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Maquoketa Caves State Park

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This is part two of the trip to Moline, Illinois with Lisa and our friend Scott. We visited the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, and the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa. This is about our must-have treats at Lagomarcino’s, a soda fountain and chocolate shop that is a longtime favorite in the Quad Cities. We also visited the famous Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa, Iowa. This is a wet cave with more accessible passages and some for the more adventurous and experienced.

Since we were full of Lagomarcino’s very best, we thought it fine to stick to the basics.

Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Maquoketa Caves State Park.

Before we start, let’s stop in Moline, Illinois at Lagomarcino’s, the “Finest in Chocolates” since 1908.
Confections are made today in the original copper kettle kitchen, a tradition handcrafted through the generations.
Banana Split is the headliner on the ice cream menu.
Root Beer Float is a refreshing treat from behind the original soda fountain counter.
Caramel Crunch Sundae is creamy and smooth, a pure experience with simple ingredients.
It’s time to walk off the calories on the Interstate 74 Bridge, or Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge.
The Mighty Mississippi River shimmers beneath our feet and the endless stream of traffic.
At the midpoint,we pause to admire the 800-foot span.
We arrive at Maquoketa Caves State Park, with the largest number of caves in Iowa.
There are 323 acres and a six-mile hiking trail that winds through bluffs and other geological formations in a deep forest.
Some of the cave entrances are grand in scope.
This is a wet cave with basic and advanced passages to explore.
The cave serves as a hibernaculum for wintering bats from November 15th to April 1st.
Some of the cave entrances look like partially collapsed former rotundas.
Some of the passages are more accessible while others are preserved for the skilled explorers.
This is a massive tree that fell from above this entrance, and leaned over the cave opening, left in its natural state.
The hiking paths follow the cave’s passages from above, and offer some interesting and challenging formations to negotiate.
Artifacts of pottery and tools have been discovered, indicating that this area saw human activity for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
This region is known as the Driftless Area, which escaped glaciation; and, consequently, shows off some rugged formations.
The hiking trail dips down to the valley and the lush forest floor with a clear and lively stream.
This is the 17-ton Balanced Rock that will face generations of visitors to come.
There’s also campsites and picnic shelters for those who want to make a weekend off a day trip.

Scott had given us a tour of Moline, Illinois and the Quad Cities. We had the chance to meet his parents and enjoyed dinner with them at the celebrated Happy Joe’s and their famous Taco Pizza. We will be back for more of Moline and happy times with Scott and family. The pace might a be a little less hectic, and the lifestyle might be more analog, but these days getting back to the basics might be our calling.

To learn more and plan your visit to Maquoketa Caves State Park, click Maquoketa Caves State Park

To learn more and plan your visit to Lagomarcino’s, click Lagomarcino’s

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23 thoughts on “Maquoketa Caves State Park”

  4. I was just thinking to myself “darn, I guess I’m not gonna see a SimLux photo post on my timeline before Thanksgiving.” and then, you came through brother 😀 lol

    great pics as always and thanks for highlighting such a beautiful town! Mike

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  11. Maquoketa Caves is a is a great place! Wife introduced me to that spot (she is from the Quad Cities) and really enjoyed my time there. Had to laugh when I say Happy Joes – one of her favorite spots whenever we get back to her old stomping grounds.

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