Council Bluffs has a rich Native American and westward expansion trails history. One of the nation's largest railroad centers, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads united here. Council Bluff sits along the scenic Loess Hills and offers a variety of entertainment venues, casinos, and outdoor activities, and access to nearby Omaha, Nebraska. County parks offer camping, trails for hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, ice fishing, canoeing/kayaking, and sledding and tubing runs.

Fort Dodge is a Des Moines River town with a gypsum mining, industry, and agricultural economy. Fort Dodge Historical Foundation and Fort Dodge Museum and Frontier Village preserve original and replicated structures from the fort's early pioneer days. Visitors can explore a trading post, log home, one-room school, jail, blacksmith shop, and general store.

Iowa's Great Lakes are one of the most popular resort areas in the state year round. There are many state parks and public hunting/recreational areas surrounding the lake. Along with camping and lake access, these areas are popular for bird watching, hiking, and cross-country skiing. The towns on the shores of the lakes have a fun atmosphere.

The Missouri River flows along the western edge of Iowa from Sioux City south to the Missouri border. Two scenic byways provide views of the Loess Hills and access to historical Native American, westward expansion, and pioneer attractions. Two cities, Sioux City and Council Bluffs pay tribute to the area's past while serving as the main recreational, cultural, and entertainment destinations for western Iowa. Views of the river valley, woodlands, and prairies can be seen along the 220-mile byway that follows the hills south from the Sioux City area into northern Missouri.