Hannah and Tara's Iowa art trail scavenger hunt

Scenic stretch of road: We love the County-10 drive to Rocking M Ranch, where potter Beth Cathcart works and raises grass-fed beef. The Little Sioux River carves out the tour's only hills around her storybook-perfect family farm.

Can't-miss photo op: I like posing in front of the Lake Okoboji boardwalk, but Tara picks the Bogenrief glass studio in Spencer. "The fire used to create the work is such a contrast to the shining glass that comes out of it," she says. "You just have to capture this fire-and-ice combination on film."

Dream purchase: Everything! But Tara and I are young, with tight budgets. So instead of buying much, we enjoy meeting interesting people, talking about the creative process and watching the fall harvest. (Although we do covet Brad Travis' $800 ceramic platters!)

Affordable art: At Wild Wood Studio in Spencer, Perry Polson turns tree trunks into richly grained bowls and glossy pendants. Giving in to temptation, we pay $24 for a pair of polished necklaces.

Lunch on the go: Tara and I agree on this one: "Hands down--The Market!" The sunny cafe in this Spirit Lake health-food shop serves fresh, Mediterranean-influenced deli food. Tara orders vegetarian chili and a wedge of wheat bread. I try the flatbread sampler, with generous dollops of olive tapenade, hummus and pomegranate-walnut spread.

Artist worth talking to: When Tara tells retired art teacher Hank Hall she can't draw, he replies, "Yes, you can." That "never say never" attitude inspires the art classes he leads in his Spirit Lake pottery studio. Hearing him talk and watching him layer clay coils makes us want to get our hands dirty, too. And we love his funky, ceramic birdfeeders.

Offbeat discovery: Retired architect William Lieb designed his waterfront Spirit Lake home to show off his abstract pieces. Natural light pours in, creating a dramatic, gallerylike effect--perfect for this annual open-house event.

Quick snack: The Shaky Tree coffee shop is a hip, little oasis with a decidedly coastal vibe. (Just one of the laid-back owners is from Iowa.) Stop in for coffee, or come at night for live music.

Lodging you don't want to leave: As a travel editor, I stay at a lot of B&Bs, but Okoboji's Wild Rose Inn was Tara's first. She loved the princessy canopy beds and the luxury of a kid-free evening.

Local flavor: Every night around 6:30, the setting sun electrifies the clouds in the western sky and gives the subtle Iowa landscape some extra oomph--dark green trees, tawny corn stalks and burnt red soybean fields. Cameras, please!

To plan your trip, see our extended Iowa trip guide.

Now that you've been inspired by Tara and Hannah's trip, check out their slide show of trip photos, or print a blank scavenger hunt sheet and take your own creative drive.

More Midwest Road Trips

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