Things to Do in Sac County, Iowa
with Kids & Teens: Family Guide

Looking for a Midwest getaway where you can pack a lot into a weekend without spending hours driving from one attraction to the next? Sac County, Iowa might be one to put on your road-trip list.

Located about 3.5 hours south of the Twin Cities, Sac County offers a mix of outdoor recreation, quirky attractions, local food, history and small-town experiences. And because many of the attractions are clustered around Lake View and Sac City, it’s easy to explore without spending your entire vacation in the car.

My teens and I recently spent a weekend exploring the area with a group of other Midwest bloggers, and we found everything from the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball and giant metal dandelions to kayaking, creative pizza, ice cream, a county fair and even a winery surrounded by Iowa farmland (which includes – can you guess? – a corn maze!).

Here’s what families can do in Sac County, Iowa.

Family-Friendly Things to Do in Sac County

Spend Time at Black Hawk Lake (Lake View)

Black Hawk Lake was probably our favorite spot – specifically Town Bay, which is the very active recreational bay at the northwest corner of the lake. It’s a great lake for families because it’s the perfect size for all water sports. 

Located right in Lake View, the 957-acre lake offers plenty of opportunities for swimming, boating, kayaking, walking, picnicking and simply enjoying some time by the water. Here in the bay, called Town Bay, we rented kayaks from a business called Black Hawk Recreation Rentals. They even helped us get our kayaks in the water. They also offer other rentals like bicycles, paddleboards, boat towables, and more. 

My son and I enjoyed getting out on the lake in kayaks, and it’s easy to see how families could spend several hours here without needing a packed schedule.

In Minnesota we are spoiled with great lakes to enjoy, but what makes Black Hawk Lake appealing is the combination of outdoor recreation and everything else nearby, making it easy to create a fun, low-key day without a lot of driving.

See the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball  (Sac City)

One of Sac County’s most unusual attractions is the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball in Sac City. Built by volunteers in 2016, it weighs 9,370 pounds! It’s all enclosed, of course, but it’s totally free to view.

Of course, you have to stop for a photo with the giant popcorn ball, but there’s more to the area than the popcorn ball itself. Behind it, you can explore historic buildings and learn more about the area’s past, making this a fun little stop when you’re exploring Sac City. 

Why does Sac City have the world’s largest popcorn ball? Because Sac City calls itself the Popcorn Capital of the World! Popcorn-packing companies have a strong history here.

Look for the Giant Metal Art (all throughout the county)

One of the things that surprised me most about Sac County was the amount of unique metal artwork you’ll find throughout the area.

We spotted sculptures including giant metal dandelions, trees and other pieces inspired by Iowa’s landscape, wildlife and agricultural heritage.

We learned that many of these were created by local metal artist Tanner King, whose work is displayed in Sac City, Lake View, and other communities throughout the county. We met him and learned he has several full-time staff who help him!

The giant steel dandelions at South Park in Sac City were probably my favorite. They’re 28 feet tall, weigh about 1,600 pounds each, and are made from hundreds of hand-bent steel strands. They even light up at night!

He even made the sign for Soak’d, which I included a picture of above.

One thing I liked is that the sculptures aren’t all in one place—you discover them as you explore the different towns, making the drive part of the adventure. It’s a fun scavenger hunt for kids!

Visit South Park (Sac City)

South Park in Sac City has more than just unique giant metal dandelions – it’s a good stop for families, especially if you have younger children.

The park has a fun playground and is next to the Sac City Aquatic Center. It gives families a place to stretch their legs and enjoy some outdoor time.

Visit the Sac County Fair (Sac City) 

Our visit happened to coincide with the Sac County Fair, so we spent part of Saturday morning checking out the animals, vendors and fair activities.

If your visit happens to overlap with the fair, it’s a fun opportunity to experience a little bit of local Iowa community life.

We especially enjoyed seeing the animals, walking through the vendor areas, and trying the tasty fair food!

If you’re not here during the Sac County Fair, check the area’s event calendars as there are always fun community events and festivals happening.

Visit Rustic River Winery (Lake View)

Why am I including a winery in a list of things to do with kids and teens? Because it also has a CORN MAZE for families!

Rustic River Winery was one of the stops I particularly enjoyed. We had a tour and wine tasting and got to see a different side of the area.

The setting was especially memorable because you’re surrounded by Iowa farmland. How unique is that? And yes – in the fall they have a corn maze for families to explore! This year it opened in mid-August.

For families, a stop like this can be a nice way to include something both the adults and kids can enjoy.

Visit the Lake View Historical Museum (Lake View)

The Lake View Historical Museum in Lake View has two floors of exhibits. For kids, there’s a big working model railroad, which features a miniature Lake View, Black Hawk Lake and Danbury.

There’s also a historic log cabin and replica of a one-room schoolhouse on the grounds.

Bike the Sauk Rail Trail (Lake View)

Close to Town Bay in Lake View, the Sauk Rail Trail begins which is great for biking.

It’s a 33-mile long multi-use hard surface trail. We didn’t have a chance to bike the trail due to weather but I know others who did and enjoyed it.

Eat, Drink & Have Some Fun

Try the Creative Pizzas & Enjoy Live Music at Soak’d (Lake View)

If your family loves pizza and a fun night out, put Soak’d in Lake View on your list!

First I want to highlight their menu, which had just been updated before we visited. They have all kinds of tasty, unique fire grilled pizzas you’ve probably never heard of, like Big Mac Daddy and Mississippi Pot Roast. We tried several of their unique pizza combinations during dinner, like the Aloha Pie, and it was fun to sample flavors that were a little different from the usual pizza options. I also enjoyed some corn bombs – these are corn nuggets filled with sweet corn. What better place to find these than in Iowa!

There was also live music during our visit and an arcade that gave the kids something else to do after dinner.

Get Coffee and Breakfast at Pura’s Brewtique  (Lake View)

No family road trip is complete without a good coffee stop—at least according to this mom!

Pura’s Brewtique in Lake View was one of my favorite stops of the weekend. I had a delicious iced latte, while my son and I both ordered a hearty breakfast platter. My daughter went with a huge cinnamon roll. 

It’s the kind of locally owned coffee shop that makes a road trip feel a little more special than grabbing breakfast at a chain restaurant.

Have Dinner and Try Something Different at Fat Guy’s (Auburn)

We headed to Auburn, Iowa for dinner at Fat Guy’s, where our meal came with a little entertainment.

In addition to delicious food, they have simulator golf, an arcade, and ax throwing, giving families and groups a variety of activities to try.

It’s a good example of the variety we found throughout Sac County—you can have dinner and then turn it into an evening activity rather than simply heading back to the hotel.

If you like salads, be sure to try their famous appleberry chicken salad! I had it and wow, the dressing is the tastiest I’ve ever had on a salad!

Have a Big Breakfast at Hutch’s Cafe (Sac City)

In Sac City, breakfast at Hutch’s Cafe will fill everyone’s belly for sure.

This is a very popular spot for the locals and we got some recommendations of great menu choices, though they all looked great. 

Where We Stayed: Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Lake View

We stayed at the Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Lake View, which was a convenient home base for our weekend.

The hotel was modern and comfortable, and one of my favorite things about the location was how close it was to so many of the places we visited. Being able to get from the hotel to restaurants, the lake and other local attractions in just a few minutes made our short trip much easier.

It also included free breakfast and a fitness center. Plus it has lake access! So if you bring your own boat you can launch right behind the hotel.

Our 48-Hour Sac County Itinerary

We arrived Thursday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. and left Saturday around 1 p.m., so we had less than two full days.

Here’s how we spent our time:

Thursday

Rustic River Winery
We started with a tour and wine tasting.

Soak’d
Then we headed to dinner for creative pizzas, live music and arcade games.

Friday

Pura’s Brewtique
Breakfast and coffee started the day.

South Park & World’s Largest Popcorn Ball
We explored the park, saw the giant metal dandelions and visited the popcorn ball and historic buildings.

Houdini’s Soda Fountain
Lunch followed by ice cream.

Lake View
We spent some time walking around town and exploring.

Fat Guy’s in Auburn
Dinner, simulator golf and ax throwing rounded out the day.

Saturday

Hutch’s Cafe in Sac City
We started the morning with breakfast.

Sac County Fair
We visited the animals and vendors.

Black Hawk Lake
After the group portion of our trip ended, my teens and I headed back to Lake View. My son and I rented kayaks and spent some time on the lake before getting one last ice cream from Houdini’s and heading home.

Plan Your Sac County Family Getaway

• Where to stay: Cobblestone Inn & Suites
• Outdoor fun: Black Hawk Lake & Sauk Rail Trail
• Family dining: Soak’d
• Ice cream: Houdini’s Soda Fountain
• Coffee & breakfast: Pura’s Brewtique
• Adults: Rustic River Winery

Is Sac County Good for a Family Weekend?

I think Sac County makes an interesting option for families looking for a slower-paced Midwest road trip.

What stood out to me wasn’t one huge attraction that you need to spend an entire day visiting. Instead, it’s the combination of smaller experiences:

🛶 Outdoor recreation at Black Hawk Lake

🍕 Local restaurants and unique food

🍦 An old-fashioned soda fountain

🌼 Unexpected public art

🍿 A quirky roadside attraction

🐄 County fair fun

☕ Local coffee

🍷 A winery for the adults (with a corn maze for the kids starting in mid-August!)

🌳 Parks and places to get outside

It’s also easy to get around once you’re there. We stayed in Lake View, and many of the places we visited were only a few minutes away.

For a family coming from Minnesota, that was one of the things I appreciated most. We have plenty of lakes and outdoor recreation at home, so what made this trip different for me was being able to combine the lake with local food, quirky attractions, history, public art and small-town experiences.

Sac County isn’t a destination where you have to rush from one major attraction to another. It’s more about discovering the little things along the way—and that’s often what makes a Midwest road trip memorable.

And everything was affordable here. We got a lot of food for very reasonable prices, plus many of our activities were free or cheap.

Learn more about Sac County, Iowa here.

See more pictures from our trip here:

Disclosure: Our family was hosted on this trip by Sac County. Our accommodations, activities and meals were provided as part of the hosted visit. Also, this post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are my own.