Exploring Iowa is a group of young adults choosing adventure right here in Iowa and help others do the same.
Tell us a little bit about the team that makes up "Exploring Iowa"
We’re all students at Iowa State studying very different things. Dylan and Grant are from Iowa, Jon is from Wisconsin, and Ian is from Kansas. We’ve all got our separate passions, but came together through the love of adventure and photography.
At what point did you decide to make this more than a group of friends seeing what Iowa has to offer?
Our interest in building a community first started when a small group of friends met in September of 2014 for our first Instameet. As far as I know, this was the first Instameet in Iowa.
What motivates you to get outside?
We all had different answers for this, but to name a few…see as much of the world before we die, escape from the pressure of daily work, and finding new locations.
What does "Adventure" mean to you?
Adventure means to us that we can enjoy each others company, find new locations, and take cool photos.
List the top 5 adventure spots you've discovered to date.
- Mount Hosmer
- Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
- The iconic rock overlooking the Des Moines River at Ledges
- Tilting Barn in Colo
- Grotto of The Redemption
What kind of challenges have you faced when trying to discover new adventure spots?
Drive time is one of the biggest challenges for us. Most of the places on our “bucket list” are close to four hours away. Also, we find it difficult at times to find locations given that they are sometimes unmarked or hard to find.
What surprises have you encountered on your adventures?
There can be weird stuff in the woods at locations we’ve gone to. Also, there is a sense of surprise when you go to a new location and don’t know what to expect. Typically, when we go to smaller towns, the locals there are more surprised to see us then we are to see them.
What do you hope Exploring Iowa will become?
We hope to be able to grow the community of adventurers and explorers around the state of Iowa and share all of the great places Iowa has to offer!
When someone visits your site what can they expect to see?
A visitor can expect to find places to adventure, an “adventure map” where they can visually see locations around the state. There is also an area where we have articles about our adventures and special locations we recommend visiting.
Do you have any advice or tips for newbie adventurers?
Get out and find locations around you. There are a considerable amount of locations around this state to visit. There are locations around you that you might have never known about. Also, make sure to use the hashtag #ExploringIowa, so we can see your photos!
