Most people think Iowa is just endless cornfields. They're wrong. Right outside Carroll, Swan Lake State Park packs 510 acres with stuff you wouldn't expect. Start with the bison. Real, live bison roam in a massive enclosed pasture near the main entrance. You can park your car, walk up to the fence, and watch these thousand-pound beasts chew grass just yards away. It's wild. The park also sits on a 110-acre lake stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. Rent a kayak. Grab a fishing pole. Or you can just hike along the shaded dirt trails that wind around the water.

If you like biking, the park connects straight to the Sauk Rail Trail, a paved 33-mile path running all the way to Black Hawk State Park. So bring your helmet. Don't worry if you aren't into cycling, though. You can play a round on the 18-hole disc golf course, check out the live raptors and turtles in the Education Center, or rent a campsite for the weekend. Actually, winter is fun there too. Locals pull huge crappie through the ice and sled down the steep hills near the campground. Seriously. Pack a lunch and go check it out this weekend.