In 1971, none other than President Richard Nixon served as the keynote speaker for the Rathbun Lake dedication. Located in Appanoose County, Rathbun Lake today provides drinking water for 80,000 people in south central Iowa and northern Missouri, and is a critical asset for tourism in the area.

Download this free PDF for great ways to spend A Quick 48 Hours near Rathbun Lake, Iowa. Check out suggestions and a weekend itinerary for southern Iowa. (And just like every AQ48 list I’ve compiled - this doesn’t pretend to be comprehensive. So please, email me at jennifer@whatsgoodproject.com and let us know what else needs to be here.)