Even though I'm still from the Mid-West, I've always thought Iowa was easily the dullest state. My 4-hour commute from Madison, WI to Ames, IA consists of beautiful hills for about an hour and then BAM! Nothing but corn fields and barns for the next 3 hours. Obviously, Iowa State's campus is stunning, but every view off campus seemed too flat and lifeless for my liking. My ignorant thoughts finally altered once I was introduced to Ledges State Park for these 3 reasons:
1. The diverse wildlife
The moment my car drove through the entrance of Ledges I saw a family of Deer. I was completely blown away at their innocent beauty and grace while wandering through the leaves. Of course, I completely ruined it by jumping out of my car and accidentally scaring them off but I was too intrigued to stay away. It wasn't just the diversity of animals that caught my attention, it was also the fresh and luscious scenery surrounding every inch of my view. Ledges are filled with a vast variety of nature ranging from towering trees to dewy moss growing on the walls of the paths. The colors of the forest mesmerized me through every trail I saw. It was something I never expected out of the corn-enriched-fields I was used to in Iowa.
2. THERE WERE ACTUALLY HILLS
It's funny because the drive over to Ledges seemed like typical Iowa- cornfields, a barn every once in awhile, maybe a tree here or there- but the moment you turn into Ledges, it's like you entered a different world. Now, of course, Iowa has some hills but hey, as far as I knew there were next to none. Ledges have constant breathtaking cliffs and stairs that feel like they take a lifetime to climb. I was out of breath within 10 minutes of hiking around those beautiful corners. Every step is well worth the work in this angelic park.
3. People of all ages come to enjoy the scenery
I always knew there had to be places where people from all around come to enjoy the Great Outdoors in Iowa, I just hadn't found one until Ledges. It's so refreshing to see people step away from their everyday lives to come enjoy such a beautiful landscape of land. The real reason Ledges is so amazing is because it has something for everyone- there are low paths so the elderly can easily take a nice stroll, there are rocky trails for the diehard venture to explore, and there's flat land for families to barbecue for the evening.
Ledges has a way of bringing out people's inner spirit while making them feel right at home. It's such a welcoming park full of endless opportunities to explore. It's why I feel at home in Iowa. So jump off your own ledge and check it out. Maybe you'll find your own piece of home too.
