gapper

We will be traveling from Minneapolis to Kansas City. What would the most direct route be and also the most scenic and what would the time difference be. My husband was looking on a map and it looked like Rt. 35 was the most direct. We would also like to stop in Des Moines, Iowa along the way. Are there any restaurants to hit in that area to stop for lunch? Thank you for any help.

rkkwan

There's no alternative worth doing. Just stay on I-35.

hulajake

There's one in Ames called Hickory Park suppose to be an excellent bbq.

Worktowander

Hickory Park used to be good - haven't eaten there for years. You could also check out Cafe Northwest in Ames. Try the steaks or the Greek - great steaks, and run by first-generation Greek immigrants, so it's good.

Keith

If you feel like a break south of Des Moines, consider visitng one or more of the covered bridges in Madison County. One is only about 3 miles from I-35, and all are within 20 or so miles.

Keith

Marie

The "scenic" route would be Hwy 169 all the way from Minneapolis to Winterset and then jog and then a small jog over I-35 for the rest of the way. But it's not really all that scenic - prettier in Minnesota then it winds though a bunch of small towns in northern Iowa. The much faster route is I-35 all the way. I live in the Twin Cities, too, but am originally from Winterset in southern Iowa and head that way frequently (although not all the way to Kansas City). I took 169 once and never will again.

I'm slightly biased, since Winterset is the county seat of Madison County and my hometown - but I also recommend stopping at one of the covered bridges. If you can spare a couple of hours, I recommend going to Winterset itself to see the bridge in the city park and go up to Clark's Tower and maybe John Wayne's birthplace museum. If you only have 1/2 hour or so, there is a bridge closer to I35 as Keith said.

Not sure about restaurants, but I can ask my friends/family in Des Moines. What's your price range and what kind of food do you like?

bbqboy

Here's your lunch stop:
http://machineshed.com/restaurants/desmoines.asp

Rooso

You can forget Cafe Northwest. It has moved and quality has gone down hill. Hickory Park can't be beat and easy access from I-35.

bbqboy

If you were headed to KC, why would you stop in Iowa for Cue? Doesn't make sense.

PaulRabe

As a former resident of Ames (fourteen years) I can say that, as good as the food is at Hickory Pork, it pales in comparision to Big Daddy's.

www.bigdaddysbbq.net/about.html

gapper

We just need a place for lunch in Iowa, not bbq, that we will do in Kansas City. Would the Jordan Creek Town Center be in the vicinity of I-35.

PaulRabe

I've eaten BBQ in Kansas City (both KC Masterpiece and Arthur Bryants), Memphis, Texas, and the Carolinas. Big Daddy's tops them all. It's one of the few things I miss about Iowa.