Mid-Summer 2025

The Pearson Lakes Art Center Inspires 60 Years of Culture Be inspired…adorns a wall at the Pearson Lakes Art Center (PLAC). These simple but hugely impactful words are one of the reasons why the PLAC continues to thrive and inspire those who walk through their doors—for over 60 years. Every day, young and old are…

The Iowa Great Lakes sports at least a dozen picturesque golf courses, drawing players from around the region to enjoy the game. The natural beauty found on these courses combined with natural and created challenges makes golfing a regular activity for all ages and skill levels. Each golf course showcases breathtaking scenery, countless wildlife and…

An iconic Okoboji tradition! Summers aren’t complete in the Iowa Great Lakes area until at least one Nutty Bar has been savored. The mouthwatering ice cream has been a fan favorite since 1945, drawing guests to its doors for the past 80 years. For 80 summers, the Nutty Bar Stand in Arnolds Park has become…

We see more and more people coming here for the trails and that is our ultimate goal, to make the Iowa Great Lakes a premier recreational trail destination. – Erin Reed, Dickinson County Trails Executive Director With over 52 miles of paved trails in Dickinson County, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy beautiful scenery and landscapes throughout…

It isn’t hard to achieve big dreams in the Iowa Great Lakes area, especially when you put two talented, confident sisters together. Meet Angie Hinn Schaub and Gretchen Hinn Lolis—two sisters who saw a need and jumped feet first, co-founding the Okoboji Pool Company. This new company blossomed out of a simple conversation that took…

This summer, we’re doing the hard work for you—sampling our way through some of the coolest sweet spots in the Iowa Great Lakes. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. We’re pacing ourselves at one stop a day, because honestly, six treats in one afternoon? Even we have our limits. Stop 1:…

Families have gathered from near and far for generations to enjoy the beautiful waters of Lake Okoboji. Century old cabins dot lakeshores, drawing families together year after year to make countless memories.  For the Goodenow family, Stef and Kris grew up listening to family folklore. Stories once annoyances quickly became valued treasures. “When we were…