Written by Cherie Westerkamp, Assistant Office Coordinator
Winter blues have you stuck inside? Spring vacation get canceled? Or do you just want some fall vibes? Whatever the reason, get your coat, grab the kids, hop in the car, buckle up, and go on an adventure to Pella!
Wait, what? Take the kids to Pella… Please tell me more!
Yes, that is what I said! As a gal who has lived in Pella for 30 years, Pella hosts a number of things for kids of all ages to do all year round. Let me explain. While winter months can be long and dreary, and this takes a little forethought, make an ABC scavenger hunt from your house to Pella! Look for a pastry in the shape of an “S”. Search for Wyatt Earp’s boyhood home for a “W”. These windmill blades look like what letter? (X) These are just examples to help you begin. Take pictures with each letter found, and you’ve created a scrapbook ready to print!
Need some fresh air and an outdoor activity? Bring your ice skates and head to the skating rink at Caldwell Park. Snow on the ground, but you have no skiis? Visit the Red Rock Visitors Center and check out some snowshoes! Take a hiking adventure to Big Rock Park and find the big rock at the end of one of the trails. Warm up by watching indoor experiments happen at Iris Coffee and their Drink Lab, or watch gouda cheese being made at Frisian Farms Cheese House. Invite your mind to wonder at The Curiosity Shop, where you can bring home a new book, family game, or puzzle! Celebrate the day by enjoying a cupcake at Cranberry Stone Bakery, just because you can.
With melting snow and spring around the corner, new life is beginning to beat. Stroll through Pella’s stunning gardens to find tulips emerging from their beds and blooming with beauty! Make sure to walk to Tuttle Cabin and follow the Tuttle Learning Walk to Sunken Gardens Park, where the pond is in the shape of a wooden shoe! Pella Historical Museums opens in March, refreshed from winter projects. View the town square from taking a Vermeer Windmill tour and make sure to visit the miniature Dutch Village display that depicts life in the Netherlands in the 1840’s. Pella Historical Museums invites you to enjoy the Tulip Time Festival, the first full weekend in May each year. This festival embraces our Dutch heritage and the whole community gets involved! There are 2 parades each day that features bands, school kids dressed in Dutch costumes, and magnificent floats paying ode to our Dutch heritage. Make sure to try many of the Dutch delicacies at local food vendor booths downtown or purchase a new treasure at the Dutch Market. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
School is out; let the first splash of summer begin at Pella’s Aquatic Center! A pool for all your family’s needs! Exhilarating water slides, a lazy river, diving boards, and a children’s water area, plus a kiddie pool! Interested in more water adventure? Grab a snack and rent a kayak or paddleboard with SUP Red Rock, or rent a boat or pontoon at the Marina and enjoy the sun on Iowa’s largest lake, Lake Red Rock. Want to see more of Lake Red Rock, climb the Cordova Observation Tower, and enjoy hiking the nearby trails? Does your family enjoy the great outdoors? There are several options around the lake for camping that are near the Volksweg Trail, perfect for biking or walking. Roberts Creek and Central College both have a disc golf course, but if you want to hit a course with clubs, try Bos Landen Golf Course or their driving range. If it’s rainy outside, and you still want to play the game, head to Nederlander’s Tap & Golf for a round of simulation golf and gourmet hot dogs. Are you a Geocache enthusiast? Pella is home to several parks and locations that hide these gems! While navigating your GPS, make sure to stop at the all-inclusive Wonder Spelen playground to please all your kids’ sensory needs!
With fall around the corner and the start of the school year, set aside a special day for a mother-daughter tea time at Maria's Tea Room. Celebrate the every day by sitting in the famous pink chair at Wild Bramble and indulging in a selection of your favorite childhood candies. Embark on a Dutch treat treasure hunt in our historic downtown, searching for pastries, meats, cheeses, cupcakes, and chocolates. Capture memories with selfies at the iconic red Central telephone booth or with #PieterPella. Did you discover both pairs of big yellow wooden shoes and all three murals? Did you take a leisurely stroll along the Molengracht Canal? Treat the kids to the North Overlook Playscape for fresh air and playtime, or explore the walking trails and marvel at the vibrant fall foliage. Be sure to stop at the Red Rock Visitors Center to learn about the animals inhabiting the lake and borrow nature kits for some hands-on exploration. Purchase s'mores supplies and enjoy reminiscing about all your favorite Pella adventures.
Pella has something to offer every family member any day of the year, and we invite you to come and make memories…because when they say, “Remember when we went to Pella…” it’s worth every moment of that day!
This post was published on the Visit Pella blog on February 26, 2025.
