Budget Trip to Holland

We have been planning a trip to Pella, Iowa, for their annual Tulip Festival (1st Weekend of May annually) for over a year - little did we know that for the first time in decades we would experience snow in May! It was decision time - do we brave the snow and take the kids on an unforgettable adventure (how often do you celebrate the arrival of spring flowers with snow?) or do we wait for next year? I am happy to say that we braved the snow - and while it was wonderful to learn about Pella's Dutch Heritage - wooden shoemakers, delectable Dutch Letters, a tour of a working windmill.... I think the greatest lesson from our trip was the real-life application of making lemons out of lemonade. 

We were looking forward to a beautiful outdoor festival - a Dutch Parade, performances, demonstrations, the street cleaners, tulips, and spring in all its splendor. Instead, we were met with 3 inches of snow and lots of slush. We drove to Pella on Thursday and stayed nearby in Knoxville (Pella was booked and hotels were cheaper) - about 20 minutes from the festival. We awoke Friday to 3 inches of snow. Fortunately, roads had been cleared and having already traveled, paid for gasoline and hotel, and camera ready for the trip - we headed into Pella to check it out and see how much fun we could have in the cold.

The weather put a damper on things in terms of the festival - the parades (afternoon and evening lighted parade) and many outdoor activities were canceled, however, attendance was down substantially due to the weather and we enjoyed small crowds and one-on-one attention from volunteers and demonstrators. I know my children learned more about wooden shoes, street organs, and took our time due to the smaller crowds and that was great!

When we go again, I hope to be able to spend all day Wednesday (pre-festival) enjoying the town, shops, and restaurants that are open all year, then attend festival on Thursday (it is Thurs-Sat each year) enjoying parades, demonstrations, and the gardens with smaller crowds - this dream itinerary is weather and schedule dependent, but I think it would be ideal!

If you are unfamiliar with Pella, the city was founded in 1847 by 800 Dutch immigrants led by Henry Peter Scholte. The Scholte home and gardens are open to the public for tours where visitors learn the story of his family and the town. "Scholte and the other immigrants were fleeing famine and religious persecution at the hands of the state church of the Netherlands. Before leaving the Netherlands, the immigrants decided to name their new home Pella, or City of Refuge, in the prairieland of Iowa." Source: http://www.cityofpella.com/index.aspx?nid=235

Today, Pella celebrates its Dutch Heritage with museums, bakeries, shops, and festivals honoring their culture. 

We spent all day Friday in Pella, and despite the weather cancelations, we had so much fun the festival would require two days to truly do it justice if the entire event had taken place!

Tips:

• Visit the Pella Tulip Time Festival Website (first weekend of May, Thurs-Sat) for schedules and information and the City of Pella website.
• It is 3-4 hours from Kansas City. Remember that part of the trip is rural and plan bathroom breaks and gasoline accordingly.
• Pella is fun year-round with many festivals and events! It will be beautiful all month long (especially when the snow melts!).
• Bring cash to pay for parking ($5 in church parking lots). Everything is nearby and within comfortable walking distance.
• Make advance hotel reservations and consider a nearby town for cheaper rates. The festival is very popular and you will notice visitors from many states (Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, and Indiana were among the license plates we counted). There are many hotels in Pella as well.
• Plan to spend two days if possible!
• Read about Pella and Holland before you go. 
• We used our double stroller on the trip - carrying the baby upstairs as needed. It helped to have the stroller, but note that not all buildings are accessible.
• During the festival, there are many outdoor food vendors and a Dutch Buffet. You may also eat at local restaurants (we opted for Pizza at George's Pizza & Steak House).

These are a few of the memories we made in Pella, Iowa (a sampling of 200+ photos):

We toured the Historic Pella Village featuring about 20 buildings representing life in historic Pella and the Netherlands. Buildings included childhood home of Wyatt Earp, a Grist Mill, Blacksmith, gift shops, bakery, a Dutch heritage museum, library, general store, and the famous Vermeer Mill. The village was lovely in a blanket of snow.

On a tour of the Grist Mill we learned how corn is ground into meal and used for baking.

Jaarsma Bakkeri in the Historic Pella Village where we enjoyed "Dutch Letters."  There are two more bakeries in Pella, also making Dutch Letters and many other delicious treats.

Dutch Letters - a pastry made only in the Netherlands and in Iowa, (according to the bakers). The bakery tasted like a flaky crust rolled with almond paste in the center - light and delicious! Jaarsma Bakery in Pella is worth the stop. I looked up the recipe to make them, and after reading the instructions the $2-2.50/cookie or $1 for a small piece (about 3 inches long) was well worth it! If you would like to make Dutch Letters the recipe is here.

Flags and Tulips everywhere!

My girls were fascinated by the Goliath Street Organ and loved watching and listening as it played music. We listened to about 5 songs and the girls danced as they watched it play.

The machinery of the street organ.

Dutch Quilting demonstration - one of many craft demonstrations we enjoyed. Braided rugs, woodworking, blacksmithing, painting, and more!

We watched the process of wooden shoemaking from start to finish and purchased miniature shoes for souvenirs ($3 for miniature, up to $45 for a full set painted)

Wooden Shoes, worn in Holland due to the moisture which destroys leather shoes quickly.

One of many exhibits in Historic Pella - the girls admiring Dutch dolls and toys.

 Touring the working Vermeer Windmill was one of the highlights of our visit!

Parts of the authentic working Dutch Mill were built in Holland and assembled in Pella. The Mill grinds wheat into flour using only wind power and is the tallest working windmill in the United States.  The total height to the tip of the most upright blade is 124′. Souvenir bags of flour are available in the gift shop.

Inside the Mill (on the top floor) - Kayla was excited to "lift the weight of a car."

View from the top of the Vermeer Mill.

The front of Vermeer Mill.

Mini Dutch Village. This large exhibit was a favorite for the children. The trains, street car, canals, so many buildings and people to see - it was terrific. The volunteers did a wonderful job creating this village.

Mini Dutch Village

Mini Dutch Village

Pella's Canal

28,000 Tulips are planted for the Festival - this scratches the surface. They braved the snow!

The children admired the Dutch Snowman with a Tulip Nose.

Murals outside the Klokkenspel, "located at 625 Franklin. The Klokkenspel was the dream of the local visionary industrialist, H. Stuart Kuyper and stands as a memorial to him. Characters from Pella's history can be viewed from Franklin Street and on the courtyard side. Performances are held daily at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 9:00 pm. " source: http://www.cityofpella.com/facilities.aspx?pagenum=2&RID=7&Page=detail

We spent one day and barely scratched the surface - our girls are eager to return to Pella!