ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Hiking a snow-covered trail at Gull Point State Park with a cup of hot cocoa in hand might be the perfect way to kick off the new year. Photo: Iowa Department of Natural Resources

First Day Hikes at Iowa’s state parks

Guided by park staff and volunteers, these hikes at 24 state parks and forests offer a bracing breath of fresh air to start the year. We recommend the five below, but you can find a full list of statewide activities on the Iowa DNR’s website.

Ledges State Park and Pilot Knob State Park: The festivities start as two of Iowa's most historic state parks — in Madrid and Forest Park, respectively — celebrate 100 years. At Ledges, a staff-led hike into the canyon and a chili feast await you at 11 a.m. At 1 p.m. at Pilot Knob, take part in post-hike delights like sledding, s’mores and cider.

Cedar Rock State Park: Immerse yourself in the serenity of outdoor yoga, followed by an easy-to-moderate hike through the picturesque landscape near Independence. Meet at the visitor center at 1 p.m. and remember to dress for the weather.

Gull Point State Park: Starting at 10 a.m., take an easy stroll along the non-paved Barney Peterson Memorial Interpretive Trail in Milford, where you can see tallgrass prairie, a scenic overlook and diverse winter wildlife. Afterward, meander over to the lodge, where hot cocoa awaits.

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park: Meet your fellow hikers at 10 a.m. at the lodge to choose your own adventure with a 1-, 2- or 3-mile route in Van Buren County to see bald eagles and waterfowl along the Des Moines River bluffs. Afterward, catch the shuttle back to the lodge and warm up with coffee and soup.

Lake Darling State Park: Join the staff to explore the newest sections of the ADA-paved fishing trail along this 302-acre lake, starting at 10 a.m. The trail winds through wetland habitats, restored prairie and Brighton’s 200-year-old cemetery.

Young authors honing their craft at the second annual Swift Youth Writers Workshop, hosted at the Ames Public Library earlier this year. Photo: Ames Writers Collective

Calling all young poets in Ames

Stephens Auditorium and the Ames Writers Collective are teaming up to present free youth poetry workshops led by Iowa author and poet Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey. The workshops — available in person at the Ames Public Library and online on Jan. 7, 14 and 21 — will culminate in a poetry contest. The winning poet will have their work performed live during the Langston Hughes Project, a multimedia concert that features the poet’s “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz.” Tickets for the Feb. 8 performance are available now; registration is required to participate in the workshops.

Lead guitarist Dana Hancock performs the iconic riffs of Pink Floyd. Photo: Floyd Tribute Band

‘Another brick’ in Ottumwa’s wall: a Pink Floyd tribute

Groove with the Midwest’s top Pink Floyd tribute band as they hit the stage in Ottumwa on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Dark Side of the Moon,” the band’s most famous album. For the all-ages tribute concert, the musicians of Floyd will play the entire album for an authentic psychedelic rock experience, complete with stunning visuals. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. at the Bridge View Center. Get your tickets here.

A pair of museum visitors marvel at a whimsical fish-shaped pink coffin crafted by artist Eric Adjetey Anang. Photo: University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art Facebook page

Find fine art around Iowa on blustery days

Winter so far has been a cakewalk compared to the caked-on snow we usually see this time of year. Still, it’s a good season to hang out indoors and take in some culture. Travel Iowa recommends 15 art museums across the state, including the three below:

Charles City: Seventy-seven works of art by Rembrandt, Picasso, Dali, Grant Wood and others are on display in the Charles City Public Library's Mooney Art Collection. Arthur Mooney, who moved to Charles City as a child, bequeathed the collection to the library. After nearly 60 years in storage, a gallery was added to the library in 2000 to exhibit the artwork.

Davenport: The Figge Art Museum’s 3,000 permanent holdings are testimony to seven decades of philanthropy and civic pride. The collections, organized in seven areas, offer a distinct look at regional, national and international art from the 15th century to the present.

Mason City: The MacNider Art Museum is a Tudor-style mansion that features permanent exhibits of 19th- and 20th-century American art and the largest collection of puppets, marionettes and related props from the famous puppeteer Bil Baird, including the ones he created for “The Sound of Music.”