Author of My Adventure

A friend of mine sent me a photo with the caption Hallmark Town at Christmas. I instantly wrote back asking where is this this town located. As soon as I got her response I googled the town Pella, Iowa and then I looked up the distance to the town to see if I could do it in one day or it was more of a weekend trip. Luckily it turned out to be more of a day trip. Over Christmas break, I fueled up my car, chose an audio book, and headed for towards Pella for a day trip.

I went at Christmas time because the photo my friend sent me screamed Hallmark to me. I was not disappointed. The streets in the main square were decorated, Christmas music was playing outside as you walked along the sidewalks, each shop was not only completely decked out also had Christmas music playing inside, the town square was set up with a Christmas light display, and the book store offered free cup of Wassail as you shopped through their store. They even have sleigh rides in the late afternoons. I did miss their Christmas Outdoor market that seems to be the first weekend in December that is even more festive but I’ll try to make that another time.

The clothing stores had unique styles and fun accessories. Although I didn’t buy any cloths, but at The Funky Zebras, I did pick up some soap that is made from goats milk that smells amazing. Which I thought was a unique find at a clothing boutique.

With how the shops are decorated, they drew me in and they are so much fun to explore and shop around. I asked one of the store owners how long it took her to decorate and set everything up on both levels, she just smiled and said I have no idea because it is so much fun. The stores had home decor, jewelry, candles, various Christmas decorations, greeting cards, and so much more.

While I was at The Funky Zebras, I asked for recommendations on where to go for lunch. The lady at the register and another local in the shop at the same time replied The Bread Board and oddly enough they both said and get the chicken salad. The three of us laughed because they were so in sync with each other. Furthermore, they were both right. The chicken salad was so tasty and I would definitely go back to the Bread Board. They also offer soups, salads, different types of quiche, and varied sandwiches served on fresh croissants. Now what I have heard about the other restaurants in the downtown area, it did sound like you really couldn’t go wrong where you chose to eat and they all sound amazing.

The candy store, Van-Veen Chocolates, not only has mouth watering chocolates and other candies but a pretty interesting history too it as well. It is a family owned candy store that started by a man, Chuck Van Veen, who worked in the farm equipment business, started giving people his mom’s peanut brittle. He eventually started making his own because there was such a demand which led to him and his wife opening their own candy store using family recipes. Now the store has been passed down to the second generation. I ended up getting their chocolate covered caramels sprinkled with sea salt.

When you are getting tired and need a pick me up from shopping, there are some adorable coffee shops in that downtown area.

I wondered in two different bakeries. The first Bakery I went into was the Vander Ploeg Bakery and it smelled amazing. They had a picture of the original store on the wall that opened 1912. Then I went to the Jaarsma Bakery that had a s shaped line that curved around to almost to the door so of course I had to get in line if nothing else to see the other side of the store that had the candies, pastries, and breads. I didn’t leave empty handed at either one. I bought a loaf of sour dough bread, two loafs of the apple cinnamon bread, and a chocolate cover peanut cluster. It was a lot of fun looking at the different traditional pastries and Dutch letters people where coming in to buy.

I know I mentioned the book store served Wassail but I don’t think I mentioned how fun it is actually to look around inside the store and the homey feeling it gave. The store has two level with a wide assortment of books found both upstairs and down stairs with a kids section in the back upstairs and a game section in the lower level. If you are a lover of book stores, then you might want to pop in if you are ever in Pella.

In 2002 the Vermeer Windmill, one of the tallest working grain mills in the United States was complete. To this day they make the flour for the local bakeries and you can buy bags of the flour at Windmill’s gift shop. I went on a tour of the windmill and learned the history of it. I thought it was interesting to hear how the windmill was designed so that the miller could run the windmill. There is also a old town village that you can explore. Both the tour and village have a fee. I believe is was $18 to do both.

If you venture there and decide to stay the night, my friend recommended a rental cabin at the Horn’s Ferry Hideaway. Another friend said her and her family stay at the American Inn. Neither are in the downtown area but they both enjoyed their stay. They also both recommend if you want to do more than a day trip during one of their big events, PLAN Way AHEAD!

In May, they have a huge Tulip Festival that actually started in 1935. I think I NEED to come back to see this. The pictures of the tulips are beautiful, they have a Dutch Craft Market, parades, dances, and so much more. For the Tulip Festival in 2024 will be May 2-4. I bet it will be a whole different experience.