Tulip Time in Pella

 Since we'd missed out on going up through Colorado because of the snow, we had a few extra days in our schedule.  Doug suggested that we stop at Pella, Iowa, on our way from Council Bluffs to Cedar Rapids.  Neither of us had ever been there and he had heard it was an interesting town.  I Googled to see when the Tulip Festival was and learned it was the weekend of May 6th and 7th.  Everything in the area was booked up then, of course, but we were able to find a spot at Wallaschuk State Park on Lake Red Rock just outside of Pella for two nights, May 2nd and 3rd.

The State Park campground is very nice.  Not all spots were level but ours was great, and there is lots of green space with mature trees between sites.  

The Pella Tulip Festival Website had comprehensive information on everything from where to find tulip beds to which ones were currently blooming and even their cultivar names.  The town, itself, is worth seeing.  They have clearly embraced their Dutch roots but rather than having that plastic theme park feel, it seems like they've made a concerted effort to be, well, tasteful.  Apartment buildings and even fast food restaurants featured Dutch motifs and a palette of coordinating colors.   

There are many museums and historical exhibit opportunities, from the home of the leader of the original immigrant party, Scholte House Museum and Gardens, to Wyatt Earp's home and a museum detailing the history of the Pella Window and Door company in a beautifully restored railroad depot.

We weren't sorry to miss the crowds of the actual festival, although, as it turned out, many were cancelled due to inclement weather.  Lines for the two bakeries were easily a block long on Wednesday... I can't imagine what they are like on the Festival weekend!  So our advice would be that if you are going to be in the area and can visit on a nice day a few days before or after the Festival -- go for it!    And we expect Pella would be a fun place to visit anytime; the tulips just make is extra special.

Even the food booths have Dutch "architecture!"

The Windmill outside the Historical Village

Just an incidental touch on a pillar downtown

At the Shulte House Museum

Outside a downtown business

Gabe with Cha Cha's Full Blend

Rare "Nightmare" tulips

Spring Tyde Triumph tulips, my favorite

Sundial in the town square

The tulips outside the Tuttle Cabin

The windmill at the sunken gardens... the pond is in the shape of a wooden shoe