The Mason House Inn: According to owners Joy and Chuck Hanson, some Mormons worked for a contractor in Bentonsport that built the Mason House Inn in 1846. The Hansons have diary entries from David Moore and James Leithead that indicate they stayed in the area with their families, putting up buildings and working in shops until they had enough money to buy their oxen and wagons for the trek to Salt Lake. They headed west in 1849.

The inn was remodeled in the 1990s, but in many ways it remains the same as it was originally

Address: 21982 Hawk Dr., Bentonsport

Rates: $64 to $95 per room (double occupancy) including a full country breakfast

Information/Reservations (The inn still has vacancies): 319-592-3133; www.masonhouseinn.com.

Bonaparte: Mormons ground their flour at the mills here and they forded the Des Moines River near where the present-day bridge is located. A plaque in the city park honors the Mormon Trail.

Bonaparte's Retreat restaurant, known for its superb Iowa steaks, is in a flour mill that dates back to 1883. Open every day for lunch and every night but Sunday for dinner.

Keosauqua: The Van Buren County Courthouse has been in continous use since it was built in 1843. William Pitt's Brass Band played there, receiving supplies and money as compensation. When court isn't in session, you can visit the second-story courtroom where the band is said to have performed. "They played (here) a couple of days from their encampment at Richardson's Point," said Diana Wolf of the Villages of Van Buren, the area's tourism promotion organization, which has an office in the courthouse.

Lacy-Keosauqua State Park: Located along the banks of the Des Moines River across the river from Keosauqua, it has lovely picnic areas, (including Ely Ford, where one of the Mormon wagon trains crossed the river) as well as 117 camp sites that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Forty-five of the camp sites have electrical hookups. There is a dump station and a shower house.

Location: About a1 1/2-hour drive from Nauvoo

Rates: $16 a night for a site with electrical hookup; $11 for one without; no charge for picnicking

Information: 319-293-9989

Lake Sugema Recreational Area: Known for its fishing, bird watching and generally relaxed atmosphere. Pine Ridge Retreat on the north side of the lake has cabins with fully equipped kitchenettes (319-796-2297). Some vacancies between now and the end of June. $60 per night for a cabin that sleeps five.

Directions: Its adjacent to Lacy-Keosauqua State Park.