Decorah, Iowa

Decorah is an attractive college town in northeast Iowa.  The northeast portion of Iowa is the most scenic, with numerous bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River.  Luther College in Decorah is a liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Decorah’s attractiveness is enhanced by the Upper Iowa River that flows near downtown.  Its many historic homes and distinctive architecture helped this small town win the Paint Quality Institute’s Prettiest Painted Places contest in 2000.  Decorah is the only small town that I know of that is in the development phase of a pedestrian/bicycle path to encircle the town.  Each July Decorah is the host of Nordic Fest, a celebration of Norwegian culture with ethnic dancing, food, and music. Decorah is also the home of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, the largest museum in the country devoted to one single immigrant group.