Family Fun in Pella, Iowa: Where Dutch History Meets Midwest Charm
Did you know you can feel like you have traveled to the Netherlands without leaving the Midwest? If you’re looking for a unique and enriching family travel experience, consider visiting Pella, Iowa. Our family had a wonderful visit exploring this charming town filled with Dutch heritage, stunning architecture, and family-friendly attractions. In this family vacation guide to Pella, we’ll share the best things to see and do while providing tips on how to plan your perfect getaway.
Disclaimer: Pella Convention & Visitor Bureau hosted and compensated our family for a visit to Pella. All opinions and reviews are our own.
Tips to Plan a Vacation to Pella, Iowa
When to visit Pella
The most popular time to visit Pella is during the annual spring Tulip Time Festival. Just like in the Netherlands, the city is bursting with colorful tulips in late spring. We did not visit during this time, but based on photos and the reviews of friends that have been to to the festival, it looks stunning!
Summer is also a great time to visit Pella to enjoy outdoor recreation at nearby Lake Red Rock. Fall brings stunning foliage while winter brings holiday festivities.
Where to stay in Pella
Pella offers a range of accommodations including popular hotel chains, quaint B&Bs, and campgrounds. Our family had a wonderful stay at Horn’s Ferry Hideaway. Horn’s Hideaway has two peaceful cabins located at Lake Red Rock. The cabins are well furnished with all the necessary amenities for a cozy and comfortable stay. The cabins feature both a bed and a sofa bed to sleep 4 comfortably.
The kids especially enjoyed roasting s’mores at the outdoor firepit. We all loved the fact that we were only minutes away from the outdoor activities at Lake Red Rock and only 10 minutes from downtown Pella.
Things to See and Do in Pella
Pella offers so many fun activities and attractions to explore for all ages. Whether you wish to learn more about the town’s history or spend time in outdoor recreation, here is our top list of things to see and do in Pella, Iowa.
Pella Historical Village
The Pella Historical Village was on of our favorite places we visited in Pella. The town of Pella was originally settled in the 1840s by Dutch settlers seeking religious freedom. The historical village site contains 18 historic and reconstructed buildings to cover Pella’s history.
Exploring the village is truly like walking back in time. Each structure has been meticulously filled with artifacts and displays to feel as though you are in a Dutch village from the 1800s. There is a bakery, general store, log cabin, mill, blacksmith shop, even a wooden shoe factory!
The kids loved exploring each building and learning about what life was like during the mid-1800s. The gardens around the buildings also provide a lovely place for taking photos or just enjoying the peaceful view.
Another structure at the village was once the home of Wyatt Earp and includes displays about his colorful life. Be sure to make the historical village attraction one of your stops when visiting Pella.
Vermeer Windmill
Another must see attraction in Pella is the Vermeer Windmill. This windmill was constructed in the Netherlands then disassembled and rebuilt on site in Pella. The beautiful windmill is now the tallest working windmill in North America. Located on the site of the historical village, you can even tour inside the windmill.
The windmill has several different levels that are included during the tour from the lower level where grain would be brought in all the way to the upper level where the grain is milled. The tour guide did a wonderful job at explaining all the details of the mill and how it works.
Another interesting part of the tour included seeing a recreated living area for a typical Dutch miller family from the 1800s. I won’t spoil all the details, but seeing how they slept was quite a surprise!
A highlight of the tour includes viewing the miniature Dutch village. This village shows a traditional Dutch village in the 1800s through all four seasons. This was a favorite spot for my kids during the tour as they looked through all the intricate details. The village even includes model trains!
Molengracht Plaza
The Molengracht Plaza is located in Pella’s commercial district just steps away from the windmill and historical village. The site was constructed to replicate a Dutch canal and includes several scenic bridges. This is a great spot for a peaceful walk or taking a perfect Pella selfie.
Klokkenspel
The Klokkenspel is a must see attraction, especially for kids. This Dutch style attraction contains mechanical figures from Pella’s history that perform to the music of a 147-bell computer-driven carillon. Be sure to check it out at11:00 a.m., 1:00p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.
Scholte House Museum
The Scholte House Museum is an extension of the Pella Historical Village. This grand 175-year old home was built by one of the town’s original founders. The home contains many period furnishings and rooms to tour as well as extensive outdoor gardens.
This museum may be better suited to older kids, but my daughter especially loved learning about the former residents of the house and seeing all the fancy decor and details. She said it was like a giant, beautiful doll house.
Kiwanis Park & Wonder Spelen Playground
Kiwanis Park is home to the newer Wonder Spelen Playground. This playground is designed to be inclusive and accessible to kids of all abilities. There are so many interactive elements, fun slides and swings, and endless ways to climb and play. We just loved the cute Dutch theme that even includes a windmill!
Other Pella Parks
One thing we loved about Pella is all the lovely gardens and flowers all over town. Central Park is located right in the downtown square and contains gardens, the town Visitor Center (in a windmill of course!), a historic fountain, sundial, and more.
Just a couple blocks away from the square you can find West Market Park. This open space has a butterfly garden, picnic tables, and a large wooden castle playground. A little further down the road is the Sunken Gardens Park. This park has more flowers, a pond, and another windmill.
Downtown Shopping
Downtown Pella is filled with charming shops including several kid friendly options. We enjoyed browsing the book store, clothing stores, home decor shops. and several other unique shops. There is a store for almost every need and interest.
Outdoor Recreation Near Pella
Pella is located just 10 minutes from Lake Red Rock which is Iowa’s largest lake. Lake Red Rock offers so many opportunities for recreation including boating, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, and biking. There is also a free Visitor Center with a nice lake overlook behind it. We were able to experience several outdoor activities during our Pella visit.
Volksweg Trail
The 17-mile Volksweg Trail connects Pella to Lake Red Rock and continues along the north side of the lake. This trail is perfect for walking, running, or bike riding. The pathway offers many scenic bridges and views of the lake with multiple trailheads.
Cordova Park & Observation Tower
Cordova Park is located along the north side of Lake Red Rock. The park is the site of the tallest observation tower in a public park in all of the Midwest. Its definitely a workout to climb the 170 steps 106 feet up to the top, but it’s worth it for the amazing lake views.
Be sure to read the sign at the bottom to learn all about how this tower came to be open for the public to climb.
Lake Red Rock Beaches
Lake Red Rock has two different main swimming beaches. North Overlook Beach is located near the dam. This site has a swimming beach, showers, and restrooms. It is close to the campground and not far from the Nature Playscape.
Whitebreast Beach is located on the west side of the lake. This beach also has a swimming area, restrooms, showers, and is a perfect spot for watching the sunset.
Nature Playscape
Not far from the Red Rock Dam and the North Overlook Beach you can find a fun nature play area for kids. We love finding natural playgrounds like this that offer logs and rocks to climb on and other natural elements.
Horn’s Ferry Bridge
Long before the Red Rock Dam was built and the lake created, a ferry operated to cross the Des Moines River near Pella. In the 1880s, the ferry was replaced with the construction of the Horn’s Ferry Bridge. This bridge was used for over 100 years before closing in the early 1980s. The bridge continued to deteriorate until a pier and several spans of the bridge collapsed in 1991.
Today, the remaining sections of the bridge on each side of the river are open as observation platforms and great spots for eagle watching. One of the platforms remaining is right next to Horn’s Hideaway cabins.
Where to Eat in Pella
One of the best parts of a family vacation is discovering the local cuisine. Pella offers a wide range of restaurants, many with a focus on Dutch style dining. The bakeries in particular are amazing! Be sure to try a Dutch letter when you visit.
During our visit, we found several great places to start out our mornings. We enjoyed the coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and fun vibe at Smokey Row. Pella is home to several amazing bakeries and we had a hard time making up our mind which creations to try from Vander Ploeg bakery. On our last morning, we filled up with hearty breakfast fare at the Windmill Cafe.
Lunch and dinner around Pella proved equally delicious. We enjoyed burgers and amazing Dutch desserts from Dutchfix. In’t Veld’s Meat Market has a Butcher’s Brewhuis serving great sandwiches for lunch. We also were able to enjoy a delicious dinner right at our cabin with goodies from Ulrich’s Meat Market.
Why you should plan a visit to Pella, Iowa
Pella, Iowa, is an ideal destination for families seeking a balance of history, culture, and outdoor recreation. From its rich heritage and beautiful landscapes to its friendly atmosphere, Pella promises a unique family vacation. Make sure to include this charming town on your Midwest travel itinerary. Happy travels!
