Attractions
Family FavoriteArnolds Park Amusement Park
FreeRide a John A. Miller wooden roller coaster, play midway games and walk the lakefront at this park on West Lake Okoboji.
Photo: Ben Franske, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
SightseeingQuirky FunHistory BuffFree
Grotto of the Redemption
208 1st Avenue NW · West Bend, IA
Why you should go…
The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is a set of nine grottos showing scenes from the life of Christ, built from rocks, minerals, fossils and shells set in concrete. Father Paul Dobberstein, a German-born priest, worked on it from 1912 until 1954. The grounds are free to enter, and guided tours run from April through October. A museum, gift shop and campground are on site.
- #religious shrine
- #grotto
- #folk art
- #roadside attraction
- #minerals and gems
Good to know
General sightseeing guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
The forecast is part of the ticket
Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.
Golden hour sells out first
Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.
Dress a layer warmer
It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.
Timed entry is common
Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.
What's around here?
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