Iowa Tourism graphic
With sunny skies and unseasonably high temperatures in the 70s and 80s in the forecast, it might be the ideal time to hop in the car and head out for the Choose Iowa Fall Crawl, underway statewide today and tomorrow.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says there are about 125 local farms and small businesses lined up to explore during this second annual event.
“What it is is just an invitation for Iowans to come out, have an adventure, visit one of our great Choose Iowa members, an orchard, a pumpkin patch, one of our great farm stores and have a lot of fun,” Naig says, “but, too, get out there and make some purchases and help support some of our great Iowa farmers.”
Naig says the crawl offers Iowans and visitors an opportunity to discover unique destinations, enjoy family-friendly fall activities, and support our rural neighbors and merchants.
“We know that Iowans are saying that they want to shop local. They want to know where their food is coming from. They also want to have a great farm experience, and this is a way to put all those pieces together,” Naig says. “It’s good for business. It’s great for families that are looking to have an adventure and get out and get on a back road somewhere in the state of Iowa and have a lot of fun this year.”
All of the Fall Crawl stops are featured on the Choose Iowa Passport, which offers folks an easy way to find participating locations and plan their day of exploring. You can sign up for the free passport online and have it delivered directly to your phone by text or email.
Besides seeing the start of the fall color show, Naig says the crawl is an excellent way to see the diversity of Iowa agriculture.
“I just love the idea that for families, for kids to connect the dots and know that pumpkin or that apple that you’re enjoying or many of the other products that our Choose Iowa members are producing and selling,” Naig says, “I think it’s just great for everybody to connect the dots and see with their own eyes and experience and know more about where things come from.”
The Choose Iowa Passport was launched in 2025 to connect consumers with Iowa farms, local food and beverage businesses, and agritourism destinations across the state. Using the passport, you can redeem points for prizes, including Choose Iowa merchandise and products, as well as unlock exclusive discounts at various locations.
