Things to Do in Dubuque, Iowa

Iowa's oldest city, Dubuque (population 58,000) has remade its Mississippi River waterfront as a lively destination. The Smithsonian-affiliated National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium offers fresh-water aquariums and cool hands-on exhibits. In summer, live music rocks the riverside amphitheater. River's Edge Plaza, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion, serves as a landmark for Mississippi riverboats and excursion vessels.

Click ahead to learn about some of our favorite things to do in Dubuque. Want to share your ideas? Leave a comment below.

More information: (800) 798-8844; traveldubuque.com

Crowds flock to Dubuque each June for America's River Festival on the banks of the Mississippi. Photo courtesy of Dubuque Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

The experience at the riverfront National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium includes a touch tank of Mississippi snails, the chance to tour a 1934 steamer and views into six big aquariums full of river creatures. Watch for special events (ice sculpture, logrolling) throughout the year. (800) 226-3369; www.rivermuseum.com

Photo Courtesy of The Iowa Tourism Office

A numbered lock-and-dam system divides the Mississippi River into ever-deeper pools, allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to control water levels. The 16 gates and 600-foot-long chamber of Dubuque's Lock and Dam No. 11 are powerful to behold, filling or emptying the chamber to deliver tiny fishing boats and giant barges alike along the river's "stairsteps." Free tours are offered at 2 p.m. Sundays Memorial Day through Labor Day. (563) 582-0881; missriver.org

Eagle Point Park, above Lock and Dam No. 11, provides picnic spots and views of the Mississippi. (563) 589-4263; cityofdubuque.org

Roses, woodland wildflowers, water and shade gardens, and hostas flourish on 52 acres. The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is known especially for its hostas, with 13,000 plants and 700 varieties. (563) 556-2100; dubuquearboretum.net

Iowa's only authentic paddle wheeler, The Spirit of Dubuque, and the modern yacht Miss Dubuque cruise the Mississippi on sightseeing or dinner cruises, May through October. (563) 583-8093; dubuqueriverrides.com

The 26-mile cycling and hiking Heritage Trail runs from just north of Dubuque west to Dyersville, passing by limestone bluffs, interpretive sites, railroad artifacts and fossil collecting at the trail midpoint in Graf. dubuquecounty.org

Photo Courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

Cloistered nuns at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey churn out creamy confections -- 60,000 pound of caramels and 10,000 pounds of mint and hazelnut meltaways annually -- at this organic farm that's open for tours. (563) 556-6330; monasterycandy.com

Or visit the Mount Carmel Motherhouse, of the Sisters of Charity, overlooking the river. (563) 588-2351; bvmcong.org

A 1,387-acre national historic landmark encompasses soaring limestone canyons, dense old timber and the Mississippi River backwater of Catfish Creek. The Mines of Spain State Recreation Area maintains 12 miles of hiking trails and 4 miles of ski trails. Among the areas to explore: A bird-and-butterfly garden, woodland flower gardens, a historic farm site and the 1897 Julien Dubuque Monument (pictured). (563) 556-0620; minesofspain.org

Photo Courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

In 1882, a wealthy citizen built a railway up the bluffs in Dubuque as a way to quickly return to his house. After three fires and several changes in ownership through the years, the rebuilt Fenelon Place Elevator now bills itself as the world's shortest and steepest railway. It starts in Cable Car Square (home to two-dozen shops, galleries and restaurants) and ends at a bluff top overlooking the city. (563) 582-6496; fenelonplaceelevator.com

Photo by Ginger Crichton.

Established in 1874, the Dubuque Museum of Art -- Iowa's oldest cultural institution -- shows national and regional art, including pieces from Iowa artist Grant Wood's collection. One gallery focuses on local working artists. (563) 557-1851; dbqart.com

Photo Courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

This Dyersville funhouse displays thousands of scale-model farm toys. (877) 475-2727; nationalfarmtoymuseum.com

Photo courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

Daily narrated tours offered through Dubuque by Carriage depart from Cable Car Square. A variety of horse-drawn carriage and horse-drawn streetcar tours take visitors by 18th-century landmarks, Victorian mansions and other areas. (563) 580-0558; dubuquebycarriage.com

Photo Courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

A block from the riverfront, an entertainment complex includes a casino, four restaurants, bowling lanes and the Mississippi Moon Bar Theater hosting national touring acts. (563) 690-4800; diamondjo.com

Photo Courtesy of Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce

Miners discovered Crystal Lake Cave in 1868 after drilling 40 feet into the ground to look for a lead vein. Instead, they found a natural wonder. The cave, 3 miles south of Dubuque, is open May through October. (563) 556-6451; crystallakecave.com

Photo Courtesy of Digital Dubuque