Midwest road trip - Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas
 

It's one of my life goals to visit all 50 states and this summer we have decided to check off the states of Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. This will be a one week road trip leaving from Michigan.

I've gotten the tourism books from each state but I'm having trouble getting any personal recommendations. So I'd love to hear any suggestions anyone might have of things to do or places to stay. We like museums and historical sites especially. There won't be any kids on the trip, just my husband and I and we are in our 50s. Thanks!

We enjoyed a couple of hours at the Tall Grass Preserve in Kansas a few years ago. Really gave us a sense of this part of the country.

http://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

~Liz

That looks great, thanks!

Agree with the above rec for the Tall Grass preserve--it's a very unique and beautiful region. While you are in that area, you might stop in Hutchinson (just south) to see the Cosmosphere:

www.cosmo.org

And/or the Underground Salt Museum:

www.undergroundmuseum.org/

In Omaha, I would suggest the zoo, but you may not be "into" zoos so take a look at the Durham Museum:

www.durhammuseum.org

I may be back with more, but I hope that helps for now.

In Kansas City: The World War I Museum, the Nelson Atkins Museum, the Country Club Plaza shopping center, a performance at the spectacular new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, historical Union Station.

Just discovered the American Gothic house is in tiny Eldon IA.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...ldon_Iowa.html
Are you driving your own vehicle? If you wanted a train and rental car adventure, you could take Amtrak to Omaha or Lincoln and rent a car to do a loop taking the train back to Chicago.
How many more states to cover all 50?

Wow, some great suggestions here!

musicfan, we do like zoos so the one in Omaha will likely be on our list. Your other suggestions look great as well.

montereybob, I didn't know that there was a World War I Museum in Kansas City. That looks like something we'd really like.

tomfuller, we'll be using our own vehicle. I have 20 more states to do.

Thanks to all!

In Kansas City, the Steamboat Arabia Museum turned out to be much more fascinating them we expected:
http://www.1856.com

~Liz

Hi Pat! We're so glad you're coming to visit Nebraska. I'm replying on behalf of the Nebraska Division of Tourism & Travel. I have some suggestions for museums and accommodations that haven't already been mentioned.

Museums:
Strategic Air & Space Museum (Omaha-area) - If you're interested in military history, aircraft or space, this is an excellent museum. There are full-size aircraft to explore, as well as an exhibit on Nebraska's own astronaut, Clayton Anderson. http://www.sasmuseum.com/

University of Nebraska State Museum & Mueller Planetarium (Lincoln) - I love this museum. It has on display the bones of many prehistoric animals that once roamed the Great Plains, including "Elephant" hall, full of mammoth skeletons.
http://visitnebraska.gov/component/m...ctions/2000213

Nebraska State Capitol (Lincoln) - Completed in 1929, our state capitol is full of art deco flourishes and imagery. You can take guided tours (which I highly recommend) daily, or wander around on your own. http://capitol.org/

Homestead National Monument (Beatrice) - The Homestead Act of 1862 led the way for Western expansion--over 1.6 million people claimed 270 million acres in 30 states. This year marks the 150th year of the Act, and the actual document is on display right now through the end of May. You can learn about the homesteader experience, visit the Tallgrass Prairie and tour a one-room schoolhouse. http://visitnebraska.gov/component/m...ctions/2000013

Unique Accommodations:
Hotel Wilber, Wilber, NE
http://hotelwilber.nebraskaczechsofwilber.com/
Wilber takes great pride in its Czech heritage. The Hotel Wilber is a small B&B with a full-service bar and restaurant. They serve traditional Czech food like roast duck and perogis.

River Inn Resort, Brownville, NE
http://www.river-inn-resort.com/
A floating B&B on the Missouri River. Brownville is small river town chock full of unique shopping, art galleries, a winery, and live entertainment--well worth a visit.

The Historic Argo Hotel, Crofton
http://www.theargohotel.com/
This one is much further West than the other accommodations, but it's well worth a visit. The hotel is rumored to be haunted, but it also offers lots of small-town charm and an excellent restaurant.

I hope these recommendations are enough to get you started. I concur with both the Durham Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha. Both are excellent choices, and the Zoo just completed a full renovation of its aquarium. Nebraska also has plenty of excellent restaurants, including the award-winning Grey Plume in Omaha, and lots of wineries and breweries. For more ideas, visit the Nebraska Passport site, http://www.nebraskapassport.com/ or Visit Nebraska, http://www.visitnebraska.gov.

We hope you'll have a wonderful trip!

Musicfan made some great Kansas recommendations above, and I agree with all of them. I would add the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene (just off I-70). Close to it is the wonderful Brookville Hotel, which is actually a restaurant that serves amazing fried chicken dinners.

Some of the Kansas City recommendations you've been given, while excellent, are actually in Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas City, KS, if that matters to you.

I agree with the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene and we also enjoyed the Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria Kansas http://www.kansastravel.org/cathedralofheplains.htm

Kansas City has a good Jazz scene - http://www.visitkc.com/things-to-do/...ubs/index.aspx and and they are also known for their BBQ.

Ashfall Fossil Beds in Royal (NE Nebraska) is very interesting. If you have time, NW Nebraska has beautiful scenery, plus lots of history, ie Fort Robinson, Toadstool Park, Hudson-Meng Bone Bed, Fur Traders Museum. The Sturh Museum in Grand Island is also wonderful. If you have an interest in quilting, the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln is a must. Nebraska has many wonderful things to offer, people just have to look a little harder to find them, and get off of the interstate!

Hi Pat -- I highly recommend you checking out the website for Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area in Iowa (http://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/). My husband, mother-in-law and I traveled through much of Iowa seeing various historic sites and towns back in 2006, and it was a terrific experience. In particular, go to Amana, Iowa, which was once a communal town and is now a great little village with cute shops, great German restaurants, and a lovely setting. We liked it so much that we went back there on our way home. Also, don't miss Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Effigy Mounds National Monument, both in Iowa. Have a great time!

In Iowa, my favorite thing to visit is the Amana colonies, with their german restaurants, smoked meat and wineries.

The Frontier Museum at Ft.Leavenworth is quite nice, asis the Natural History
Museum at KU in Lawrence.
And the Nelson in KC,Mo is world class.
http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/csi/FrontierArmyMuseum.asp



http://naturalhistory.ku.edu/

Manhattan is a college town just about 15 minutes north of I-70 at the northern end of the Flint Hills in Kansas. The brand new Flint Hills Discovery Center there opens this weekend:

http://pressreleases.kcstar.com/release/messages/16781/

Don't miss the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. Amana Colonies, Madison County (west of Des Moines)Take the back roads, the roads less traveled and enjoy Americana. Every state is BEAUTIFUL.

You should swing down through Cedar Rapids, Iowa on your way to Nebraska. Cedar Rapids is home to Historic Czech Village which includes the National Czech and Slovak Museum (ncsml.org) It is a cute village with lots of unique shops and great places to eat (czechvillagecedarrapids.com) Just across the river is the New Bohemia District. The New Bo market is a great experience with lots of local food, produce, crafts, and arts. If you want to take in another museum, a few blocks away, is the African American Museum of Iowa (blackiowa.org). Like to bike? The bike trail goes from one end of the city to the other all along the Cedar River. Im a local business owner who is really proud of the town I live in. Just shoot me an email if you want any more suggestions. [email protected] Enjoy your trip!

miasun06 This thread is 2 years old.
We would like to hear from the OP to see how they are doing with the 50 state goal.

Well, I have 12 states left. Progress is slow since Europe keeps calling me :-)