The Hogback Bridge is most recognized from the award-winning film, Bridges of Madison County

While the Midwest maybe isn’t your typical vacation destination, it very well could be the smartest travel decision you’ll make. Adventures aplenty and priced just right, the Midwest is an awesome region to visit. Country music singer Jason Aldean wrote about those “Flyover States” and shares reasons why people who haven’t discovered the Midwest’s brilliant landscapes and harvest moon cannot even begin to fathom its special brand of appeal. The Midwest is comprised of 12 states: Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Ohio, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota. Traveling for the first time to Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Kansas had me mesmerized from the beginning. With many interesting landmarks to see, new foods to taste, scenic terrains, and landscapes to photograph, I didn’t know where to begin.

My Marching Band room at the Hotel Pattee had imaginative uses of all sorts of musical instruments in the decor and hand-drawn wallpaper border. Photo by Melody Pittman

I learned about Iowa through Twitter Chats and really wanted to sample their food scene, mostly locally sourced within 50 miles. I stayed at Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa, consisting of 40 themed rooms that pay homage to famous Iowans. Rooms include the Marching Band, David Ahmanson Suite (Iowa folk art furniture designer), and VT Snick Hamlin (Alley Oop cartoon strip creator). Hotel Pattee’s lobby is gorgeously decorated and showcases 130 pieces of original artworks valued around three million dollars. Rooms feature large subway tile bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. The special touches are too many to list, but the cozy library won me over.

Strolling Winterset, Iowa’s Hogback and Holliwell bridges, of the award-winning Bridges of Madison County fame, made me wonder how many devotions were left between lovers on the carved walls or how many shared a memorable kiss at this romantic spot. In total, there are six covered bridges in Madison County. Winterset holds an enchanting factor for sure. It’s quintessential small town square, complete with a water tower, is busting with friendly people, shops, and tasty eateries. The Bakery Unlimited is where locals grab their morning coffee paired with a savory bagel or sweet donut. It’s also the home of John Wayne’s birthplace, which is a public museum that attracts many international visitors.

Rube’s Steakhouse, in Waukee, Iowa, is a fun restaurant where guests grill their own meats and other items. Photo by Melody Pittman

Iowa’s restaurants often have breaded pork tenderloin on the menu, the state’s most talked about food and truly bigger than the plates they are served on. Oh my, this is one dish you’ll love!

I only spent a day in Wisconsin, with that being on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, in Kenosha. When visiting Kenosha, think amazing donuts, a whimsical trolley ride, and a fun visit to the Jelly Belly Visitor’s Center. Mike’s Donuts and Chicken has some of the best donuts I’ve ever eaten. The Girl Scout Lemonade and Chubby Hubby Cylops won’t let you down! At Jelly Belly, take a free 25- minute train tour of the warehouse facility, complete with samples. Be sure to take in the darling $1 electric streetcar runs around a two-mile loop through downtown Kenosha along Lake Shore, running parallel with the harbor. The streetcars are fashioned from 1950’s retro trolley cars and children especially will love them.

The jagged rocks on the shoreline in Kenosha make it a great location for beautiful photos. Photo by Melody Pittman

The third Midwestern state I visited was amazing Indiana. Bloomington is a much-talked-about place that I had to explore and is the flagship campus of Indiana University. This charming city was fun to ride Pedego electric-bikes through, indulge in vegan pastries at Rainbow Bakery, and tour the uber cool Lilly Library on IU’s campus. Another fun college town is West Lafayette, home of Purdue University. Strolling Purdue’s massive grounds is a great way to spend the day, soaking up the scenery that includes the gates that were used as the model for the Monsters University movie setting. Adorable shops, street art, and homemade candies and gummies are available in the downtown parts, while the best-frozen treats you’ll ever have can be found at Igloo Frozen Custard. Also be sure to also sample Arni’s, a local’s pizzeria, super thin crust pizzas.

My Indiana travels also included a stop in Fort Wayne, home to the second largest genealogy center in the country, nice museums and zoo, and a minor league baseball team. If your heritage interests you in the least, you can search a 500,000 database on your own or with assistance in a comfortable library setting at the Genealogy Center. You may want to schedule your Fort Wayne visit around the incredible Vera Bradley springtime warehouse sale.

Who knew that Indianapolis was second only to Washington, D.C. in the number of patriotic memorials and monuments? Photo by Melody Pittman

Indianapolis was the coolest Midwest destination of them all. This highly patriotic city has incredible war memorials and fountains plus one of the best children’s museums and zoos in the country. Did I mention that Shrimp Cocktail was invented in Indy at St. Elmo’s Steakhouse? Eat with caution; the sauce is heavenly and hellacious at the same time!

Wichita, Kansas has many interesting murals for taking selfies and Instagram-worthy photos. Photo by Melody Pittman

I visited Kansas City or KCK as the locals refer to it, one of the only places in the country to cohesively share a border between two states, Kansas and Missouri. The multi-cultural city is located centrally (geographically speaking), so many big companies and factories have made Kansas City their home base.

I sampled many different barbecue dishes in Kansas City, but Slap’s BBQ was my favorite. Photo by Melody Pittman

KCK is known for exceptional barbecue; smoked meats done low and slow in this region. Over 1200 accompanying sauces are created and bottled at Original Juan Specialty Foods. Nearby, the Kansas City Steak Company ships desirable cuts of meat throughout the US and to many other countries locally and through the QVC online shopping channel.

Another themed hotel worth mentioning is KCK’s Chateau Avalon, which features a variety of rooms and is a popular wedding/anniversary destination. Chateau Avalon’s rooms include Tahitian Treehouse, New York Penthouse, Camelot Suite, and nearly 20 more.

If possible, rent a car and drive through the beautiful Flint Hills. Here, tall grasses and bison share the landscape with sunflowers in a picture-perfect setting.

Seeing herds of bison while driving through the Midwest isn’t so much a novelty like other parts of the country. Photo by Melody Pittman

Stop by the newest Tallgrass Prairie National Park to explore the pristine landscape; serene, yet inviting. Scents of blue Sage and fetid Marigold sedate you as you wander through the terrain, truly God’s country, and part of the historic Sante Fe Trail.

During your Flint Hills road trip, stop for lunch at Hays House in Council Grove, a tasty eatery that claims to be the oldest continually operating restaurant West of the Mississippi. The country buffet is enticing and the salad bar features delicious Dorothy Gale dressing, a local fave. Hand-made pies finish off a memorable meal at this National Historic Landmark.

My favorite Midwest destination is Wichita, laden with state-of-the-art museums, interesting culture, noteworthy attractions, and great street art. My way of describing Wichita is adult- hipster friendly. This is a place where I, rapidly approaching 50, felt right at home in the late night venues.

The Keeper of the Plains brings hundreds of locals together each night in celebration of their most iconic figure. Photo by Melody Pittman

A free trolley shuttles you around the downtown area, with pickups at many hotels. I especially loved the Mosely Street Melodramas audience-participation performance that included a buffet-style dinner and Keeper of the Plains, the most recognized symbol of Wichita, designed by Indian artist Blackbear Bosin.

This 44-foot tall steel sculpture of an Indian with his arms raised toward the rising sun is located on the banks of the Arkansas River and is the star of the city. The firepots surrounding The Keeper are lit each evening at sunset and burn for 15 minutes. Street performers and food trucks are available nightly for the crowds who come out to enjoy the ritual.

The Midwest truly has something for everyone. It makes for a most economical getaway so you end up with so much more bang for your buck.