Category: Uncategorized (Page 70 of 174)

At Alabaster Caverns State Park you can tour one of the largest natural gypsum caves in the world! This incredible cave is extremely rare, as its the only gypsum show cave in the United States!

Cave tours depart daily and leave promptly on the hour between 9 and 4. Tours are limited to 40 guests.

Tours take place on a well-lit path and are as much educational as they are exciting! Group rates are available with an advance reservation. Cave tours make unforgettable field trips!

Leslie McArthur Craig

The more adventurous members of your group, may enjoy a wild cave adventure. There are four separate caves perfect for spelunking adventures. These caves range in length from 550 feet to 1,600-ft. Permits must be obtained before entering these caves. you can obtain a permit at the park office.

Leslie McArthur Craig

Hiking, picnicking, and camping are also popular activities enjoyed at the park! The campground has both RV and tent sites available.

The Alabaster Cavern’s Raptor Roost Trail is part of the Park Rx America Program that encourages heart health through regular exercise.

There is also the park gift shop which has a wide variety of souvenirs related to the park!

Alabaster Caverns State Park is located at 217036 SH 50A in Freedom, Oklahoma! For more information, click here.

125 is one of the deepest weight classes for the Hawkeyes, with several talented wrestlers, who are more than capable of stepping up and filling the weight class.

Drake Ayala

Drake was a 3x Iowa state champion at Fort Dodge High School, and entered the program with a ton of hype. Early in the season it was apparent that Drake was in fact the real deal, and Hawkeye fans were more then a little excited to see what he would accomplish. Unfortunately, he was injured in his first varsity match and struggled the rest of the season. Drake finished 8th at the Big 10 tournament and went 1-2 at the NCAA tournament. He did have a signature win over North Western’s Michael DeAugustino  who was a NCAA 4th place finisher in 2022. Despite disappointing results, the future is very bright for Drake, and he will only improve. I can’t wait to see how he looks with another year of college wrestling.

Jesse Ybarra

Jesse was a 3x Arizona state champion, and was ranked #1 in the country at 120 lbs in high school in 2019. He has a 5-5 record, and has wrestled at 125 and 133. Mostly filling in for Austin DeSanto and Spencer Lee. During the 2022 season Ybarra claimed an individual title at the Luther Open at 125lbs. Jesse is a solid addition and adds a great deal of depth to the Hawkeyes. He would be a starter at a lot of schools and has the potential to be a star, if he continues to develop.

Charles Matthews

Charles was a 3x WCAL league champion in High School, he posted a 4-6 record last season while competing at 133 pounds.

Spencer Lee

Last season Mr. Lee posted a perfect 3-0 record before undergoing season ending knee surgery.  If Spencer is able to return to the mat this season, he is a clear favorite to win a 4th NCAA Championship. Spencer has an overall record of 78-5 and is a 2x Hodge trophy winner.

133 is another deep weight for the Hawkeyes it will be tough to fill the shoes of the departed 4x all american Austin DeSanto, however there is some serious talent in this group.

Charles Matthews

Charles is listed on the roster at 125 lbs but he has only competed at 133 so far in his college career. In high school he was a 3x WCAL league champion, and is currently 4-6 overall in college competition. Matthews is capable of wrestling at either 125 or 133.

Cullan Schriever

Cullan was a 3x Iowa state champion from Mason City, and is an outstanding addition to the Hawkeye line up. Cullan is probably the favorite to get the starting position at this weight. He has a career college record of 18-6, and was 15-5 last season. Cullan is one of the future stars of the Iowa wrestling program, and it will be exciting to see how he has progressed from last season.

Jesse Ybarra

Jesse was a 3x Arizona state champion in High School, and was ranked #1 in the country at 120 lbs in high school in 2019. He has a 5-5 record, and has wrestled at 125 and 133. Mostly filling in for Austin DeSanto and Spencer Lee. During the 2022 season Ybarra claimed an individual title at the Luther Open at 125lbs. Jesse is a solid addition and adds a great deal of depth to the Hawkeyes. He would be a starter at a lot of schools and has the potential to be a star, if he continues to develop. I have Ybarra listed at both 125 and 133, as I’m sure he will compete wherever he can to crack the lineup.

Aidan Harris

Aidan is a transfer from Iowa Central Junior College where he finished 4th at the 2021 NJCAA national championships at 125. In high school he was a 3x state place winner and a 2020 Utah state champion. It will be interesting to see how Aidan figures into the equation at Iowa.

Jace Rhodes

Jace is another Mason City kid with high hopes of cracking the lineup for the Hawkeyes. In high school he was a 4x state place winner with a 116-23 career record. He will add depth to an already deep weight class.

Brody Teske

Teske is a late addition to Iowa’s roster. He is a grad-transfer from UNI. He started for the panthers at 125 pounds and was twice a NCAA qualifier. He is also a former BIG 12 Champion and is expected to make a huge impact for Iowa. Brody has 2 years of eligibility remaining and is a serious threat to all-american this season. His toughest match may take place in the room as its sure to be a 3 way battle for the starting spot.

With the departure of Jaydin Eierman, and Wyatt Henson 141 was expected to be a bit of a weak spot in the line up.  However, it now appears to be one of the teams strongest.

Drew Bennett

Drew had a 153-8 record coming out of high school, where he was a 132 lb state champion for Fort Dodge Iowa. Since joining the college ranks, he has won the UNI open and the Grand View open, and has compiled a 17-9 record.

Leif Schroeder

Leif was a 4x Montana high school state champion, and a 2019 Reno World Champion. He has a 2-1 record since joining the Hawkeyes.

Real Woods

When Real entered the transfer portal, following the conclusion of the 2021-2022 season, he had the whole wrestling world talking. After hearing offers from several Big 10 schools, Real decided the best place to finish his college career was with the famed Iowa Hawkeye wresting program. Real enters the program as a 2x All-American and is considered a top contender to win an NCAA title. Woods has 2 years of eligibility remaining.

Joel Jesuroga 

Is a former IHSAA state champion from South East Polk High School. Its unsure if Joel will compete at 141 or 149, so he will be entered on both listings. Joel is a serious talent with a very high ceiling. Its expected that he will red-shirt this season.

As you can see Iowa has some serious talent in the first 3 weights. It would’t surprise anyone if Iowa landed all 3 weights on the podium and had 2 NCAA Champions next March. 149-165 preview will be coming very soon. Thanks for reading!

Off Shore Resort

Off Shore Resort is situated on the most scenic Mississippi Riverfront property in the upper Midwest and features a hotel, campground, state of the art outdoor pool an aquatics center, bar and restaurant and an event center. Whether you enjoy, making smores while sitting around a campfire, or getting massaged at the luxury resort, this is the place for you. The Off Shore Resort is a hidden gem summer paradise, you need to see to believe. For more information, click here.

The Lost Island KOA Campground

One of Iowa’s most popular campgrounds the Lost Island Water-Park Resort is a perfect combination between camping and a resort style vacation.  The campground features 148 RV sites, 8 tent sites, and 13 cabins are available for rent.  Electricity is provided at all sites. Outside the water park are two challenging 18- hole mini golf courses, appropriately decorated with native vegetation, volcanoes, rapids, dinosaur fossils, and a skull pit! The water park has 14 different water slides, from body slides to twisting tube slides.  There is also a lazy river and wave pool! For more information, click here.

Honey Creek Resort

Honey Creek Resort is situated on the banks of the Rathbun Lake, and provides for an outstanding array of accommodation choices. From Lodges overlooking the lake, to free-standing cabins and a huge number of powered RV or tent sites, the Resort provides for travelers from every walk of life. There are plenty of amenities and programs available to fill the day, including lake activities (of course) which include canoe, stand up paddle board and jetski hire, and an indoor water park which is available for use all year round. The resort also incorporates an 18-hole championship golf course at The Preserve. If those activities don’t suit, the operators run other programs on a daily basis to ensure any stay at Honey Creek is worth remembering. For more information, click here.

Grand Harbor Resort

Located in Dubuque, the Grand Harbor Resort includes hotel accommodation, and an inside waterpark to allow for wet and wild family entertainment all year round. The hotel boasts over 190 rooms decorated with a minimalist contemporary feel, and a Tony Roma’s family restaurant inside the complex. In addition to the waterpark the hotel has a fully equipped fitness center. With function rooms and a business center with printing and internet connectivity, the Grand Harbor makes a perfect destination for a corporate event, or a wedding and family gathering. For more information, click here.

King’s Pointe Resort

Built around a truly magnificent timber and stone lodge, the King’s Pointe resort in Storm Lake incorporates hotel rooms, and self-contained cabins. There is a fine dining restaurant on the grounds, and overall the resort exudes an air of grace and elegance. The rooms are finished with contemporary styling, and can accommodate up to 5 guests. The Sunrise Cottages are able to sleep up to 10 people, and continue the standard of sophisticated grace set by the hotel rooms. The highlight of the Resort however, is the associated waterpark, which includes both indoor and outdoor activities, and works to shine a light on the inadequacies of an on-site pool. For more information, click here.

For more great lodging options in Iowa, click here.

Shepherd Mountain Inn and Suites is a gorgeous resort style lodge nestled in the beautiful Arcadia Valley of the  St. Francois Mountains.

The facility features outstanding lodging with mountain views and some of the clearest streams in the Midwest.

There are numerous accommodations designed to meet guests needs, including Jacuzzi Suites, Family Suites, and Executive Business Suites.

On the grounds of Shepherd Mountain Inn are large grassy areas, picnic tables, places to grill, and a clear mountain stream that spans the back of the property. The resort is conveniently located within walking distance of restaurants and groceries.

There are so many attractions in the Arcadia Valley Region that will have you and your family busy for days. Arcadia Valley offers everything from hiking trails, exploring mines, to float trips on the Black River!

Nearby attractions include: Johnson Shut Ins, Pickle Springs, Taum Sauk Mountain, Elephant Rock State Park, and the World Famous Bonne Terre Boat Tour!

After a long day of adventure you can enjoy a delicious meal right at the resort. Shepherd Mt. Inn has many options to choose from for your dining enjoyment. From home-style cooking to delicious BBQ.

Shepherd Mountain Inn and Suites is located at 1321 North Highway  21, in Ironton Missouri. For more information, click here. To check pricing or availability call, (573) 546-7418.

If your looking for a vacation destination the whole family will enjoy, look no further!

For more great lodging options, please visit our lodging database by clicking here.

Rocky Falls is one of the most unique beach/waterfall combinations in the Midwest. Rocky Falls is located in Shannon County 9 miles southeast of Eminence on Highway NN, off of Route H. To see another Hidden Gem just a few miles away, click here.

The area is located in Southeast Missouri between the towns of Winona and Eminence off of Highway NN.

The beach is surrounded with a beautiful rock backdrop, made up of rocks more than a billion years old. This gorgeous area is highlighted by the waterfall that pours into the swimming area.

The area is one of the finest geological areas in the entire state. The falls itself is a stunning site made up of steep rock formations. Rocky Falls is also located near Echo Bluff State Park, and The Current River. Both are worth checking out while your in the area.

This picture is owned by Jennifer Aubuchon

This is a great place to have a picnic and explore the waterfall area and do some day hiking. One section of the Ozark trail hikes right past the falls. There are parking and picnic areas available right by the water. The waterfall cascades down over 60 feet from top to bottom, forming into a cool clear pool at the bottom.

For more nearby lodging options, click here. For a list of Missouri’s best parks and locations, click here. For a list of nearby family activities, click here.