This is our third in the series of “2012” Iowa travels for JH Travel! We are headed northeast for this trip visiting attractions in Peosta, Balltown & Dyersville finding a variety of Iowa’s hidden treasures!
New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa is first on our agenda which is a monastery located in the rolling hills south of Dubuque. Currently, there are 30 monks that live and work at the Abbey. They support themselves by making wooden caskets (Trappist Caskets). History, craftsmanship, and their story to tell will be shared with us before going to lunch at Breitbach’s Country Dining located in Balltown, Iowa. This restaurant is family owned and has been built twice due to fire and reopened August, 2009. This well known establishment is located along the Great River Road which offers breathtaking views of the Mississippi and surrounding river valleys. After eating a scrumptious meal it is time to travel to Dyersville for the remainder of the trip. Our first stop will be to learn about one of the nation’s leading builders of residential systems-built (modular) homes founded in 1970 which is All American Homes. We will be divided into groups to tour this factory as we pick out our favorite floor plan for our new home! Next is a stop at the National Farm Toy Museum which is home to thousands of farm toys & collectibles since 1986. Another one of Iowa’s hidden treasures is Becker Woodcarving Museum which is a very unique museum where we will see very detailed religious carvings. St. Francis Xavier Basilica is next on our itinerary for a short visit to see one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture built in 1888 which has a seating capacity of 1,200. It is now time to eat our evening meal before heading back to Newton which is scheduled at the Country Junction Restaurant.
We have a very busy day planned visiting some of Iowa’s greatest treasures that will share history, craftsmanship, generations of family business, collectibles and best of all meeting new friends along the way on the trip! Don’t forget to sign up soon as our Iowa touring trips are popular ones!
Reservation and payment due by September 17, 2012