In Iowa, I-80 goes right through Des Moines, the Amana Colonies and Iowa City. Depending on how much time you have, there are loads of things to do in all three of those places. A few of my favorites are:
Des Moines:
- Scornovacca's Pizza: awesome homemade pizza, pasta and sandwiches.
Amana Colonies:
- The Ox Yoke restaurant
- Lots of unique gift shops
- An excellent winery. The name is eluding me right now, but they offer dandelion, cranberry, and other flavors in addition to more traditional wines.
Iowa City (my stomping grounds):
- Hamburg Inn No. 2: American diner food done right - also a popular stop for presidential candidates during the Iowa Caucuses, as evidenced by the massive collection of pictures on the walls. Amazing food in huge quantities. Try a pie shake.
- Thai Flavors: Reasonably priced Thai restaurant downtown.
- Soap Opera: A great place to pick up gifts while you're traveling. An entire store dedicated to unique soaps, lotions, and bath accessories.
It's pretty easy to get anywhere in Iowa City from I-80; all three of these suggestions are downtown, off exit 244. Depending on what your actual interests are and whether you're gift shopping, Iowa City is packed with small, independent stores.