2022 Best of Red Rock winners announced

The Marion County Economic Development Commission has announced its 2022 Best of Red Rock recipients.

This year's contest featured 10 Top 10 lists and 22 category winners. This is the ninth consecutive year for the contest with more than 1,000 residents and visitors voting at redrockarea.com.

The 2022 Best of Red Rock winners are:

Top 10 Attractions

1. Cordova Observation Tower
2. Knoxville Raceway
3. Pella Historical Village and Vermeer Windmill
4. Dutch store fronts and architecture
5. Klokkenspel
6. Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden
7. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Musem
8. The Molengracht
9. Central College
10. Scholte House Museum and Gardens

Top 10 Events

1. Pella Tulip Time Festival
2. Lake Red Rock Balloonfest
3. Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals
4. Thursdays in Pella
5. Knoxville Living Windows
6. Kerstmarkt
7. Klompen Classic
8. Pella Christmas Tour of Homes
9. Merry-N County Christmas
10. Bussey 4th of July Celebration

Top 10 Dining

1. Liberty Street Kitchen
2. Cantaritos Grill & Cantina
3. Checkerboard Restaurant
4. George’s Pizza & Steakhouse
5. Butcher’s Brewhuis
6. Yamato Steak House of Japan
7. Baggio’s Italian Restaurant
8. de Kelder Speakeasy
9. Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant
10. One Eleven Public House

Top 10 Bars

1. Atlantic & Pacific Pub
2. The Cellar Peanut Pub
3. de Kelder Speakeasy
4. Peace Tree Brewing Company
5. The Asylum Bar
6. Liberty Street Kitchen
7. Nederlanders Tap & Golf
8. One Eleven Public House
9. Smash Park
10. Frosty’s Pub ‘N Grill

Top 10 Shopping

1. Raiment Fashion
2. Candi’s Flowers & Gifts
3. The Sanctuary
4. Simple Treasures
5. Jaarsma Bakery
6. Blush by Simple Treasures
7. Adorn Clothing Co.
8. 9Lilas Boutique
9. The Well Thrift Shop - Pella
10. Silver Lining

Top 10 Souvenirs

1. Dutch Letters - Jaarsma Bakery
2. Beef sticks - In’t Veld Meat Market
3. Sprint car t-shirt - National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
4. Pella bologna - Ulrich Meat Market
5. Cupcakes - Cranberry Stone Bakery
6. Chocolate caramels - Van Veen Chocolates
7. Frosted sugar cookies - Vander Ploeg Bakery
8. Root beer - Peace Tree Brewing Company
9. Blonde Fatale - Peace Tree Brewing Company
10. Bigfoot tenderloins - Northcote Meats Inc.

Top 10 Recreation

1. Volksweg Trail
2. Smash Park
3. Competine Trail
4. SUP Red Rock
5. Knoxville Recreation Center
6. Anytime Fitness - Pella
7. Bos Landen Golf Course
8. Dutch 200 Bowl & Grill
9. Pella Aquatics Center
10. Slideways

Top 10 Venues

1. Sun Valley Barn
2. Tamory Hall
3. Central College
4. Cordova Park Pavilion
5. The Gathering Grounds
6. Pella Opera House
7. Countryside Wedding & Event Venue
8. Liberty Street Kitchen
9. The Loft
10. Cobblestone Hotel & Suites

Top 10 Photo Spots

1. Lake Red Rock at sunset
2. Top of Cordova Observation Tower
3. Bald Eagles near the Red Rock Dam
4. Central College red phone booth
5. Merry-N County Christmas lights
6. The Asylum rooftop
7. Vermeer Mill
8. Picking pumpkins at Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch
9. Molengracht draw bridge
10. Knoxville mural

Top 10 Free Things to do

1. Big Rock Park & Trail
2. Karr Nature Trail
3. Wonder Spelen City Park
4. Volksweg Trail
5. Competine Trail
6. Lake Red Rock Water Trail
7. North Overlook Playscape
8. Dutch store fronts and architecture
9. Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden
10. Klokkenspel

Best Breakfast: Windmill Cafe

Best Lunch: The Bread Board

Best Pizza: George’s Pizza & Steakhouse

Best Burger: Culver’s of Pella

Best Steak: Liberty Street Kitchen

Best Tenderloin: Hometown Market Meats & Deli

Best Coffee: The Coffee Connection

Best Sweet Treat: Cranberry Stone Bakery

Best Ethnic Food: Yamato Steak House of Japan

Best Health Food: Big Acai Bowl

Best Outdoor Dining: Liberty Street Kitchen

Best Hotel: Amsterdam Hotel

Best Campground: Howell Station Campground

Best B&B or Cabin: Cordova Park Cabins

Best Photography: Digital Galleria Designs

Best Spa-Pedicure: Expression by Design

Best Garden Center or Floral: Nick’s Greenhouse

Best Fitness Center: Anytime Fitness of Pella

Best Historic Site: Pella Historical Village

Best Live Music or Theater: Pella Opera House

Best Live Sports or Racing: Knoxville Raceway

Best Trail: Volksweg Trail