Northeast Iowa, with its rich history, culture and natural beauty, should be added to anyone’s list of places to explore.

However, to get a real feel for what this region offers, you need to get off the beaten path to explore the small towns and backroads that make northeast Iowa so interesting, no matter the time of year.

Bily Clocks Museum & Antonin Dvorak Exhibit, Spillville
Tiny Spillville owes much of its history to the Czech, German and Swiss immigrants who settled in the area around 1849. Small glimpses of Old World traditions remain, but the main reason to visit Spillville today is to see an unusual collection of clocks handcrafted by two local brothers, Frank and Joseph Bily.

The Bily brothers began...