40 articles tagged with midwest destinations
Des Moines has been my professional playground for decades, a city where urban innovation meets agricultural heritage in ways that continually surprise me. While most visitors beeline for the Capitol building or skip town entirely, this heartland gem has cultivated...
When my sound engineering gig brought me to Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, I expected to spend my downtime hunting down food trucks outside Fiserv Forum. Instead, I discovered a city that delivers championship-level experiences without the...
When most travelers plot their American adventures, Nebraska's North Platte rarely makes the shortlist. As someone who's spent decades seeking aerial views of historical sites worldwide, I found this modest Midwestern hub to be an unexpected treasure—particularly for families watching...
As someone who typically documents architectural marvels across Asia for my cultural affairs work, I never expected to find myself utterly charmed by a small Nebraskan city. Yet here I was, during a brief homecoming visit to the American Midwest,...
The American Midwest holds secrets that travelers often overlook in favor of coastal metropolises or mountain retreats. Watertown, South Dakota stands as testament to this oversight—a cultural oasis rising from the prairie landscape that captured my attention during a recent...
When most travelers think of outdoor adventure destinations, Iowa rarely tops the list. But as someone who's explored coral reefs from Thailand to Belize, I've learned that ecological wonders hide in the most unexpected places. West Des Moines surprised me...
When most people think of South Bend, Indiana, the golden dome of Notre Dame immediately comes to mind. But as someone who's spent years uncovering hidden gems in unexpected places, I can tell you this Midwest city has a surprising...
There's something profoundly liberating about driving alone through America's heartland, where the horizon stretches endlessly and the sky commands more attention than any skyscraper ever could. After decades exploring remote islands of Japan and traversing Moroccan deserts, I discovered one...
Standing at the confluence of the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers, I found myself tracing invisible lines between past and present. Sioux City, Iowa isn't on most travelers' radar, but as someone who spends his days analyzing how spaces connect...
As someone who typically chases celestial events across remote corners of the globe, my recent adventure to Bismarck, North Dakota with my colleague's family offered a delightful gravitational shift. While stars and motorsports usually dictate my itinerary, accompanying the Ramirez...
When most people think of Kansas City, their minds immediately drift to smoky barbecue joints and jazz clubs. But as someone who analyzes urban spaces professionally, I've discovered that KC harbors a surprising abundance of verdant escapes and outdoor adventures...
Standing at the edge of the mighty Mississippi River with my daughter perched on my shoulders, I couldn't help but feel connected to generations of travelers who've been drawn to these waters. Dubuque, Iowa's oldest city, offers families a perfect...
When most folks hear 'Rochester, Minnesota,' their minds immediately jump to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. But as a 58-year-old theater intern who's traded corporate boardrooms for backstages, I've discovered this charming Midwest city offers far more than medical marvels. Last...
While my research typically takes me to remote Andean glaciers or isolated Arctic communities, a recent invitation to lecture at Coe College provided an unexpected opportunity to explore Cedar Rapids, Iowa with my colleague's family. As an anthropologist accustomed to...
There's something magical about a college town in autumn—especially one as culturally rich as Ann Arbor. While most visitors come for University of Michigan football games or campus tours, this Midwestern gem offers so much more. After five years of...
