Good Eats + Great Fun up in Clear Lake, Iowa: A Highly Curated List
Less than two hours from Des Moines, Clear Lake is a great destination for a quick late-summer or early-autumn getaway. Plan your trip with these great must-do's from a long-time insider.
Wini’s note: For years, I’ve been enjoying Jane Austin Miller’s Facebook posts of her travels far and wide. Her posts on Clear Lake, however, really hit home: I’ve visited Clear Lake for a quick getaway, but I’ve often wondered if I was taking full advantage of everything this cute lakeside community has to offer. I asked Jane, a former longtime BH&G editor who also happens to have a lake home in Clear Lake, to write up this insider’s guide. Her insights gave me plenty of new finds to enjoy. Let Jane guide you to a great getaway from Des Moines!
An Insider’s Guide to Clear Lake, Iowa
by Jane Austin Miller
If spending long summer weekends, plus an occasional winter weekend, in Clear Lake for the past 10 years makes me an “insider” to this slice of small-town Americana, I’m happy to take on the moniker. I’ve grown very partial to this quaint North Iowa lake town, which booms with tourism in the high summer season, then retreats into a quiet solitude once the kids are back in school.
It’s no wonder families have made Clear Lake a vacation destination for generations. There was a time 20 or so years ago, though, when its name was the punchline in many jokes — “clear” didn’t exactly describe the water which had become mucky and overrun by algae from agricultural runoff. But with community cooperation and fundraising, along with the guidance of the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Clear Lake is once again living up to its name.
If you’re planning a trip to Clear Lake, here’s a curated list of my insider tips to get you started. There’s plenty more to explore, so I encourage you to come often and become a Clear Lake expert, too.
Where to Eat in Clear Lake, Iowa
🌞 Tip: Hours are subject to change based on season and staffing. Call ahead to make sure these restaurants are open before you go.
Best Lunch Spot (and Picnic Fare!): Starboard Market
310 Main Ave.; (641) 357-0660.
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am - 2 pm; seasonal
Note: Outdoor seating only
Sisters Jennifer Coffman and Katie Poole, along with their small seasonal staff, have been preparing creative, from-scratch sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts in this unique deli on Clear Lake’s main drag every summer since 1999. You’ll want to get here early, as most days there’s a long line that trails out to the sidewalk. But, trust me, you’ll need a few extra minutes to study the chalkboard that describes in detail their more than 20 signature sandwiches and daily specials. My favorite: #11, “Regatta”—smoked turkey breast, Havarti cheese, homemade mango chutney, sprouts, and lettuce on toasted multigrain bread. (Gluten-free option: Udi’s bread.) Few patrons leave Starboard without surrendering to a homemade cookie or dessert bar or both. (GF options aplenty!) The small market portion of the deli offers a variety of curated goods, many from local or state vendors.
🌞 Tip: Take your bagged lunch to a shaded picnic table in City Park or a bench by the seawall overlooking the lake.
Best Steak in Town: Half Moon Inn
701 Buddy Holly Place; (641) 357-9339
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 5 - 9:30 pm; year-round
Cozy atmosphere
Family owned and operated since 1972, this Clear Lake staple transports diners back in time to the days of classic supper clubs, complete with dated decor, cozy booths, and subdued lighting. The prices are thoroughly modern, though, yet worth every dollar. Half Moon is especially popular on Friday and Saturday nights for the prime rib special, but a varied menu satisfies everyone’s appetites with other equally mouthwatering entrees, including steaks, lobster, salmon, walleye, and arguably, the best burger in town. My order almost every time: a 12- to 14-oz rib-eye with a side of sauteed garlic mushrooms and a baked potato with all the fixings. The house salad and a personal-size loaf of bread come with the meal. Needless to say, go hungry.
🌞 Tip: No reservations, so arrive promptly when the doors open at 5 pm or be prepared to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine at the bar while you wait for the first seating (mostly the town’s older set) to clear out.
Best Lakeside Fare: PM Park
15297 Raney Drive; (641) 357-1991
Hours: 7 am - 10 pm (Mother’s Day to Labor Day)
Indoor and outdoor seating; weekend buffet-style brunch;
Public dock for boat “parking”
A sentimental throwback for those of us who, as kids, ate meals in dining halls at sleep-away summer camps, this South Shore mainstay was established in 1914 by the Patriarch Militants (PM) to house and feed orphans of wars. It’s now operated as a resort-style restaurant and lodge by Cristine and Rahn Brager who, for decades, have carried on traditions that keep bringing patrons back every summer. I know someone who returns just for their “Everything Hashbrowns,” crispy hashbrowns topped with ham, green peppers, onions, and smothered in American cheese. Don’t want to cook on Sunday? Carry out one of their locally famous broasted chicken dinners. Other menu items include burgers, chicken tenders, salads, and wraps.
🌞 Tip: Stay for the TIKI Bar. Located on the beachside property of PM Park, this little open-air hut serves up all kinds of fun cocktails and beers. Open till midnight every day in the summer.
Best New Grill in Town: Boulevard Bar & Grill
1311 Bayou Road; (641) 357-3000
Hours: Daily, 11 am - 10 pm
Eclectic decor; TVs feature your favorite sports; pool tables
New small-town restaurants that rely on summer tourism tend to come and go with the seasons, but I’m hoping this “new kid on the block” is an exception. Occupying a new building adjacent to the Fairfield Inn off Hwy. 18 and I-35, this contemporary bar/restaurant is impressive, especially since it's the brainchild of 24-year-old Albanian immigrant entrepreneur Gentian Bajrami. A stunning modern bar greets patrons just inside the entrance, but my hot date and I chose a table for two, instead, for dinner. We shared a coconut shrimp app with the zingy house signature sauce. From there, we parted ways. Salmon with a lively mango salsa served on buttered rice for me. Shrimp scampi served with a browned butter sauce over fettuccine for him.
🌞 Tip: Ask for a table in the “Pink Room” if you want a quieter dining experience.
Best Patio with a View: 173 Degree Craft Distillery
306 1st Ave. N.; (641) 357-1733
Summer hours: Sunday, 2 pm - 9 pm; Monday and Tuesday, closed; Wednesday and Thursday, 4 pm - 11 pm; Friday, 4 pm - 12 am; Saturday, 12 pm - 12 am
Small shareable bites and sandwiches.
What happens to a kid who spent his childhood under the influence of his father, a high school chemistry teacher? He becomes a master distiller of spirits, of course. That’s the story behind John Summerfield’s lifelong dream to open a distillery in his hometown along with nephew Doug Summerfield and friend Gary Schmidt. Their sleek, two-year-old building features garage doors to bring in the lake air on the main level and interior floor-to-ceiling windows for viewing the on-premises distilling room that produces all of the house spirits, including gin, rum, vodka, and bourbon. The umbrella-shaded rooftop patio offers vistas of the lake and City Park. No problem if you’re not into cocktails — the bar is stocked with a variety of craft beers on draft, canned domestic beers, and wines. 173 Degree Distillery is the ultimate chemistry experiment.
🌞 Tip: Take advantage of one of their distillery tours or mixology classes.
Best Mexican Restaurant: Avion Azul
9184 265th St.; (641) 357-2626
Located inside the Mason City Municipal Airport
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 am - 9 pm; Sunday, 11 am - 8 pm
Who knew airport food could be so good? We may be grounded in Clear Lake, IA, but this spicy newcomer transports us to Mexico every time we dine here. With co-owners/brothers Catarino and David Martinez serving up margarita “flights,” no one objects to mealtime layovers at this regional transportation hub. From tableside guacamole prep to our entree faves, street tacos and chimichangas, this place is topnotch. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a front-row view of a plane landing or taking off.
🌞 Tip: Go for a grande-size margarita. It comes with a kitschy flashing light-up cube!
Best Carb Splurge: South Shore Donut Co.
1205 South Shore Dr.; (641) 357-8005
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 7:30 am - noon (summer only)
Pick up and go. Note: Gluten-free not available
South Shore Donut Co has been a regular stop for my husband on his morning bike rides since its doors opened in 2017. This sweet little family biz had humble beginnings, in John and Whitney Mixdorf’s Clear Lake home kitchen. High demand for their gourmet donuts gave the couple the cash they needed to open a full-fledged bakery on busy South Shore Drive. Creativity runs on carbs here, with a fresh menu of 12-15 flavors posted weekly.
🌞 Tip: The menu offers a rotating list of specialty donuts, such as the Big O-Reo (with chocolate glaze, Oreo buttercream, and Oreo crumbles). If you’re a donut purist like my husband, choose from one of several traditional “raised and glazed” options.
Best Soft Serve Ice Cream: Sweet Spot
5269 South Shore Drive; (641) 357-9338
Hours: Daily, 1 pm - 10 pm (summer); outdoor seating only
This Clear Lake landmark is hard to miss. The building’s swirly ice cream-shape roof looms alluringly as you come around the bend of South Shore Drive. Walk up to the window and order a cone or cup of their vanilla or chocolate soft serve, select one of several signature sundaes, or build your own. My favorite: “Boot Daddy Concrete” with chocolate ice cream, chopped Oreos, creamy caramel, and hot fudge.
🌞 Tip: Don’t wait until late evening to stop by for a treat. On one occasion we were disappointed when they ran out of ice cream just as we got to the window to order. It’s that popular!
What to Do in Clear Lake, Iowa
Take a Cruise on the Lady of the Lake
Tickets: $16 for adults; $7 for kids ages 3-12; 2 years and younger, free
Reservations for 15 or more are recommended; cruiseclearlake.com
No pets.
Docked at the seawall by City Park, the Lady of the Lake is of the few paddlewheel boats left in operation. Enjoy 90-minute public cruises every day (weather-permitting) except Wednesdays, Memorial Day until the end of September. Find a full bar and snacks on board. On Wednesdays, check out the Lady’s dockside bar, 6 pm to 10 pm. See schedule for live music.
🌞 Tip: Check the daily cruise schedule, which is subject to change. cruiseclearlake.com
Take a Bike Ride
Biking is a favorite activity among locals and visitors alike—BYOBike or rent one from Clear Lake Adventure Rentals. The loop around Clear Lake is 14 miles, offering mostly level biking with one short stretch of highway.
🌞 Tip: Do the complete loop! You’ll be rewarded with a scenic countryside route through the Sisters Prairie, which bursts into bloom in mid to late summer and continues into early fall.
Visit and/or Take in a Show at the Surf Ballroom
460 North Shore Drive
Concert schedule https://www.surfballroom.com/boxoffice
Box Office and Museum hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm (year round); plus
Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm and Sunday, 1 - 4 pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day)Free Summer Concert Series features live music by regional and well-known musicians
every Wednesday, June through August
Back when the original Surf opened its doors in 1933, this historic ballroom on the North Shore was a widely known venue for dancing to Big Bands, notably Count Basie and Duke Ellington. After a fire tragically destroyed it in 1947, the new Surf was built across the street where it ushered in the age of Rock ’n Roll. On February 2, 1959, the Winter Dance Party featuring Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Dion & The Belmonts and Frankie Sardo ended tragically after the concert when a small plane carrying Holly, Valens, and the Big Bopper crashed in a cornfield north of town, killing all travelers aboard.
🌞Tip: Take a side trip north to the quirky fan-formed memorial to Buddy Holly and his bandmates. Park at the intersection of Gull Ave. and 315th St., then walk to the crash site.
More to Do in Clear Lake
• Golf
— Veterans Memorial Golf Club, 2000 North Shore Drive
— Oak Hills Par 30 Golf Course, 518 27th Ave.
• Take in a movie at the historic Lake Theater (4 N 4th St.)
• Rent a boat, kayak, paddle board, bicycle, motor scooter, golf cart, and more
— Clear Lake Boats
— Clear Lake Adventure Rentals
• Hang out on the beach
— State Beach: 900-foot sandy beach adjacent to Clear Lake State Park
— City Beach: Splash pad, changing rooms, and facilities available
• Go fishing: Year-round fishing brings anglers from all over to catch walleye, muskie, and northern pike. Stock up at Clear Lake Bait & Tackle.
Where to Stay in Clear Lake
• Camping: Reserve a spot in advance, as these campgrounds are popular.
— Clear Lake State Park
🌞 Tip: Rent the historic stone lodge for large gatherings (day-use only)
— McIntosh Woods State Park
🌞 Tip: Stay in one of two yurts, unique to Iowa state parks.
• Vacation Rentals: VRBO and Airbnb are the best search apps for finding family vacation rentals in Clear Lake. Prices vary by season and location. Expect to pay a premium for a lakeside cabin, condo, or home in the peak months of June, July, and August. Most require a 3-night minimum stay.
— Clear Lake Cottages: Seven beautifully furnished historic cottages close to downtown and City Beach. Accommodate up to 6 people. Available year-round.
• Overnight Lodging: Check out one of these economical motel or bed-and-breakfast options.
— Lodging at PM Park
— Lakeside Inn
— Larch Pine Inn Bed & Breakfast
— Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
— Best Western Holiday Lodge
Anything else you’d like to know about Clear Lake? Ask away, in the comments section, below.
Wini’s Food Stories Is Part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
Thank you for reading Wini’s Food Stories, and remember to check out the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. This roster of great professional writers offers insights, stories, and opinions from all over Iowa. I’m proud to be part of this collaborative. Find more writers from this group here.
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Best yogurt is Viking in Ventura… black berry !!!! Best wood fired pizza is wild fire pizza in Ventura!