalo still roam. more... South Central Let the wind sweep you across the lake or bear you aloft in a spectacular balloon. Fish at some of the state's largest lakes. Or catch the sprint car races at the famed Knoxville Raceway. One way or another, this region will take your breath away. more... Northeast Summer pursuits make a big splash with young and old, while the fall harvest brings a bounty of color. Visit historic river towns, and catch riverboat casino fever. Then check into a charming bed and breakfast inn overlooking the might Mississippi. more... East Central Step back in time and across oceans for a taste of Old World tradition. Visit seven authentic German villages to sample wines, beers and delicious fare. Or shop for master-crafted furniture and clocks. Then fast-forward to the 21st century for a thrilling evening of stock car racing. more... East You won't believe your senses. Baseball players that materialize from cornstalks. A riot of color born aloft on the wings of butterflies. The soulful rhythms of jazz and blues - the river's own music. And to toast it all, a glass of award-winning Iowa wine. more... Southeast Follow your travels to amazing discoveries. Climb a rocky path to a secluded cave. Wind around the world's "crookedest" street. Visit historical places steeped in Mississippi River lore. From the steam era to the Victorian era, history surrounds you. more...

would be just another small Midwestern city except for the vision and cooperation of public, private and corporate leaders who wanted to make Columbus the best community they could create. Located just 45 miles south of Indianapolis, Columbus is ranked #6 in the U.S. for architecture innovation and design. The city has public art by renowned artists and nationally recognized gardens and landscaping, which includes an amazing park system. It's a place with a world-class golf course, outstanding athletic facilities, great fun for families and wonderful shopping. Columbus won the highly competitive 2006 America in Bloom national competition for the population category 25,001-50,000. Eight core categories were judged, such as heritage, urban forestry and floral displays. The city won on its first attempt, which is a very uncommon achievement. It was also chosen "Best of the Best" for landscape design, citing Irwin Gardens, national landscape design awards and the city's park and trail system.

Columbus is home to more than 70 buildings and pieces of public art by the masters of great design, including architects like I.M. Pei, Eero Saarinen, and Richard Meier, and world-renowned artists such as Dale Chihuly, Jean Tinguely and Henry Moore. Thanks to a new sculpture loan program, visitors to Columbus can see 37 major works of public art currently on display throughout the downtown. Most of the downtown is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. In a highly unusual move, the more exclusive National Historic Landmarks program named six Columbus buildings to its registry simultaneously, emphasizing the national significance of the city’s architecture. Beautiful Buildings, Beautiful Landscapes Whether you are a weekend gardener or a serious student of landscape architecture, you can appreciate the way the landscaping compliments the great buildings of Columbus, from modern masterpieces to historic homes to rural farmhouses. In 2006, Columbus won the highly competitive America in Bloom national competition. Eight core categories were judged, such as heritage, urban forestry and floral displays. The city won on its first attempt, which is a very uncommon achievement. It was also chosen "Best of the Best" for landscape design, citing Irwin Gardens, national landscape design awards and the city’s park and trail system. The best way to see all that the city has to offer is to take one of the guided city bus tours offered daily through the Columbus Visitors Center. Self-guided tour maps are also available.

Formed in 1987, the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (AACVB) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and marketing the area as a visitor destination. The goal of the AACVB is to enhance the economic and environmental well-being of our region. The AACVB helps to create and encourage business for the seven communities we serve - Aurora, Batavia, Montgomery, North Aurora, Plano, Sugar Grove, Yorkville - by aggressively promoting the area as an overnight destination and by increasing visitor awareness and expenditures for the maximum economic benefit of our tourism partners. The AACVB has three primary responsibilities: To encourage groups to hold meetings, conventions, tradeshows, sporting events and group travel in the seven area communities; To assist these groups with meeting preparations in advance of their arrival and also while their meeting or event is in progress; and To encourage individual visitors and groups to visit and enjoy the historic, cultural, retail, dining and recreational opportunities this destination offers. AACVB does not actually organize meetings, conventions and sporting events. It does, however, help meeting planners, tournament directors and visitors learn about the destination and area attractions and make the best possible use of all the services and facilities the destination has to offer. The roots of present-day CVBs stretches back to 1895 when a group of businessmen in Detroit put a full-time salesman on the road to invite conventions to their city. Today, CVBs operate throughout the world. Since 1987, the AACVB has grown to include seven communities in Kane, Kendall, Will and DuPage Counties, which collectively offer nearly 900 hotel rooms and hundreds of entertainment, dining, shopping, arts and cultural options for visitors to enjoy and experience. The Aurora area, only 37 miles west of Chicago, anchors the scenic Fox River Valley. As the crossroads of big-city action and country charm, it is also one of Illinois' most vibrant regions