‘Wall Street Journal’ Calls Dubuque the ‘Place to Be This Summer’

In news most surprising, Dubuque, IA got the attention of writers of a major publication, who called the city "an unlikely hub of Midwest cool" in a piece that forecasts the Key City as one of the hopping destinations this summer.

This weekend, an article from The Wall Street Journal was making the rounds on social media. The article, written by David Farley, is titled "We’re Calling It. This Small Town in Iowa Is the Place to Be This Summer." It's an extensive read that highlights eight destinations around the city, and explains why the city as a whole should be one of your go-to destinations this summer.

READ MORE: Dubuque Ranked as One of the Best Midwest Cities to Retire

While the article is behind a paywall (meaning it's only available to Wall Street Journal subscribers), I'll break down the gist for you. Here are some of the Dubuque hotspots Farley highlights:

• Cremer's Meats
• L. May Eatery
• Brazen Open Kitchen
• Dubuque Museum of Art
• A Ripple Effect
• Hotel Julien Dubuque
• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
• Fenelon Place Elevator
• Paul's Tavern

Anybody who has spent any length of time in Dubuque knows all or most of those spots. Furthermore, if you knew nothing about Dubuque going into the article, the places he selects give a quality, comprehensive overview of what the city has to offer.

For places to eat, Farley highlighted the casual and unique (Paul's Tavern) and the upscale and trendy (Brazen Open Kitchen). For entertainment spots, of course you can't forget to mention the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, which just launched their new Ice Dinosaurs exhibit.

When I revealed I was moving to Dubuque at the start of 2022, a friend of mine told me about the Fenelon Place Elevator, which was one of my first stops on a day-of-fun in the city. If you haven't lived anywhere besides the Tri-States, take it from me, short, funicular railways are not common in this country.

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And, of course, special attention had to be given to the Hotel Julien Dubuque, which first opened all the way back in 1915. More than just a luxurious hotel for those touring the area, the Hotel Julien has solidified itself as a catch-all for everything from nonprofit events to the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival.

You can read David Farley's piece on Dubuque on The Wall Street Journal, with a subscription or a free trial. In the meantime, scroll below for a sampling of Dubuque's attractions via photos taken by myself and my partner/fellow DJ Tom Drake!