I've been east coast and west coast but never to the centre. What attractions are there in the centre (well not *exactly* centre). Things I've heard of are Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, the great lakes (although I'd like to go there I wouldn't want to stay in industrial heartlands like Detroit). I like natural beauty but wouldn't want to get lost in Wyoming etc. etc. and I would not like dust bowls ...

Well for starters, theres plenty of natural beauty in states like New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Utah. Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Minneapolis are all wonderful cities.

Not clear on what you mean about not wanting to get lost in Wyoming.
Haven't seen a decent dust bowl around here in a good number of years.

Grand Canyon, especially since it is not quite as isolated as some other natural attractions - you can go to Phoenix, Las Vegas or several other National Parks all within a days drive. (But I am biased becasue this is our summer destination this year)

Take a trip down the Mississippi. It will show you the American heartland, from the prarie to the bayou, a rich quilt of culture and history.

That sounds interesting. Can you briefly tell me what I might see and how the trip's contrasts might unfold?

This is a trip that I have never taken, but would love to.

You would start in Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota and would touch:
Wisconsin, home of Cheeseheads and Green Bay Packer fans
Iowa, and the Field of Dreams
Illinois
Missouri and Saint Louis, Gateway to the west
Kentucky, Bluegrass country
Tennessee, home of American country music
Arkansas, home of Walmart and Bill Clinton
Mississippi, and
Louisiana, Cajun country

You would start in the north central US, with Swedish and German roots, pass through the great plains, flyover country, see the deep south, farming and plantation country, and end up in the French and Cajun flavored New Orleans.

This link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=mississippi+river+tours

provides some resources.

Any other Fodorites take this trip?

What's the point of living if you can't get lost in Wyoming occasionally?

Another Mississippi River vacation (that I've never done but had a friend who did and enjoy it) is renting a house boat and cruising around on the Miss. River for a week.

If you've never been to Chicago, you're missing a world class city with much to see. And, it's on the edge of one of the Great Lakes.

I'm a native east coaster and am with drsawyers on this one. I'd suggest Wyoming and the 4 corners states- southwest Colorado is beautiful.