Off The Beaten Path | Indiana

Beautiful Indiana is a wonderful state to spend some time exploring. Throughout the state there are many places of beauty to visit, as well as arts, culture and much more. Visitors can enjoy both the excitement of outdoor recreation and the pleasure of the arts and culture in the city.

Conner Prairie
Conner Prairie in Fishers is an excellent interactive destination, especially for families. Throughout Conner Prairie there are five different themed exhibits, each of which exemplifies a different time period in Indiana history. Visitors can enjoy the themed exhibits to learn about history, by exploring all of the sights and sounds of history. The Animal Encounters Barn is a fun place to see all of the farm animals. Conner Prairie also offers a historic hot air balloon ride.

Falls of the Ohio State Park
This amazing Indiana State Park is a beautiful destination in Clarksville. Not only is the park an excellent spot to enjoy hiking, fishing, nature viewing and more. Falls of the Ohio Sate Park is best know for its amazing fossil beds. Although the fossil beds are protected, there is a great interpretive center with examples of fossils and history of the area.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Along the shores of Lake Michigan, this National Park is a fantastic year-round recreation destination. During the summer it is great for hiking, camping, boating, swimming and more. The winter is also an excellent time to visit the park, with opportunities to cross-country ski, snowshoe and more. Throughout Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore there are sites with fascinating geology, excellent wildlife viewing in the unique habitat and much more.

Indiana Experience
Another great attraction to enjoy learning about historic Indiana is the Indiana Historical Society's Indiana Experience. The interactive exhibit in Indianapolis, allow visitors to have a more participatory experience with Indiana history. Visitors to Indiana Experience get to interact with interpreters introducing them to the history of the byway, the state, and showing the amazing natural scenery of the state of Indiana.

Indiana's Historic Pathways
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and character of a state is to take a road trip. Indiana's Historic Pathways is an excellent choice for a road trip. The route crosses the southern end of Indiana from east to west. Travelers on this route will be traveling on the same route as many people for the past hundred years. Today the route is a great choice for accessing  Indiana's history as well as enjoy the beauty the the

Turkey Run State Park
This fantastic Indiana park is a great spot to enjoy some beautiful outdoor recreation. The park has some amazing examples of old giant trees, which survived logging throughout history due to the difficulty of the terrain. The terrain has beautiful ravines and much more. Visitors to this park can hike on trails that travel through all of the spectacular natural features and more.

White River State Park
Located in Indianapolis, this amazing park. Not only does it offer some beautiful gardens, paths and other features of a fantastic city park, but it is also home to some of the premiere attractions in Indianapolis. Visitors to Indiana and Indianapolis should be sure to spend at least a day enjoying and exploring the attractions in the park. White River State Park is home to the Indianapolis Zoo, which is great for kids, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians, live music series and much more.

Fun & Funky Things to Do | Indiana

Indiana is one of the beautiful Great Lakes States. Visitors will find that the state is full of amazing destinations to explore. Here are a few of the state's more unique and unusual attractions that any traveler to Indiana can enjoy.

Covered Bridge Capital of the World
Parke County, Indiana is considered the Covered Bridge Capital of the World. Visitors to the are can see the 31 covered bridges. While exploring the many covered bridges in this area, visitors can also enjoy the beautiful setting, and all of the local attractions.

Jug Rock
This is an amazing free standing rock formation. Located in Shoals, Indiana this table rock is the largest table rock formation of its kind east of the Mississippi River in the United States. Jug Rock is a great place to experience some of Indiana's great geological formations.

RV Hall of Fame
The RV Hall of Fame commemorates leaders in the RV and mobile home industries, as well as preserving the history and memorabilia of the industry. The museum has many vintage examples of RVs and mobile homes. There is also an exhibit of new models. Visitors to these Hall of Fame and Museum can enjoy learning all about the great pastime of RVing the the country.

Santa Claus
Any visitor to Indiana that loves the culture and excitement of Christmastime, should come to Santa Clause, Indiana. This town is filled with the excitement of Christmas throughout the year.  The town features the amusement park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, as well as the Santa Claus Land of Lights, Santa's Candy Castle and much more.

World's Largest Sycamore Tree
The town of Kokomo, Indiana is home to the World's Largest Sycamore Stump. Some time ago Kokomo was home to a gigantic Sycamore tree, that was almost 800 years old. After a storm broke the tree, the town of Kokomo started displaying the stump of the tree. The stump is an impressive sight at over 50 feet in circumference.

Off The Beaten Path, Indiana

Beautiful Indiana is a wonderful state to spend some time exploring. Throughout the state there are many places of beauty to visit, as well as arts, culture and much more. Visitors can enjoy both the excitement of outdoor recreation and the pleasure of the arts and culture in the city.

Conner Prairie
Conner Prairie in Fishers is an excellent interactive destination, especially for families. Throughout Conner Prairie there are five different themed exhibits, each of which exemplifies a different time period in Indiana history. Visitors can enjoy the themed exhibits to learn about history, by exploring all of the sights and sounds of history. The Animal Encounters Barn is a fun place to see all of the farm animals. Conner Prairie also offers a historic hot air balloon ride.

Falls of the Ohio State Park
This amazing Indiana State Park is a beautiful destination in Clarksville. Not only is the park an excellent spot to enjoy hiking, fishing, nature viewing and more. Falls of the Ohio Sate Park is best know for its amazing fossil beds. Although the fossil beds are protected, there is a great interpretive center with examples of fossils and history of the area.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Along the shores of Lake Michigan, this National Park is a fantastic year-round recreation destination. During the summer it is great for hiking, camping, boating, swimming and more. The winter is also an excellent time to visit the park, with opportunities to cross-country ski, snowshoe and more. Throughout Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore there are sites with fascinating geology, excellent wildlife viewing in the unique habitat and much more.

Indiana Experience
Another great attraction to enjoy learning about historic Indiana is the Indiana Historical Society's Indiana Experience. The interactive exhibit in Indianapolis, allow visitors to have a more participatory experience with Indiana history. Visitors to Indiana Experience get to interact with interpreters introducing them to the history of the byway, the state, and showing the amazing natural scenery of the state of Indiana.

Indiana's Historic Pathways
One of the best ways to experience the beauty and character of a state is to take a road trip. Indiana's Historic Pathways is an excellent choice for a road trip. The route crosses the southern end of Indiana from east to west. Travelers on this route will be traveling on the same route as many people for the past hundred years. Today the route is a great choice for accessing  Indiana's history as well as enjoy the beauty the the

Turkey Run State Park
This fantastic Indiana park is a great spot to enjoy some beautiful outdoor recreation. The park has some amazing examples of old giant trees, which survived logging throughout history due to the difficulty of the terrain. The terrain has beautiful ravines and much more. Visitors to this park can hike on trails that travel through all of the spectacular natural features and more.

White River State Park
Located in Indianapolis, this amazing park. Not only does it offer some beautiful gardens, paths and other features of a fantastic city park, but it is also home to some of the premiere attractions in Indianapolis. Visitors to Indiana and Indianapolis should be sure to spend at least a day enjoying and exploring the attractions in the park. White River State Park is home to the Indianapolis Zoo, which is great for kids, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians, live music series and much more.

Iowa Quick Facts

Uniquely Iowa: Iowa State Fiar
Must-See: The Lone Star Steamboat, the last wooden-hull stern wheeler on the Mississippi
Most Unusual: Snake Alley in Burlington, the most crooked street in the world
Highest Point: Hawkeye Point, 1,670 feet
Food to Try: Loose Meat Sandwich and Dutch Sugar Cookies

What to Do in Iowa:

1 Visit the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, one of the best in the country, and see the famous Butter Cow

2 Learn about the history of ballooning at the National Balloon Museum

3 Drive along the eastern border of Iowa, following the Mississippi, on the Great River Road National Scenic Byway

4 Explore the Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry

5 Recreate and learn about Iowa history at the Mines of Spain Recreation Area/Julien Dubuque's Mines

Off The Beaten Path | Iowa

Iowa is a fantastic mid-western state. Visitors can enjoy the traditions and history of the state, as well as the influence of the evolving agricultural industry on the state's attractions and development. Throughout the state there are fascinating destinations to interest any traveler. Here are just a few of the great places to visit in Iowa.

Burlington
Burlington, Iowa is a city filled with excellent destinations for travelers to explore. This city has excellent history museums, attractions and more. Visitors should be sure to stop at the Apple Tree Museum to learn more about the history of the region. Burlington is also home to Snake Alley, one of the crookedest streets found in the world.

Effigy Mounds National  Monument
The Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves over 200 mounds built by American Indians. These mounds are considered sacred sites by the American Indian tribes from the region and the National Monument affords visitors the chance to learn about the natural and cultural history of the region. In addition, the site also has excellent hiking opportunities while allowing visitors to explore the fascinating mounds.

Great River Road
One fantastic way to explore any state is to take a road trip. Iowa's Great River Road provides visitors with an ideal path to explore some of the state's amazing scenery and culture. The Great River Road byway winds with the Mississippi River, from Lansing to Keokuk. Along this road there are stunning examples of Iowa's natural beauty, opportunities to hike and recreate, museums, unique Iowa towns and more.

Iowa State Fair
The Iowa State Fair held in Des Moines is a great Iowa tradition, and is an absolute must-see when it is being held. One fun attraction at the fair is the Butter Cow. This is a life-sized cow sculpted from butter. It takes about 600lbs of butter and every year one of the main breeds of dairy cows is the model for the sculpture.

Mines of Spain State Recreation Area
Those visitors to Iowa looking to enjoy some of the beautiful natural features should be sure to stop and explore the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. This area preserves the natural plants and animal species of the region. Visitors should be sure to see the burr oak trees and try to catch a glimpse of some of the rare animals like the flying squirrel and red-shouldered hawk. The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center is a good starting point to gather information and learn about the region, the Horseshoe Bluff Interpretive Area is also a must-see spot to learn about the geology of the region as well as the floating wetland trails.

Reiman Gardens
Located at the entrance to Iowa State University in Ames, the Reiman Gardens are one of the largest public gardens in the state. These gardens feature an indoor conservatory, outdoor gardens and even a butterfly exhibit. Visitors to these gardens can also see the varying visiting exhibits to the gardens.

Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area
Northeast Iowa has a rich history, and the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area preserves the agricultural history of the area through museums, farms and more. Visitors can explore historic sites, museums, working farms, and more. Each site tells an important story about Iowa's history and the history of our country.

Fun & Funky Things to Do | Iowa

Throughout the great state of Iowa there are many fantastic destinations for any traveler. Those travelers seeking roadside oddities or destinations that are just a bit funkier than the usual Iowa attractions should stop and see a few of these fun destinations.

Albert the Bull
Located in Audubon, Albert the Bull is the largest bull in the world. This gigantic replica of a Hereford bull is made primarily from concrete. Visitors to Iowa can come to Audubon to visit Albert and learn more about his history before taking a photo and finding some Albert the Bull Souvenirs.

Grotto of the Redemption
The Grotto of the Redemption is truly an impressive structure, especially after learning that it was one man's devotion to his faith and hard work that created it. One of the largest grotto's in the world, visitors can see an amazing collection of rocks, minerals and other interesting items.

National Motorcycle Museum
Motorcycle enthusiasts are sure to enjoy a visit to this museum. With approximately 200 motorcycles, including some vintage examples, this is a great spot to learn about the history of the motorcycle. The museum also has excellent exhibits featuring photos and more.

Spook Cave
Visitors to McGregor can take a fun boat tour of Spook Cave. This cave got its name from the noises that were once heard from the hole that would become Spook Cave. Today, there are boat tours taking visitors through the cave. Visitors get to see the formations and learn about the cave, all while enjoying a nice boat ride.

World's Largest Strawberry
Point Strawberry, Iowa is home to a giant strawberry statue. Travelers looking for the world's largest things, should be sure to stop at this World's Largest Strawberry. This strawberry actually has all of the details of a real strawberry and is a fun destination in Iowa.

Kansas Quick Facts

Uniquely Kansas: The Geodetic Center of North America is located in northwest Kansas, this is the point of reference for all land surveying in North America
Must-See: The three largest herds of Bison are currently located in the Kansas
Most Unusual: Rock City, this park contains over 200 spherical boulders which have a unique formation and one of the largest natural collection of this type of rock in the world
Highest Point: Mount Sunflower, 4,039 feet
Food to Try: Chicken Fried Steak

What to Do in Kansas:

1 Visit the Kansas Underground Salt Museum

2 Enjoy nature in Kansas at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

3 Experience great entrainment at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson

4 Learn about the agriculture industry and the tradition of food growth and production at on of the state's ranches or farms

5 Explore the state of Kansas on one of a few historic trails, including the trail Lewis & Clark followed, the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail and more

Off The Beaten Path | Kansas

The mid-western state of Kansas is beautiful state. Visitors to the state will find many varied activities and attractions to enjoy. From the beauty of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve to the fascinating world history at the Museum of World Treasures, Kansas has something for everyone.

Abilene & Smoky Valley Excursion Train
One fun way to see the scenery within Kansas is to take a ride on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Excursion Train. Travelers can take a vintage locomotive on dinner rides and more. This fun expedition travels between Abilene and Enterprise and is an excellent chance to ride both a historic train and see the Kansas countryside.

Flint Hills Scenic Byway
This Kansas byway stretches across the beautiful Great Plains. Driving the entire length of this byway is another way to really experience the beauty of the Kansas scenery. The Flint Hills Scenic Byway stretches for more than 45 miles and leads visitors into vast grassland, wildflower fields, historic sites and more. This drive is also an excellent gateway to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Frontier Army Museum
Fort Leavenworth in Kansas is an important site in American Frontier history. The Frontier Army Museum preserves and exhibits the history of Fort Leavenworth. The museum has exhibits with uniforms and equipment used by the Frontier Army. This museum also has exhibits about Lewis and Clark and the time when they passed through Fort Leavenworth.

Lenexa Spinach Festival
The historic town of Lenexa was during the early 1900s and important location for spinach production. Today that history is preserved with the Lenexa Spinach Festival. Held annually in September, visitor to Kansas and Lenexa can enjoy all the fun of spinach. The festival features Popeye, spinach salad, arts and crafts, and much more.

Museum of World Treasures
Located in Wichita, the Museum of World Treasures is a fantastic attraction to learn about all sorts of topics. The museum has exhibits covering topics from Frontier history to Egyptian Mummies and beyond. Visitors to this museum will love learning about the many varied topics and exhibits within the museum, and it is an excellent family destination for visitors to Wichita.

Nicodemus National Historic Site
Nicodemus National Historic Site is an important piece of African American heritage as well as post-Civil War Reconstruction and the expansion of the country into the West. The town is the site of one of the town built by former slaves as they escaped to freedom in the state of Kansas. Today Nicodemus is a site preserving this important piece of American history. Visitors to Nicodemus can tour the living community, view the five historic buildings and learn about the history at the Visitor Center.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
This Kansas destination preserves some of the only remaining tallgrass prairie in the country. Tallgrass prairie once covered vast portions of the continent, but with western expansion and settlement, much of this natural ecosystem was developed. Visitors to Kansas can experience this amazing landscape at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is an excellent spot to enjoy hiking, tours and more.

Fun & Funky Things to Do | Kansas

Kansas is a beautiful state, with many excellent traditional attractions. For those travelers that enjoy fun and funky attractions, here are a few of the Kansas attractions that might fulfill the quirky attractions needs of any museum.s

The Barbed Wire Museum
This museum in Lacrosse is filled with the history of barbed wire. The museum features thousands of different types of barbed wire, as well as tools and other items used in fencing. Visitors to the Barbed Wire Museum can learn all about the varieties and history of the fencing implement.

The World's Largest Ball of Twine
One of the world's largest things is located in Cawker City. Here visitors to Kansas will find the World's Largest Ball of Twine. This ball is 40 feet in circumference and is entirely composed of Sisal twine.

Kansas Underground Salt Museum
The Kansas Underground Salt Museum is literally located underground. Visitors to the museum learn all about the history of salt  in an underground salt bed. The salt bed was formed over two million years ago.

Underground Tunnels
The town of Ellinwood features some very fascinating historic tunnels. These tunnels connected some of the town's main stores prior to the 1930s. Today some of these tunnels are still open for tours by the Ellinwood Museum Association.

Dinosaur Not so National Park
On Highway 47, southwest of Erie, there is a great collection of dinosaur sculptures created from junk metal. These sculptures are located in the yard of a private citizen, but they are a great roadside attraction to drive past and take photographs.

Kentucky Quick Facts

Uniquely Kentucky: The Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks
Must-See: Mammoth Cave
Most Unusual: World's Largest Bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum
Highest Point: Black Mountain, 4,145 feet
Food to Try: Kentucky Fried Chicken and Mint Julep

What to Do in Kentucky:

1 Watch the largest fireworks display in the US, Thunder Over Louisville, during the Kentucky Derby Festival

2 Explore the world's longest known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park

3 Enjoy the bluegrass music in the Bluegrass State

4 Visit one of Kentucky's Horse Farms

5 Attend a horse race

Off The Beaten Path | Kentucky

Kentucky is a fascinating state, rich with history, culture and more. Visitors will find a wealth of amazing attractions. Here are a few of Kentucky's must see destinations and attractions.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
This park is a memorial to the 16th president. Visitors to this park can learn all about the life of President Lincoln in Kentucky. There are many historic points of interest. Visitors should make sure to stop at both the Birthplace Unit and the Boyhood Home Unit. At the Birthplace Unit visitors can stop at the Memorial Building, which is a Symbolic Cabin, the Sinking Spring, and the Site of the Boundary Oak Tree. During a visit to the Boyhood Home Unit, visitors can see Knob Creek, this historic water source for the Lincoln family, as well as hike the Overlook Trail.

Bowling Green Assembly Plant
At this plant visitors to Kentucky and Bowling Green can see where and how the Corvette is made. Tour attendees take a fun tour of the plant, where visitors get to see the machines that put the car together. Then after walking through the creation of the car, visitors can watch as the car is started and more.

International Bluegrass Music Museum
What better museum to visit during a visit to the Bluegrass State than the International Bluegrass Music Museum. As Bluegrass is the official music of Kentucky, it seems appropriate to spend some time learning the history and culture that is so important to the state. Located in Owensboro, this museum has a wide variety of exhibits, recognizing noteworthy people in the bluegrass community, as well as the instruments in bluegrass music, and much more.

Kentucky Horse Park
This attraction is an amazing place for visitors to celebrate the importance of horses in the state. Not only is it a working horse farm. Visitors can truly enjoy all different types of horse sports and horses. There are horse rides, pony rides, farm tours, a museum, presentations and much more. In addition to having a wide variety of fun attractions, this horse farm also has a equestrian competition training facility and more.

Louisville Slugger Museum
Sports fans can also visit the Louisville Slugger Museum, the factory and museum where Louisville Slugger bats are manufactured. Visitors to this museum will learn all about the bats, and even have a chance to watch the bats being produced.

Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave system in the world. To date, 390 miles of the system have been explored. The first step in a visit to Mammoth Cave is a cave tour to see the amazing cave system in person. Throughout out the park there are many points of interest to explore, including Cedar Sink, The Big Woods, Sloan's Crossing Pond, Cathedral Domes, Cave Island, Frozen Niagara and more. Without spending at least a day or two at Mammoth Cave National Park, you won't be able to visit many of the amazing sights that can be found within the park. Mammoth Cave National Park also has plenty of opportunities for recreation, camping, water recreation and more.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Visitors to Pleasant Hill will be able to visit this amazing living history museum. This the largest restored Shaker villages in the country. Visitors can take walking tours through the village to see what Shaker life was like. This living history museum has over 30 restored buildings, thousands of acres of farmland, and an amazing collection of rock fences. This site is a great spot to learn about an important part of American history.