(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 29, 2008 ) Forest City, IA -- Time is running out in Iowa to view the beauty of fall color.
Autumn at Elderberry Inn Bed and Breakfast beckons one to relax, enjoy the change of seasons, and the colorful leaves. The Inn offers a setting to retreat into nature or pursue special interest.
The Forest City area offers opportunities to enjoy nature, ride the bike trail to get closer to the fall trees, golf, visit a winery, shop at quilt stores, or relax at the Inn that is nestled in the beauty of fall color.
Pilot Knob State Park has an observation tower built in 1937 by the Civilian Conversation Corps. Standing atop the tower, the second highest point in Iowa, one has a beautiful view of forest and fields. Hidden with the 700 acre park is Dead Man's Lake. It is a four acre floating sphagnum bog and the only one of its kind in Iowa, A bike trail starts at Pilot Knob, travels five miles west to Forest City then continues south along Winnebago River to a canoe access,
Thorpe Park west of Forest City contains wetland, 15 acre Lake Catherine, an oak-hickory savanna, and restored prairie. The 160 acre park is the site of a Trumpeter Swan restoration project.
Twenty miles west of Forest City is Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge which was established in 1937 for the production and management of waterfowl and other migratory birds in the Mississippi Flyway. Union Slough is all that remains of a pre-glacial river bed which consists of 2845 acres of marsh, grassland, and timber.
Golfing courses abound in the area, and they too offer leaf-peeping opportunities. Bear Creek Golf Course, a premier 18-hole course, is in Forest City. Minutes away are two 9-hole courses: Rice Lake Golf Course and Gruis Recreation Area.
Located a mile from Elderberry Inn is The Mt. Valley Winery which is a family owed operation specializing in hand crafted wines. There are several nearby wineries to visit including Old Bank Winery and Bel-Aire Estates Winery.
At the end of your day viewing the beauty of mother nature, enjoy yourself sipping wine in front of the fireplace after relaxing in the whirlpool. Experience warm hospitality, enjoy evening dessert, and a homemade country breakfast.
*Elderberry Inn is an Inspected and Approved Member of the Iowa Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers Association.
