Ann Althouse is wondering what makes something "Americana"? This isn't the sort of thing that normally interests me too much, but yesterday I was talking to my 15-year-old daughter, who is excited for our upcoming drive to Wisconsin for a family reunion. I have been making this drive since I was 17 years old and a freshman at BYU. I have traveled every interstate highway between Utah and Wisconsin, most of them multiple times, and I occasionally take the "backroads." But with the exception of an occasional desire to see Mt. Rushmore -- which is somewhat out of the way, but has drawn me to the Black Hills at least ten times -- I generally don't look forward to the sites on this trip. This time will be different: we are looking for an American adventure.
So I have started my search for things to do/see/eat between Provo and Eau Claire. Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska looks like a must see, and it got me searching for uniquely American cultural experiences on the plains. Aside from the usual South Dakota sites, including Wall Drug, however, I haven't had much luck. Suggestions?
As for food, I am having a bit more luck. The Wooden Knife in Interior, South Dakota looks promising. And I am trying to plan the trip so that we reach Rapid City, South Dakota at dinnertime, so we can eat at The Corn Exchange. If we are lucky, we might even spend a few hours at Czech Days in Tabor, South Dakota (what's more American than a small town's heritage festival?), though I don't know how all of this is going to happen over one day. Once we get to Wisconsin, we will, of course, do some variation on The Cheese Trail.
Do people eat in Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming? If I can't find anything for the trip back, I may just have to stock up on cheese curds in Wisconsin, though they are never as good after the first day.
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1. Posted by Julie A. Hill on May 26, 2009 @ 12:15 | Permalink
Perhaps I'm partial, but I think Wyoming is the best state between Utah and Wisconsin. My favorite places tend to be those with an Old West flavor.
Places to see:
Devils Tower (the first National Monument)
Fort Laramie National Historic Site (not near the town of Laramie)
Wyoming Territorial Prison (off I-80 in Laramie)
Places/Things to eat:
Chugwater Chili in Chugwater
The Cavalryman Supper Club (south of Laramie)
Either the Elk Mountain Hotel, the Wolf Hotel, or the Virginian Hotel -- all in Carbon County. Elk Mountain has the best food. Wolf is in the nicest town. The Virginian is the setting of the first Western novel.
Festivals:
Cheyenne Frontier Days!!! The Daddy of 'Em All.
I could go on and on.
2. Posted by Cliff on May 26, 2009 @ 12:27 | Permalink
Nope, we generally don't eat much of anything in Nebraska. In fact, I've been slowly starving since I got here. You should see me. I'm melting away to nothing...
Actually, this may sound cliche, but the best steak I ever had in my life was Nebraska raised Beef in Omaha, Nebraska. Doesn't sound like you'll get that far south, but Nebraskans do pride themselves on their beef.
3. Posted by Len Rotman on May 26, 2009 @ 13:18 | Permalink
Hi Gordon,
I am guessing that you already know about the Mitchell, SD "Corn Palace" (http://www.cornpalace.org/) and Deadwood, SD, the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok and its gulch full of slot machines and gambling (http://www.deadwood.org/). But if you take the I-90 through Minnesota, do you know about the world's largest statue of the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, MN? See http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2127. I stumbled across this "find" on a road trip from Edmonton to Toronto more than a decade ago. I don't know that it is worth a special trip, but it is pure "Americana" in the eyes of this Canadian!
Happy trails,
Len
4. Posted by Cathy on May 26, 2009 @ 17:28 | Permalink
I believe there's a Roger Maris museum in Fargo, ND. But in any case any minor league ballpark is probably quintessentially American.
5. Posted by Darian Ibrahim on May 26, 2009 @ 20:00 | Permalink
Gordon,
Coincidentally, we just passed through South Dakota going the opposite direction (leisurely drive from Madison to Denver for Law & Society). Our favorite place in SD was the Badlands, about 85 miles SE of Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore. Cool topography and animals (we saw loads of prairie dogs and deer, a few Bison, but unfortunately no big-horned sheep).
Darian
6. Posted by Gordon Smith on May 27, 2009 @ 7:59 | Permalink
Thanks all around for the wonderful suggestions. My list of stops is growing!
7. Posted by david on May 27, 2009 @ 22:35 | Permalink
Iowa! Full of fine restaurants, but I'd go to the grill your own steak place in Gilbert after you have a look at the most beautiful campus in America, iowa State. Start at the campagnile!
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