Whenever I tell people where I’m from, I usually get two questions.
“Where’s Sabula?” And, “What do you do there?”
Both are fair questions. After all, most people have never heard of Iowa’s only island city.
If you’re looking for five-star restaurants, Broadway musicals, major concerts, upscale shopping, amusement parks, or a world-class zoo, you won’t find those on the island.
What you will find is our version of every one of them though.
Fine dining? Grab a burger, fries, and a piece of Sandra’s pie at the Island City Café. Mmm…mmm…good
Musicals? Our musicals sound a little different around here: birdsongs at sunrise, geese honking overhead, humming boat motors, waves lapping against the shore, a train horn echoing across the river, kids laughing, and one confused rooster crowing at noon. It all comes together to create a unique Sabula symphony.
Concerts? Well…other than whatever my neighbors hear when I’m singing in the shower, we may be a little short on those. But every now and then, the VFW hosts a band on Saturday night. If you’ve got your dancing shoes on, you’ll fit right in.
Shopping? The Island City Harbor Store is a pretty sweet little island boutique, and Sip & Stitch is one of those cozy, unique places tucked inside a historic Sabula building that makes you want to slow down and stay awhile.
Pizza? Hop N Shop has you covered. Grab a pizza, fill up your gas tank while you’re there, and you’re ready for the next adventure.
Looking for a zoo? Stop at Korner Stop Ice Cream Shoppe, grab your favorite cone, and take a slow cruise around the island. You’ll probably see pelicans, eagles, great blue herons, egrets, turtles, ducks, geese, and, if you’re really lucky, maybe even a mink or a fox. The wildlife is spectacular…and admission is free.
Looking for an amusement park? In Sabula, the water is our playground. Bring a boat, a kayak, a canoe, a paddleboard, or a fishing pole.
Prefer dry land? Take a walk. Ride your bike. Watch a barge roll down the Mississippi. Find a bench by the river and stay long enough to catch a sunset.
Around here, the best adventures usually don’t require standing in line…well, except at the ice cream shop around dinnertime!
Maybe this sounds like I’m giving you the grand tour. I guess I am. When you love where you live, it’s hard not to.
Maybe that’s why I smile when people ask what there is to do in Sabula. Because I don’t think we’ve ever lacked things to do. We’ve just defined them a little differently.
The older I get, the more I realize excitement isn’t always measured by how much there is to do. Sometimes it’s measured by how much there is to notice.
I’ve lived in places with more people and attractions. These days, give me a citrus orange-and-red sunrise over the Mississippi, a wave from someone I know, a barge rolling down the river, and a cotton candy pink-and-blue sunset over the lakes, and I’m exactly where I want to be.
Maybe that’s the thing about places like Sabula. They don’t entertain you every minute. They remind you that slowing down doesn’t mean you’re missing out. Sometimes it’s how you notice what you’ve had all along.
If you’ve never been to Sabula, Island City Days is the perfect excuse to come see what our little island is all about this weekend. I’ve included this year’s schedule in the last photo of this post. I have a feeling you’ll like it here.
Here’s hoping you find a place this week that reminds you to slow down, look around, and notice the beauty that’s been there all along.
Anyway…off we go. 
© Erica Shoemaker | Anyway… Off We Go
