New Year, New Travels

The start of a new year always brings that familiar phrase: “New Year, New Me.” It’s the season when people reset routines, make healthier choices, and map out goals for the months ahead. For those of us with an early January birthday, the new year does more than inspire resolutions it, turns the page on another personal year. It becomes a moment to reflect, take inventory of our health and happiness, and think about what we want the coming year to look like.
I like to view mine as intentions that keep me curious and moving forward. This year, I plan to bike ride more with my dog Chewie, focus on healthier habits and challenge myself to visit someplace new each month. This tourism director will officially become a tourist this week as I celebrate my birthday in New Orleans! My bags are packed, itinerary is ready and I’m ready to explore, eat like a local and bring home inspiration.
That same spirit of discovery can start here at home. I encourage you to be a backyard tourist in 2026: visit a new store, try a restaurant you’ve never stepped into, tour a museum you’ve meant to see, and rediscover the Fort Madison area with fresh eyes. Here’s to local adventures and a year ahead.
If you’re looking for a fun and educational winter outing, make plans to visit Keokuk on Saturday, January 17 for the 42nd Annual Bald Eagle Appreciation Days. This free, family-friendly event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 3476 Main Street, and celebrates one of America’s most iconic birds.
Indoors, guests can explore engaging nature displays from Lee County Conservation, view Native American artifacts, and browse items from local vendors. Be sure to check out the Eagle Photo Contest, where visitors can enjoy and vote on, stunning bald eagle photography from both amateur and professional photographers.
On the Main Stage, enjoy storytelling, drumming, dance, and music with Eagle Dancer Rudy Vallejo, along with live raptor programs presented throughout the day by the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis, offering fascinating insight into eagle behavior and conservation.
Then head outdoors to the Mississippi River at Victory Park and the Southside Boat Club, where trained spotters from Lee County Conservation provide free spotting scopes for incredible real-time eagle viewing in their winter habitat.
The Fort Madison Tourism Bureau is proud to assist the Keokuk Tourism Bureau with this wonderful regional event, and we invite families, nature lovers, and curious explorers to come celebrate wildlife, learn something new, and experience Bald Eagle Appreciation Days together!
Chi Eastin is the director of the Fort Madison Tourism Board and can be reached at tourism@fortmadison.org.