When you live in Iowa, you hear all of the jokes about how flat our state is.

With the number of farms and fields that stretch across Iowa and how strong the wind can feel daily, it's hard to blame people from other parts of the country for thinking Iowa is flat. While parts of Iowa might be comparable to a pancake, there are plenty of areas in Eastern Iowa near the Mississippi River that have rolling hills and extreme changes in the terrain.

Iowa isn't even in the top 5 for flattest states in the country. According to World Population Review, the 5th flattest state is Rhode Island, followed by Mississippi, Louisiana, Delaware, Kentucky and Kentucky. The flattest state in the country is awarded to Florida!

If we wanted to find the highest elevated point in Iowa, where would we go? I would've probably guessed somewhere in the northeastern part of the state just because of the rolling hills and changes in terrain. It turns out that my guess was wrong.

Iowa's Highest Elevated Point

Iowa's highest elevated point is called Hawkeye Point, located in Osceola County. This location is in the northwestern corner of the state and is elevated at 1,670 feet, according to Osceola County.

Get our free mobile app

At one point, Hawkeye Point was known as a destination where visitors would leave old license plates. In 2008, Osceola County acquired 7 acres of farmland from Merill-Sterler farm, which led to the site being developed into a roadside attraction.

Visitors of Hawkeye Point not only get to see Iowa's highest elevated point, but they also can enjoy a grain bin shelter, a silo observation deck, an informational kiosk, a Mosaic display of the highest point, hands-on history items displayed in the corn crib, antique farm machinery, and signs that point to the highest points in all the other 49 states.

Hawkeye Point is the 42nd most elevated state high point, in the country. For the most part, Iowa is relatively flat compared to the rest of the country but there are still areas where you can find decent elevation!

Is it just me or is it completely fitting that Iowa's highest point is located in the middle of a random cornfield? This reminds me a little bit of the "Field of Dreams" before the massive renovation project. I wonder how many other Iowa "state bests" are located in the middle of cornfields.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown