Iowa: the place for gay marriages, wine tasting, and no swine flu...we're talkintravel.

I grew up in Dubuque, Iowa and moved to Northern California’s Bay Area when I was 17. My first day of high school in Hayward I witnessed two females rolling around on the ground fighting over a boy. This culture shock was only heightened after I was accepted to U.C. Berkeley and everyone thought my cat’s name (Doobie-after Dubuque) was a nickname for a green plant.

I’ve grown to love California and never would have imagined that my hometown would surpass the Golden State in progress. Not only is gay marriage legal, wine trails are Iowa’s trendy destination spot, thanks to a million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. Despite the State’s large population of pigs, swine flu is so far non-existent so you can travel safely.

Book a ticket to Dubuque, visit the new riverwalk and aquarium, ride the 4th street cable car, have lunch in Eagle Point Park, shop on the city’s cobblestone downtown, and take a wine tour.

Here’s the website to get you started: