What’s on My College Bucket List?

Every great college town has its own unique features — the things that you won’t read about on any college website, and that give the town its special flair.

In this blog post, we’re giving you an inside look at some of the most interesting food, outdoor activities and local events that you can experience in Decorah, Iowa, at Luther College. Plus, I’ve added the most amazing on-campus activities that I have experienced. If you come to Luther, put these on your bucket list!

Students ordering from The Buzz at The Landing.

Dining

Get a Half-Baked Cookie from Mabe’s Pizza

Mabe’s is a short walk from campus, in the middle of downtown. This restaurant is legendary among Luther alumni, and they have a lot of great food and appetizers. They also have my favorite dessert ever: the half-baked cookie! Served in a little pan, the gooey cookie is covered in ice cream and served warm.

Try a Quesadilla from Lesly’s Taco Trunk

Get some delicious Mexican food at Lesly’s Taco Trunk. Stay up to date on locations through their Facebook posts and try some new food.

Share Justin’s Tatchos with Study Buddies at The Landing

The Landing is a building with free WiFi, lots of seating, and a variety of food vendors. Go upstairs with your friends and find a nice place to study and do homework. Then, stop at Justin’s and get their famous Totchos. Totchos are tater tots covered in sauces and vegetables like typical loaded nachos. They are perfect for sharing and satiating your mid-study-session hunger.

Outdoors

Student and community members biking on Trout Run Trail.

Students canoeing on the Upper Iowa River.

Students enjoying Dunning’s Spring.

Bike Through Trout Run Trail

There are many different biking trails in Decorah. If you don’t have a bike, you can borrow one from the circulation desk in Preus Library. The trails vary in difficulty, so do some research to figure out which trails are right for you!

Explore the Upper Iowa River

You can reserve canoes, kayaks, and more through Luther’s recreational services program. There are also places to rent tubes, canoes, and kayaks. Spend an afternoon basking in the sun on the Upper Iowa River.

Climb the Rocks at Dunning’s Spring

Look through the different parks and try hiking some trails. You can take a walk and view Dunning’s Spring from above, see one of the Midwest’s largest known icy caverns at the Ice Cave, or enjoy a beautiful sunset from Palisades park! There are many different areas around Dunning’s Spring to explore, including a staircase to an overlook. The view is gorgeous.

Find Your Way Through the Maze at Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins

Pinter’s is the perfect autumn experience. They have tons to do: fresh desserts and vegetables, a jumping pillow, wagon and grain cart rides, go karts, goats, minigolf, mazes, slides, and more. Test your ability to make it through their corn maze with some friends and explore the rest of the area! It’s also the perfect excuse for some cute autumn pictures for your Instagram.

Luther

Students taking a #bellfie!

Yam Haus SAC Concert.

Students on a study away trip to Japan.

Students working on a research project.

Take a #Bellfie with the Luther Bell

Take a yearly #bellfie with the Luther Bell to document your semesters at Luther and see how you’ve grown! When you graduate, ring the bell to commemorate your achievements.

Attend a SAC Concert

Attend the SAC (Student Activities Committee) concert! They have had many fun acts, including Men I Trust, Lizzo, T-Pain, MKTO, Panic! At the Disco, Nick Jonas, Pentatonix, and Jason Derulo. For fall 2026, Yung Gravy is coming to campus. These concerts are free for Luther students and a great way to have a cool concert experience with new friends. Even if you don’t listen to the artist, it’s always a fun time to go see live music.

Join a New Club

There are many different clubs on campus. Take a look at the list on the Clubs and Activities page. The clubs offered range from professional clubs, athletic clubs, Greek life, performing groups, service groups, political action groups, and spiritual groups. These groups are a great way to make friends with people who have similar interests to you and build your resume.

Take a Study Away Trip

It may feel daunting or expensive, but Luther does a lot to make this process simple and affordable. You can spend a month or a semester studying abroad while taking courses or you can spend two weeks abroad in the summer with a traveling ensemble. There are opportunities throughout your entire time at Luther, so go find an opportunity to explore somewhere new!

Do a Research Project

Luther College offers a variety of research opportunities. Students can collaborate with faculty and present their research on and off campus. Reach out to your professors and see if there are any opportunities you would be interested in.

Decorah

Driftless Jazz Ensemble draws a student crowd to Impact Coffee.

Students at the SAC-sponsored bingo event.

Win at Impact Trivia

Make a team and head over to Impact Coffee for their weekly Thursday trivia. Trivia is held outside in the warmer months and inside during the colder months. With exciting weekly themes and hosts, every week is different. There are also gift card prizes for the top three teams. I have never won yet. … I will be back!

Dance with Foot-Notes at Nordic Fest

Over the summer, there is a huge festival of Scandinavian heritage, traditions, and town pride in late July: Nordic Fest. It’s a great opportunity to come see Decorah for the first time or to come back and see friends over the summer. There is a grand parade, many live music acts, contests, dancers, traditional food, and multitudes of activities followed by fireworks. My favorite thing to do is dance with the Foot-Notes, which is a local fiddle group that plays traditional dancing music. There are a bunch of different dances, which can feel daunting, but everyone there is more than willing to teach you how to do them!

Win Bingo

Sometimes Impact Coffee, Toppling Goliath, or Luther College will hold free bingo events! Bring some friends and see if you can win some prizes at Bingo.

Feed Trout at the Fish Hatchery

The fish hatchery breeds thousands of trout each year to populate nearby rivers. When visiting, you can feed the fish, visit Siewers Spring, or take a fishing trip nearby. Sometimes you can even spot an eagle looking for some fish to eat.

See Driftless Jazz

A jazz ensemble based in Decorah, the band is largely made up of Luther students. They perform classic jazz pieces as well as covers of popular songs. They perform throughout the year at Impact Coffee, Luther College, and more. Keep an eye on their Instagram page for any performances. It’s a great opportunity to go out with friends and dance the night away.