“Iowa Is Boring”
June 18th, 2009 | by pam | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Iowa |It’s not a very big coffee shop, plus, we had the road atlas out. We were asking for it, really. The guy was wearing his bike gear, helmet, jersey,cleats, the whole deal, and he had one of those beards with no mustache, what do you call that?
“The thing to do,” he said, “is to get across it as fast as you can. Don’t be thinking you’ll go take some side route and find something more interesting, because you won’t.”
“Oh, absolutely,” said a guy at a table behind us. “It’s awful. There’s nothing there. Just keep driving.”
Our itineary has us stopping in Sioux Falls and then, at some as of yet unknown point in Central Iowa, our last night before we roll in to Chicago. Where should that unknown point be? What’s out there in the unknown territory of Iowa?
Head towards any small town in the middle such as Pella and find the local bar. Order a Budwieser and talk to the locals - it will probably be one of the best cultural experience you can have!
OH MY GOD. Iowa is SO not boring (and this is coming from a Hawai`i expat, mind you). It is not flat - it is filled with wonderful rolling hills. The corn will be beautiful by the time you roll through. Let me get my Iowa expert to talk to you about this. Anamosa has beautiful granite-quarried buildings and I’ve heard Ames and Iowa City are pretty terrific (college towns). Oh, oh, oh, go to the Amana Colonies, just south of Cedar Rapids. Great food, a little touristy, but I learned to like sauerkraut there.
I will admit that most of my favorite Iowa food is meaty - broasted chicken, Maid-Rite sandwiches, breaded pork tenderloin and BBQ. Oh, and Maytag Blue Cheese comes from Newton, Iowa. We tried to visit the factory, but there were no tours. We did take away some excellent cheese, however.
Definitely stop and eat at a Maid-Rite (the one in Tama/Toledo would be good; it’s near the very cool Lincoln Highway Bridge). Whatever you do, don’t put ketchup on it–mustard is ok, but no ketchup!
If you’re in the Waterloo area at mealtime, the Old Broom Factory in Cedar Falls is picturesque and has good food.
Between Cedar Rapids and Anamosa, drive into Stone City and you’ll get the same vantage point as Grant Wood had for his painting of the town.
If you’re sticking to the Interstates, Iowa City is a good bet, and there used to be a real ice cream parlor in Wilton.
OK, I guess I’ve outlined a ton of places to EAT in Iowa. I’ll keep thinking!
[...] or by posting comments on this blog. We already have posts up covering such important topics as: What To Do In Iowa, Places To Get Beer and What’s In Your Road Trip [...]
I’m working in the Amana Colonies right now, and it is quaint and is the home to Iowa’s biggest rocking chair. The motorcycle museum in Anamosa is awesome, and they have one of Steve McQueen’s motorcycles there. But watch out for the deer! They will appear from amidst the corn and try to run into your car!
Plus, Kelly, Pete is in Iowa City and I’m nearby!
[...] may remember reading that someone told us Iowa was boring. Instead of heeding their warning and putting the peddle to the metal, we did the exact opposite. [...]