Look, most people speed right past Hamilton on Route 136 without pulling over. Big mistake. Montebello State Park sits right on the muddy edge of the Mississippi River, just east of Keokuk, Iowa. You come here in January for the eagles. Lock and Dam 19 keeps the river from freezing solid. So, hundreds of giant birds dive into the icy churn for stunned channel catfish. It gets freezing out there on the water. Bring a heavy thermos and a good pair of binoculars. You'll need them.

When the ice melts, the fishermen take over. They drop aluminum bass boats into the water right at the park's launch ramp. Actually, if you like hooking ten-pound catfish, this is your spot. The park itself is simple. You won't find fancy gift shops or paved hiking loops here. Just green grass, old wooden picnic tables, and a front-row seat for massive commercial barges creeping through the lock. Grab a cheap lawn chair from your trunk. Unpack a sandwich. Then, you just sit back and watch the river roll by for an afternoon.