Where Did Eastern Iowans Go on Vacation in 2025? [GALLERY]

I'm discovering that, the older I get, the more I feel the urge to travel.

I actually took a few trips in 2025, but none that were more than a few hours away. Back in May, my friends and I spent a long weekend in Galena, Illinois for my birthday. It was my first time there, and we had a blast! I especially loved the food tour and the ghost tour that we went on, and we stopped in Dubuque for a day, too.

In August, I took a road trip up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for my cousin's wedding in Grand Marais. We got to see quite a few gorgeous places while we were up there, like Tahquamenon Falls State Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I hadn't been to the UP since my last week of summer camp when I was in high school, so my visit was long overdue.

But, if I had to choose a favorite travel destination in 2025, it would be Mackinac Island. I was born and raised in Michigan until I moved to Iowa when I was 24, but, somehow, I had NEVER been to Mackinac Island. That changed this September when I went on a girls trip to the island with my best friend and some family members. Our bed & breakfast right off the main street, so we were close to everything. We rode bikes around the island, took a carriage ride to a fancy restaurant, toured the famous Grand Hotel, hiked up to the highest point on the island, had lunch at Fort Mackinac, and did a ghost tour (yes, another one!). We had so much fun, we started discussing buying a B&B and moving to the island! Hey, a girl can dream...

2026 is right around the corner, which means I'm less than a year away from my second trip to IRELAND! Next September, we will be exploring the entire northern half of the country, and I'm tempted to just stay there forever this time.

As part of our '12 Days of Questions,' we asked Iowans to share with us their favorite places they traveled to this year. Whether it was 20 minutes away or 20 hours away, we want to hear about your 2025 travels! Here are some of the photos submitted by listeners on Facebook:

Did you travel somewhere fun this year? Show us a photo! You can send us a message on our station app or post it below:

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READ MORE: A Look Back at 2025 – Eastern Iowans Share Their Favorite Photos [GALLERY]