The
Iowa Department of Transportation is pleased to announce the release of
two new interactive websites for planning travel adventures on Iowa’s
byways and bicycle trails. These
full-feature sites are ideal for planning trips to explore Iowa’s two
national scenic byways and nine state scenic and heritage byways along
with Iowa’s many bicycle trails that crisscross and complement the
byways. The byways website is: http://www.iowabyways.org; the bicycle website is: http://www.iowadot.gov/interactiveiowabikemap.htm.
Iowa byways website and tour guide
Discover
your Iowa adventure at the Iowa byways interactive website. It is
loaded with information about the byways, including a route description
and its history, contact information, and listing of local events,
attractions and travel services. The stunning photography will
undoubtedly draw visitors to discover Iowa’s scenic, natural, historic
and cultural resources. The website is updated regularly by local byway
organizations. Come see what Iowa’s nationally recognized byways have to
offer. You can plan, map and share your adventure, save notes or even
send an e-postcard.
The Iowa Byways website offers several unique features:
- Customize your search: This
is not your ordinary search option. Visitors can search the site by
type (event, attraction or travel service); category (arts and culture,
dining, events and festivals, historic sites, natural areas, recreation,
and shopping); or cost. The search results can be added to the user’s
trip; saved as a favorite; or shared using social media.
- Plan your trip details:
Sign up for free and then create trips by selecting events, attractions
and travel services of interest; or add something from your list of
favorites. Once you’ve finished, you can print an itinerary for your
trip; share your trip plans via Google Plus™, email or as a tweet;
export the information; or save it for later use.
- Share an e-postcard:
Choose a postcard photo from one of the byway galleries. Then add a
personalized message and email it to a friend or family member.
- Create your favorites list and make notes:
Once you’ve discovered an interesting attraction or event on the site,
save it as a favorite. Then you can add it to a trip, print a list of
your favorites, come back to it later or retrieve the information en
route using your smartphone.
You can also order a free copy of the Iowa Byways travel guide, or simply print a copy.Iowa interactive bicycle map
One
of Iowa DOT’s most popular publications, the Iowa Transportation Map
for Bicyclists, is now online. Explore this interactive map to plan your
trip and find bicycle trail routes and amenities, right down to
available rest stops and restaurants.
Features include trailheads, parking, rest rooms, bicycle shops and other key features.
- Plan your bike trip ahead of time: Simply enter the starting address and destination address and a suggested route will be generated.
- Discover Iowa’s bicycle facilities:
This interactive map shows bike lanes, paved trails, unpaved trails,
roads with paved shoulders, sidepaths and bicycle-friendly roads.
- Locate bicycle amenities: Features such as trailheads, restrooms, and water fountains along trails of 5 miles or longer.
- Need repairs: Bicycle shops are also shown.