For four years in the late 1990s, I attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Since then, I have been back many times and have even a greater appreciation for the things the area has to offer, in terms of great parks, inexpensive places to eat, historical sights, and as a quaint getaway.
For general information about Decorah, you can visit:
the town's website.
Because many people who visit Decorah do so only to see Decorah itself, I'm including entries on Spillville, a very small community about 10 miles away that was settled mostly by Czech immigrants. It is a very small rural community (the population numbers in the hundreds), but it has a great museum, a beautiful church and even a couple of places to eat.
Decorah is a welcoming community where, though the population isn't as diverse in larger areas, people of any race or orientation can feel comfortable. I encourage you to consider a visit to Decorah and Spillville to recharge, learn, explore the outdoors, and see a way of life you may not get to see too many other places!