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One of Iowa's signature attractions exists only in the fall: Human-scale mazes made out of—what else?—corn. Dozens of corn mazes can be found throughout the state each autumn, offering an enticing blend of tourism and agriculture. (A tip: Don't try to cheat by cutting through the corn. It's like stepping into a rain forest—stalks, leaves, heat and the constant fear that you'll never find your way out again.)
For people who have never been to Iowa, the state may seem like nothing but a maze of cornfields. There certainly are a lot of farms and corn, but there's much more. In fact, there's enough to see and do in Iowa that tourism is now the fourth-largest industry in the state.
What brings in the visitors is the mixture of enjoyable attractions: historic sites, including Native American burial grounds, frontier outposts and 19th-century river towns; museums, such as the Des Moines Arts Center and one-of-a-kind collections focusing on everything from Norwegian immigrants to farm toys; and nostalgic journeys, whether by riverboat, train or country road. And the farms and corn can be attractions in their own right: Well-done sites such as Living History Farms in Des Moines offer glimpses into the way agriculture has developed in Iowa over the past 300 years.
Native Americans inhabited the fertile area that became Iowa for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The remains of large settlements and great ceremonial mounds have been found in the northeastern part of the state. Archaeologists named the builders the Mississippian culture. It is thought that these settlements were constructed between 650 and 1300, though most were not occupied when Europeans arrived in the 1600s. Early explorers and settlers did find Siouan-speaking Ioway and Oto people living throughout the area. The tribes occupying the timbered valleys near the Mississippi and Missouri rivers planted crops (maize, beans, squash) and hunted on a seasonal cycle. Those living in the tall-grass prairies hunted bison (buffalo) for their livelihood.
In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet, the first European explorers to reach Iowa, traveled down the Mississippi. Their travels, along with those of Sieur de La Salle, helped secure the area for France, and French fur traders worked the area from the late 1600s into the 1700s. With the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Iowa became part of the U.S., and by the mid-1800s, most Native American lands in the area had been ceded to the nation. Iowa became a state in 1846.
The state's early settlers came from many areas, including New England and parts of northern and central Europe. Established as a free state because of the passage of the Missouri Compromise in the 1820s, Iowa was by and large opposed to slavery: Many residents became active in the abolitionist movement (John Brown spent some time in the area), and the state provided a large number of troops to the Union cause in the Civil War. One of the most infamous Confederate prisoner-of-war camps was at the Rock Island Arsenal, an island on the Mississippi River between Davenport and Rock Island, Illinois. Today the island is home to a well-maintained Confederate cemetery, which is decorated each Memorial Day.
When the state's agricultural economy struggled in the late 1800s, many Iowans joined the Populist Party and other political-reform movements that sought to uphold the rights of farmers. Agriculture has remained an important part of Iowa's business sector. It leads the nation in the production of pork, corn, soybeans and eggs, and nearly 90% of the state is farm land, including a growing number of organic operations.
Iowa's main attractions include vast acres/hectares of rolling farmland, the Mississippi River and the charming towns and cities that line its banks, the Amana Colonies, the Amish-Mennonite community of Kalona, Effigy Mounds National Monument, casino gambling, railroad memorabilia, the cultural attractions in Iowa City and Des Moines, and outdoor recreation.
Travelers who have a strong interest in Midwestern history and agriculture, curiosity about the Amana Colonies and the Amish way of life, or who just enjoy visiting with down-to-earth, friendly people, will have a great time in Iowa. Those who crave the rapid pace of big cities or dramatically beautiful scenery may find the state less to their liking.
The Iowa State Fair has been the inspiration for a novel, three motion pictures and a Broadway musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Each year it attracts more than a million people, making it the state's biggest event.
The University of Iowa in Iowa City is home to the nation's top-ranked program in creative writing. Graduates include Flannery O'Connor, John Irving, Jane Smiley and James Alan McPherson. The city is home to a number of fine bookstores, and many nationally known writers include Iowa City in their book tours.
The movies Field of Dreams and The Bridges of Madison County are set in Iowa and continue to draw fans to sites connected to their filmings.
With miles/kilometers of fairly level land and many uncrowded rural roads, Iowa is a great place for bicycling. Each year, some 10,000 riders participate in Iowa's biggest bike tour, RAGBRAI—the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (the Register is Des Moines' major daily newspaper). The tour covers 500 mi/805 km and draws participants from around the world.
Thanks to Wells' Blue Bunny, the town of LeMars in northwestern Iowa produces more ice cream than any other city in the world.
Famous native Iowans include William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody; Johnny Carson; Mamie Eisenhower; actors John Wayne, Ashton Kutcher, Elijah Wood and Donna Reed; opera singer Simon Estes; space physicist James Van Allen; U.S. President Herbert Hoover; and artist Grant Wood.
Iowa has more hogs than people at a ratio of about 5:1.
Iowa City was the site of the original state Capitol. The old Greek Revival building has been restored and is now a museum offering guided tours. Today, the city is better known as the home of the University of Iowa. Two of the university's museums are worth seeing: The Museum of Art has an excellent collection of both European and African works and the Museum of Natural History offers a good introduction to the geology, flora and fauna of the state. If these two museums don't satisfy your Iowa curiosity, we suggest you head to the well-regarded Prairie Lights Bookstore, located near campus, where the helpful staff can make recommendations for further reading.
There are a couple of interesting possibilities for day trips from Iowa City. U.S. President Herbert Hoover was born 20 mi/32 km east of Iowa City in West Branch. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site features a library, museum, lectures, walking tours and the graves of Hoover and his wife. The site also includes the Quaker meetinghouse and the school Hoover attended as a youth. There are places for picnicking and trails for cross-country skiing as well. Cedar Rapids, 25 mi/40 km north of Iowa City, was once the home of American painter Grant Wood. Several of Wood's works hang in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The city's Czech heritage is preserved in a museum and an old-world-style neighborhood along 16th Street. The Cedar Rapids Kernels play minor-league baseball in town during the summer. In Riverside, south of Iowa City, you can see the future birthplace of Star Trek's Captain Kirk; the TV show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, wrote that Kirk would be born in a small Iowa town in the year 2228, and Riverside claimed the right (with Roddenberry's official permission). Trekkies celebrate Kirk's future birthday the last weekend in June. Iowa City is 110 mi/180 km east of Des Moines.
In today's digital era, the illusion of easy travel planning is everywhere. With a few clicks, you can compare flight prices, browse thousands of hotel reviews, and view colorful photo galleries of far-flung destinations. Yet, for discerning travelers in Iowa who are looking to plan a truly seamless luxury vacation, this abundance of raw data has created a major challenge. The modern travel landscape is fragmented, complicated, and often misleading. Sifting through contradictory reviews, navigating hidden resort fees, and managing complex airline layovers has turned vacation planning into a stressful, time-consuming task. This is why a significant shift is underway: more and more Iowa residents are moving away from self-service booking engines and choosing to partner with professional, human advisors who bring first-hand expertise, deep supplier relationships, and comprehensive travel advocacy.
When you are planning a high-value vacation—whether it is an overwater villa getaway in the Maldives, a multi-generational family safari in Kenya, a private guided tour of Italy's historic cities, or an all-inclusive luxury cruise through the Mediterranean—the stakes are high. Your vacation time is one of your most valuable assets, and an online booking engine cannot advocate for you when things go wrong, nor can it offer the exclusive VIP treatment that elevates a trip from standard to spectacular. At Vincent Vacations, we provide our clients across Iowa—from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids to Davenport, Iowa City, Ames, and Sioux City—with a highly personalized, relationship-driven planning service. By combining our team's deep industry knowledge with the immense purchasing power of the elite, invitation-only Signature Travel Network, we deliver exceptional travel value, direct protection, and premium amenities that no algorithm can replicate.
Planning a luxury vacation from the Midwest comes with a specific set of logistical details that coastal travelers rarely have to consider. Most international flights and exotic long-haul routes do not depart directly from Iowa airports. Whether you choose to fly out of Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, or make the drive to hubs like Omaha (OMA), Kansas City (MCI), or Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP), your journey will almost certainly involve connecting flights. Navigating these multi-leg itineraries requires careful coordination. A tight 45-minute layover in Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, or Atlanta might look acceptable on an automated booking site, but a minor summer thunderstorm or winter snow delay can quickly turn it into a missed connection, a stranded night at an airport hotel, or a missed cruise embarkation.
A dedicated travel specialist from Vincent Vacations acts as your personal flight coordinator and logistics manager. We analyze flight networks to select routes with safe, realistic connection times. We monitor airline schedules for changes in the months leading up to your trip, and we arrange private airport transfers so a professional driver is waiting to meet you the moment you land. If a flight delay or cancellation does occur while you are in transit, you do not have to join a long queue of frustrated passengers at the customer service desk or spend hours on hold with a call center. Instead, you simply send a text or call your dedicated Vincent Vacations advisor. While you relax in an airport lounge or enjoy a meal, we utilize our direct lines to airline agents and ground operators to re-route your flights, adjust your hotel check-in times, and reschedule your private transfers, keeping your vacation on track with minimal stress.
Furthermore, local travel agents bring a level of trust and personal connection that online platforms simply cannot provide. We take the time to understand your unique travel style, your preferences, and your specific goals. We know whether you prefer active, guide-led exploration or quiet days of relaxation, whether you require connecting rooms for a family vacation, or if you want to celebrate a milestone anniversary with a private, candlelit beach dinner. This detailed understanding allows us to craft a completely customized itinerary that matches your personal taste, ensuring that your travel investment delivers exactly the experience you are looking for.
The single most important factor that elevates the service of Vincent Vacations is our proud membership in the invite-only Signature Travel Network. This cooperative represents a collection of the world's most respected travel agencies, representing billions of dollars in annual purchasing power. This collective leverage allows us to negotiate directly with the world's finest hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and destination management companies. As a result, we can pass along exclusive Signature Travel Network perks and promotions that are completely unavailable to travelers booking directly or using standard online travel agencies (OTAs).
When we book your stay at one of the thousands of partner luxury properties worldwide—including iconic brands like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Belmond, and Aman—you are instantly recognized as a VIP guest. These bookings automatically include a suite of high-value amenities at no additional cost to you:
These benefits represent a tangible financial value, often exceeding $500 per stay. More importantly, they change the way you are treated by the hotel staff. Because of our direct relationships, general managers prioritize our guests, placing them in the best rooms within their category and ensuring their stay is flawless. When you walk into a property booked by Vincent Vacations, you are welcomed as an honored guest, not an anonymous reservation number from a third-party booking site.
When you use an online booking engine, the platform treats every travel product as a commodity. It ranks hotels based on basic filters, sponsored listings, and paid placements, regardless of whether a property has recently undergone renovations, is situated next to a noisy construction site, or has suffered a decline in service quality. Online platforms also list unvetted local tour operators, exposing you to safety risks and low-quality tours.
Vincent Vacations operates on a foundation of vetted supplier partnerships. We do not work with anonymous operators. We utilize our network to partner with the world's most reputable destination management companies (DMCs), tour operators, and hoteliers. We know which local guides in Rome are the best at keeping kids engaged, which safari lodges in South Africa offer the most consistent leopard sightings, and which overwater villas in Bora Bora offer the most privacy. If a supplier does not meet our strict standards for safety, service, and reliability, we do not book them. This curated approach ensures every component of your itinerary is executed at the highest level, saving you from costly and frustrating surprises.
To help visualize the difference, the table below compares the process and value of planning a trip yourself online versus partnering with our professional travel specialists.
| Vacation Component | DIY Online Booking Engines (OTAs) | Vincent Vacations Partnership |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel & Resort Perks | Standard retail rate with no perks. Paid breakfast, no upgrades, and strict check-in rules. | Signature Travel Network perks guaranteed, including luxury upgrades, daily free breakfast, and $100+ resort credits. |
| Cruise & Voyage Value | Standard cruise line pricing. Standard onboard amenities with zero booking-agent advocacy. | Exclusive onboard credits, hosted cruise sailings, private cocktail receptions, and network-only pricing. |
| Midwest Flight Logistics | Fragmented flight booking. If flights from DSM or CID are delayed, you must resolve issues yourself. | Seamless flight coordination. Full monitoring and immediate rebooking/transfer shifting during delays. |
| Supplier Reliability | Unverified online reviews, sponsored results, and anonymous, commoditized tour operators. | Directly vetted global partners, local destination managers, and personal connections with hotel GMs. |
| Time & Effort Investment | 10-20+ hours of stressful research, reading reviews, and managing multiple fragmented bookings. | Stress-free planning process. A single dedicated advisor manages your entire vacation end-to-end. |
| Emergency Support | Automated customer service hotlines, chatbots, and long hold times during travel disruptions. | 24/7 emergency support and a dedicated human advocate to resolve issues immediately. |
One of the most common myths in the travel industry is that using a travel agent is more expensive than booking yourself. Many believe that agents charge massive service fees that drive up the cost of the trip. The reality is quite different.
The vast majority of luxury hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and tour companies build travel agent commission into their public retail pricing. If you book a hotel room yourself online, the hotel keeps that commission as profit. If you book that same room through Vincent Vacations, the hotel pays the commission to us as compensation for managing the booking and preparing the guest. Therefore, the base price of your vacation is typically identical, whether you book it yourself or use an expert.
The difference is the value. For the exact same price, booking through us grants you access to Signature Travel Network perks (breakfast, resort credits, upgrades), professional itinerary coordination, and our direct support if anything goes wrong. Some complex, multi-destination itineraries may involve a nominal planning fee to cover the extensive labor of custom itinerary design, but this fee is often offset by the credits and savings we secure for you.
To ensure a seamless, stress-free planning process, we use a structured timeline. Below is the step-by-step roadmap we follow to bring your luxury vacation to life:
The best vacations begin with a conversation. During this initial phase, we discuss your travel goals, budget, interests, and past experiences. We use our first-hand expertise to recommend destinations and curate general concepts. Once you select a direction, we secure high-priority components like specific cruise suites, sought-after resort villas, or limited-capacity permits.
With the destination confirmed, we construct a detailed, day-by-day itinerary. For our Iowa clients, this includes analyzing flight connections from Des Moines (DSM) or Cedar Rapids (CID) to coordinate optimal schedules. We match your flights with airport transfers and ensure that connection times are safe and realistic.
This is where your trip becomes personalized. We work with our vetted destination specialists to arrange private tours, secure reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants, book spa treatments, and organize unique local experiences. We also review travel insurance options to protect your financial investment.
We finalize your customized itinerary and compile all travel vouchers, flight details, and destination guides into a single mobile app for easy access. Our team contacts hotel general managers and cruise hosts to advise them of your arrival, confirm luxury upgrades where available, and request special welcome amenities.
As you depart, we monitor your flight status in real-time. Throughout your journey, you have access to our 24/7 emergency support. If you experience any travel disruptions, need to make a last-minute schedule change, or require assistance while away, our team is standing by to advocate for you immediately.
Using a local travel agent in Iowa provides personal service, peace of mind, and access to value-added benefits that online booking engines cannot offer. Unlike automated travel sites, our advisors build a relationship with you, customizing your vacation around your preferences. Furthermore, as a member of the Signature Travel Network, Vincent Vacations can secure exclusive perks like luxury upgrades, resort credits, and complimentary breakfast. We also handle all logistics, meaning you have a dedicated advocate to support you if flights are delayed or plans change.
Managing Midwestern flights is one of our specialties. Since flying from Iowa to international or remote destinations almost always requires a connection, we carefully design itineraries with realistic connection times in major hubs like Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, or Atlanta. We monitor your flights in real-time on your departure day. If a delay or cancellation occurs, we immediately work to re-book your flights and coordinate with your destination transfers to ensure you arrive safely without losing your bookings.
Our certified travel advisors specialize in a wide variety of luxury travel experiences. This includes custom European itineraries, all-inclusive beach resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, luxury ocean and river cruises, private villa rentals, African safaris, Hawaiian getaways, and adventurous tours in Asia and South America. Whether you are planning a romantic honeymoon, a multigenerational family reunion, or a solo exploration, we match you with an advisor who has the specific expertise and global connections to design a perfect trip.
In most cases, working with a travel advisor does not cost more than booking a vacation yourself. Because luxury resorts, hotels, and cruise lines pay travel agents a commission to manage bookings, the base rate you pay is typically identical to the public retail rate. For highly complex, multi-destination itineraries that require extensive custom research and logistical coordination, we may charge a nominal planning fee. This fee is discussed upfront during your initial consultation and is often offset by the credits, upgrades, and exclusive savings we secure for you.
Yes, in many instances. If you recently booked a cruise or a luxury resort reservation directly with the supplier (and have not yet made your final payment, usually within 30 to 60 days of booking), we can often transfer the reservation to our management. This allows you to keep your original pricing and room selection while gaining access to our planning support, travel monitoring, and eligible Signature Travel Network perks at no additional cost. Contact our team to check if your booking is eligible.
For cruise clients, our network membership allows us to offer exclusive amenities on thousands of sailings annually. Depending on the cruise line and itinerary, these benefits can include significant onboard credits (which can be used for spa services, shore excursions, or specialty dining), hosted sailings with a dedicated onboard representative, private cocktail receptions, and complimentary private shore excursions. We apply these benefits automatically to eligible bookings to maximize your value at sea.
Your vacation time is one of your most valuable assets, representing an opportunity to relax, reconnect, and create lifelong memories with your loved ones. Do not leave your next travel experience to chance by relying on generic search engines, biased reviews, and impersonal customer service lines. Partner with the dedicated travel advisors at Vincent Vacations to experience a stress-free planning process and a completely customized journey. By blending our first-hand expertise with the massive booking power of the Signature Travel Network, we guarantee you will receive VIP treatment, exclusive amenities, and comprehensive protection from the moment you begin planning until you return home to Iowa.
Let us handle the details while you enjoy the anticipation of a flawless getaway.
Contact Vincent Vacations Today to Begin Designing Your Vacation:
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Learn MoreOur motto at Vincent Vacations is, we go so you know! We want to ensure you have the BEST experience, whether it's a river cruise, or a corporate group incentive trip, we want to ensure your vacation is a success.
Many of our travel agents have been in travel since 2002! With Vincent Vacations, all travel components are taken care of - this includes accommodations, air, transfers, tours, activities, insurance, contracts, EVERYTHING.
Destination weddings, Anniversaries, vow renewals, honeymoons, engagements, elopements, retie the knot, babymoons, proposal trips and more
Corporate group retreats and incentive trips, seniors-only river cruises, friends & family getaways, special group anniversary celebrations and more
All-inclusive resorts, Hawaii, cruises, Europe, African Safaris, exotic Fiji and the islands, there are so many travel options for families
Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Lines, Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Resorts, Aulani, Universal, MyDisneyExperience, Disney Genie, characters dining, and more
We know Europe! Paris, London, Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Swiss Alps, Prague, Amsterdam, Venice, Athens, Vienna, Madrid, let's go!
Ocean cruising, river cruising, yacht charters, expeditions, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Viking, Lindblad, there are so many options when it comes to cruising
We create custom travel itineraries and trips, and we know travel - Whether it's Universal, river cruises, safaris, yacht charters, Australia, Thailand and more!
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Debt free and in business since 2013. Vincent Vacations has agents in Dallas, Kansas City, Houston, Shreveport, Little Rock, Roswell, Oklahoma City and more locations.
Travel agents can help save time and stress by doing the research and handling all your bookings for you. An experience travel agent is best at finding great deals and packages, as well as providing you with helpful information and tips. They can also help you plan special activities and experiences that you may not have thought of on your own. All in all, using a travel agent can be a great way to make sure you get the most out of your trip.
In travel since 2002, and in business since 2013, our travel team serves clients all over the US! Planning a vacation away from home takes a great team. We have taken the time to build a team of dedicated, smart, hard-working personnel who are each committed to excellence and service. We work side-by-side, creating and ensuring INCREDIBLE vacation experiences for you and your group. Our store front in-office team, and our travel consultant independent contractors, work all around the US - we even have a travel agent who lives in Mexico!
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