This Must Be the Place - Top Iowa Retreat Destinations

It’s cold. It’s grey. It’s time to get away!! Gather your gang at any of these top Iowa retreat destinations. They possess all the perfect ingredients for motivation, relaxation, fun, learning, and team-building.

Honey Creek Resort State Park, Moravia, IA

What to expect:
Your team can’t help but be impressed upon arrival at Honey Creek Resort. This nature-inspired resort nestled beside Rathbun Lake was nominated for best practices of sustainable recycling in 2014.

Why it’s a top pick:
The resort boasts a variety of comfy accommodations, from guest rooms and suites, to cozy cottages, RV park, and lakeside campsite. Magnificent architecture and exceptional service provide a backdrop to an inspiring conference or team building session. After hours, your team can make a splash at the indoor waterpark, or get energized with outdoor activities like hiking, winter biking, ice skating, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and more.

Stoney Creek Hotel + Conference Center, Des Moines, Johnston, IA

What to expect:
Guests enjoy a nature-inspired, lodge-like experience while taking advantage of all the perks of the city. Situated northwest of Des Moines, this resort skillfully combines the best of both worlds.

Why it’s a top pick:
Here you can engage your group in expansive meeting spaces for up to 400 attendees; put everyone up in quaint cottages for extended stay or any of the 164 uniquely-designed guest rooms and suites for shorter visits; and always greet the day with a complimentary, hot breakfast. After hours, your crew can relax in the heated indoor/outdoor pool or whirlpool, or burn some energy at the fitness center. In their downtime, your team will want to explore the miles of trails, wineries and breweries, and other local activities available in the city.

Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf + Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf, IA

What to expect:
For groups of up to 1500, the state-of-the-art convention center located in downtown Bettendorf features stunning architecture and connects by skywalk to the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, one of the Quad Cities’ premier casinos. 

Why it’s a top pick:
Situated just 223 feet away from the original riverboat casino, guests can retreat to one of the 509 stunningly furnished overnight rooms, dine at one of three new restaurants, and take advantage of on-site gaming just steps away from 975 red-hot slots, video poker, and table games in the casino. The center features a variety of meeting spaces, on-site catering, and high-tech AV.

Arrowwood Resort + Conference Center, Okoboji, IA

What to expect:
Premier banquet site located in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes region with 30,000 square feet of flexible event space and a capacity for up to 600 guests.

Why it’s a top pick:
Exquisite banquet facilities offering many amenities for your function, including full-service restaurant and lounge on site, extensive catering menu, and on-site professional event planner to help you with every detail. One hundred guest rooms and complimentary continental breakfast completes the picture. Your team will revel in their downtime at the resort’s indoor water playland and whirlpool, salon of Okoboji, or Elegance Boutique, while area attractions beckon with Arnold’s Park Amusement Park, Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum, Okoboji Classic Cars, or Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts, to name just a few.

Gateway Hotel + Conference Center at Iowa State University, Ames, IA

What to expect:
A preferred destination for any event, the site includes 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 850 guests.

Why it’s a top pick:
Named “property of the year” for two consecutive years, the hotel and conference center are conveniently located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines.  On-site restaurant, The Iowa Stater, serves up a menu of delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and beverage options while the hotel caters to comfort with 187 guest rooms and suites, heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool, fitness facility, and business center.  After a long day of work, guests will enjoy local attractions, including the Brunnier Art Gallery, Farm House Museum, Reiman Gardens, Iowa State Center, and the bustling city of Des Moines.

Coralville Marriott Hotel + Conference Center, Coralville, IA

What to expect:
Boasting the largest event space in the area, the spacious conference center offers 60,000 square feet of event space and multiple venue options, including pre-function space for up to 4000 attendees. 

Why it’s a top pick:
Productivity begins in one of the many functional meeting and event venues at the conference center, offering two ballrooms and 20 breakout meeting rooms, plus business-friendly plug-in technology, WiFi, large desks and ergonomic chairs. Beautifully-appointed guest rooms and suites, multiple dining options, indoor pool, whirlpool, and fitness center make the hotel welcoming and comfortable.  Time after work can be spent at local shops and restaurants at Iowa River Landing, touring the nearby campus of the University of Iowa, exploring the hotel's surrounding walking trails, or discovering the Iowa Writer's Library, which houses manuscripts from the country's oldest society of writers.