If you've never heard of Emmetsburg, Iowa, you're not alone, but it's a small town that means a lot to our family. It sits at the southern tip of Five Island Lake in northwest Iowa, about three hours from Des Moines, Minneapolis and Omaha and roughly two and a half from Sioux Falls, and it proudly calls itself Iowa's Irish Capital. For us, it's the town where my husband's family history lives. His family farm is in Manson, about 30 minutes away, where Grandpa Emmet farmed and where my husband's dad grew up. Our older son, Emmett, is named after Grandpa Emmet. My husband's aunt and uncle also lived in Emmetsburg for many years and raised their family there, so this trip was personal before we ever packed the car.
We spent a summer weekend there capturing content for BestFest, the town's big August festival on the lake, and that opportunity came about because I shared our family ties to the area. Our visit was hosted by the City of Emmetsburg, and as always, every opinion here is my own. My opinion is that this little lake town deserves a spot on your Midwest radar.
The Lay of the Land: Emmetsburg and Five Island Lake
Emmetsburg is the county seat of Palo Alto County, a town of about 3,700 people that was settled by Irish immigrants in the 1850s and named for Robert Emmet, the Irish patriot. Dublin, Ireland has been the official sister city since 1962, and every March the town throws a week-long St. Patrick's Day celebration with a big parade, a Miss Shamrock pageant, a fish fry and a pancake breakfast (the celebration is well past its 60th year).
Then there's the lake. Five Island Lake is a natural glacial lake, carved out when the last glacier retreated, and it stretches about five miles long and half a mile wide at roughly 1,000 acres. It's named for the islands that dot it, and the south end of the lake sits inside city limits, so town and water blend right together.
Soper Park is the hub, with a swimming beach, a beach house, a playground, sand volleyball and a splash pad. A paved path called the Five Island Trail runs along the shore, covered bridge and all. Anglers come for channel catfish, walleye and crappie, and boaters and paddlers get a long, narrow lake to explore. This is a lake town for families who like a slow lake day with a real small town attached. It's a working farm community with a friendly downtown, and the lake is one the locals use.
Where We Stayed: Highland Hills Farm Stay
We were hosted at the most adorable farm stay called Highland Hills, about a mile outside of town on a paved road. The family who runs it raises miniature Scottish Highland cattle (you'll find them as Highland Hills of Iowa), and those cows were a major highlight for my youngest son. He still talks about them. The rental itself is a three-bedroom guesthouse built as an extension off a standalone garage, a "shouse" or she-shed type of setup that feels cozy and private even though it sits on the owners' land.
It was the perfect stay for us. The hot tub looks out over open farmland, and my youngest son was in it every chance he got when we were actually at the property. On the cool nights we had bonfires. It's the sort of place where the boys could run outside and check on the cows while I sat with a cup of coffee and watched the fields.
What Makes It Special
- Miniature Highland cows right on the property, which is the whole reason kids (and parents) fall in love with this place.
- Three bedrooms with king beds, so a family of four spreads out easily and it sleeps up to six.
- A private hot tub overlooking the farmland, hands down the MVP of the stay for my youngest.
- A fire pit and outdoor seating for bonfires on cool nights.
- A full kitchen, WiFi and smart TVs in the bedrooms for downtime.
- A private walking path on the property, with the Des Moines River trail close by.
- About a mile from downtown Emmetsburg, so you get farm quiet with town convenience.
- Notes to Keep in Mind: There's one bathroom, so plan the family's morning routine accordingly.
- It's a working farm, so expect farm sounds and farm smells, plus the occasional muddy boot. Our boys considered that a feature.
First Night: Dinner at the Country Club on the Water
Our first night in town we had dinner at the golf country club, which sits on the west shore of Five Island Lake (you'll see it listed as the Emmetsburg Country Club, Five Island Golf Course and The Shores at Five Island, and the restaurant is the Dockside Lounge). If you want a lake-view dinner in Emmetsburg, this is the way to go. The food was really good, and being on the water made it feel like vacation from the first bite.
The best part for the boys was that they could run down to the dock and mess around on the putting green while we finished up. The club was setting up for a beautiful wedding on the water that weekend.
Saturday Morning Downtown: Bakery, Murals & Smoothies
Saturday started at The Texas Chic Bakery & Cafe on Main Street, which was 100% my favorite place to eat all weekend! Everything is made from scratch, Southern-style baking with real butter (think cupcakes, cakes, pies and biscuits), and the baked goods were to die for. Get there early and get more than you think you need.
From there we wandered downtown. Emmetsburg has a set of colorful murals and little pocket parks (Mural Park even has outdoor musical instruments built into it), and it's an easy stroll from one to the next. We walked along the shops, though not everything was open yet that early on a Saturday. We passed the Riviera Theatre, the town's classic movie theater on Main Street that shows new-release movies every night at 7 with affordable tickets, and the boys grabbed smoothies at 311 Nutrition, a little spot doing nutritional smoothies and loaded teas.
A Round of Golf with the Boys
After downtown we headed back to the golf course for a round with the boys. It's a nine-hole public course on the lake, well maintained, with a couple of holes that have beautiful water views. I don't know if the boys liked playing or riding around in the golf carts more. (Rent the carts. Trust me.) Nine holes is the sweet spot with kids: long enough to feel like a real outing, short enough that nobody melts down on the back nine, because there isn't one.
Irish Heritage and a Little Shopping
After golf we went to see the Irish side of town. The Robert Emmet statue stands on the courthouse square downtown, and it has a fun backstory: sculptor Jerome Connor cast only four copies, and the others are in Dublin, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Steps away is Emmetsburg's own Blarney Stone, a gift from Dublin that was carried over from Ireland in a suitcase back in 1966.
Then we did some shopping. Emmetsburg Irish Gifts (the St. Pat's Irish gift shop on Broadway, run by the town's St. Patrick's Association) is stocked with Claddagh jewelry, crosses, shirts and all kinds of goods straight from Ireland, and it's the perfect place to grab a keepsake for a kid named Emmett. Nearby, L. Square Boutique is the cute local boutique for clothes and gifts.
BestFest on Five Island Lake
BestFest is the reason we came, and it delivered. It's held on a Saturday in August at Soper Park and along Broadway, put on by the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce, and it rolls a whole summer's worth of small-town fun into one day: a KidsFest, a street market, live music all afternoon and a BrewFest for the grown-ups.
For the family part, there were inflatables, a zip line, a playground, carnival games and face painting, plus food trucks and local vendor booths lining the street. The live music kept the whole afternoon easygoing. The kids swam at the Soper Park beach, and Palo Alto County Conservation had paddleboards out on Five Island Lake, so the boys got to paddle around the south end of the lake with the festival going on behind them. This is why we lake.
To close out the afternoon there was a local beer festival and homebrew competition (BrewFest, with awards for People's Choice and Brewmaster's Pick), and my husband and I got to do some sampling while the boys ran off some energy. It's a laid-back tasting in a family setting, easy to pop into for a bit and then get back to the kids. There's a street dance later in the evening for adults, but by then we'd taken the boys to Pizza Ranch for dinner, a small-town Iowa favorite, before heading back to the farm for one last soak in the hot tub.
Where to Eat in Emmetsburg
- The Texas Chic Bakery & Cafe, the must-stop. Scratch-made baked goods on Main Street and my favorite meal of the weekend.
- Dockside Lounge at the country club (also called The Shores at Five Island), dinner on the water with a dock and a putting green to keep the kids busy.
- 311 Nutrition, smoothies and loaded teas downtown and an easy win with the boys.
- Pizza Ranch, the Iowa-born pizza and chicken buffet the whole town loves, and about the least stressful dinner you'll have with kids.
- BestFest food trucks, if you're there for the festival. Lunch is handled.
Tips for Planning Your Family Trip to Emmetsburg
- Book Highland Hills early. It's a small property with a lot of fans, and since it sleeps six, grandparents can tag along.
- Time your visit for BestFest in August if you want the full small-town festival experience, or March if you're up for the St. Patrick's Day parade.
- Pack swimsuits, water shoes and sunscreen for the Soper Park beach, plus layers for cool nights by the fire.
- Rent golf carts at the course. Nine holes with kids is very doable, and the water-view holes are worth it.
- Hit the bakery first thing Saturday. Downtown shops open later in the morning, so eat, then wander.
- Bring a cooler and stock the kitchen at the farm stay, because slow farm mornings are half the fun.
Make Emmetsburg Your Next Lake Escape
Emmetsburg is a small town, and I mean that in the best way. There's one lake, one main street and one bakery you'll want to go back to twice. For our family it was a weekend of Highland cows, hot tub nights, a round of golf with our boys and a festival on the water in the town where my husband's aunt and uncle raised their family.
If you're looking for a lake weekend that feels like visiting relatives (even if you don't have any there), put Emmetsburg and Five Island Lake on your list. Go for BestFest and stay at the farm. Tell the cows we said hi!
If you're planning a lake trip and want help organizing where to stay, what to book, and how to maximize your time, I'd love to help! As a lake travel expert, I specialize in matching families with the perfect getaway that blends comfort, adventure, and ease. Reach out for help with planning!
