Nestled among the coulees and deep river valleys of Northeast Iowa, the sleepy town of Decorah is an idyllic place. Home to Luther College, Decorah is heavy on Norwegians, wooden trolls, and a progressive way of thinking. With bike paths, coffee shops, and local artisans galore, you’ll find good food, great music, and people obsessed a pair of mating eagles.

Made famous by the Raptor Resource Project and a live stream “eagle cam” looking down into a nest adjacent to the Decorah Fish Hatchery, millions of people from around the world have tuned into the 24/7 life of the “Royal Family,” a male and female bald eagle and their three eaglets (born March 27, 28, and 31). Giving ornithologists and the rest of us a glimpse into the behavior of our Nation’s mascot, at times it seems the entire Midwest watches the birds like an episode of reality TV.  Frequent visitors to the area, we’ve overheard eagle conversations at church, hair salons, and even garage sales.

A bucolic backdrop for a picnic, family portraits, and feeding fish (bring 50 cents for a handful of pellets), the eagle tree can easily be seen from the fish hatchery parking lot or on the edge of  Trout Run Road (the nest is on private property; bring your binoculars). Large enough to hold a grown man, the nest weighs over a ton and has been home to the same pair of eagles since 2008 (more interesting facts here).

An outing worthy of an hour or so on a Sunday afternoon, leave time to explore the area and make a day of the trip. For families with younger kids, we recommend the following: Decorah Public Swimming Pool (summer months), Dunning Springs Park waterfall, Phelps Park playground, roller skating at Jewels Skate Country, or pizza at Mabe’s. Inspire(d) Magazine is a great  resource for events and happenings around town. Pick up a free copy at the Oneota Food Co-Op on Water Street in the heart of downtown.