You are probably asking yourself, what is so great about Iowa? If you live in Iowa you are most likely either going to say you love it or that there is absolutely nothing great about Iowa. Even if you are the latter, you will most likely retract that statement soon after leaving Iowa for so-called greener pastures. There is a lot to love about Iowa, you just have to know where to look. Oh, and be willing to drive a little bit. As most things are the typical 30-60 minute drive from where you are from, maybe more.
Big cities are hard to come by and credit card machines/ATMs may be sparse, but Iowa has a flare that can be see if you are willing. You are right. Iowa is full of corn fields. Interstate 80 is the worst drive in the world. It vaguely smells of livestock and oatmeal (thank you Cedar Rapids). You are more likely to find a tractor on highway than you are a Hummer. Iowans love meat. Love eggs. Love Milk. Iowa is a state that can't make its mind up on whether it is Republican or Democratic (Which between you and mean is a damn good thing). Iowa is the home of Ashton Kutcher and Shawn Johnson. It snows during the winter and floods during the spring. The humidity is near unbearable in the summer and the leaves never stay on the trees long enough, granted you have trees near you. Skyscrapers are nonexistent outside of Des Moines and even then the buildings have to jump on their own to touch the sky. Iowans love ethanol even though it is a crock of shit (PS. we know that too, just don't care). And despite all of this Iowa's charm is lost on almost no one. What is so great? What is it that makes people go back time after time. I am going to give you the top ten things that make Iowa THE greatest state in the Union.
10) Higher Education: Iowa State University (Ames, IA), University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA), and the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA) are the three state schools and each one excels at their specialties. Iowa State has one of the best Agriculture and Engineering programs in the nation along with a tough Vet Med Grad Program. The university of Iowa has a medical school with a top-notch Hospital. The University of Iowa boasts a 100 percent success rate for heart Transplant patients to live at least one year after surgery. UNI, while smaller, has fantastic Education and Business programs. Each has athletic programs that are top notch in different sports. National Championships, while rare for this great state, are in abundance when talking about College Wrestling. Any parent would be proud to send a child of theirs to these fantastic Universities.
9) I-80, The Worlds Largest Truck Stop: I am deadly serious about this. Many people joke but honestly it is a marvel in civil engineering and consumerism. Sometimes big and bold is great, just ask Texas. If this thing is anything, it is big and bold. Founded in 1964, it has grown to serve over 5,000 customers a day. It has everything from showers to gift shops to fuel to service stalls. It is one-stop shop Truck Stop that even has a dentist and museum. Its worth the stop when you drive by, even if you aren't near it, stop in and fill up.
8) Kate Shelley High Bridge: The Kate Shelley High Bridge is the highest double-track railroad bridge in the United States. Residing west of Boone,IA, it stands 185 ft. in the air as it crosses the Des Moines River. It was originally built in 1899 and finished in 1901. There is a new bridge being built to replace this bridge that will stand 180 ft. in the air and still be the highest in the nation. It is a site to behold no matter who you are. The bridge itself is named after Kate Shelley, a girl who once crossed the bridge on her hands and knees in order to stop a train from crossing during a huge storm.
7) Taylor's Maid-Rite: Maid-Rites are a fixture in Central Iowa and even beyond. The ultimate loose meat sandwich that would even serve Ketchup with its sandwiches until that last few years. Originally started by Fred Angell in 1926, Cliff Taylor purchased the rights and it has since become a family business. To this day it is still apart of the same family. For those that were part of the originals in Newton, Muscatine, and Marshalltown, Taylor's Maid-Rite is a great place to meet old friends and have a great meal.
6) Adventureland: Adventureland is a amusement park that was founded in Altoona, IA in 1973. Adventureland is not Six Flags or Disneyworld or Cedar Point or even Worlds of Fun. But Adventureland is a great place to take your family. It is that place you go back to be again kid. There is fun for all and it is affordable. It may not huge but there are memories that I personally have that I will never forget. Thats what this place creates, memories.
The rest will be coming in a week...
Big cities are hard to come by and credit card machines/ATMs may be sparse, but Iowa has a flare that can be see if you are willing. You are right. Iowa is full of corn fields. Interstate 80 is the worst drive in the world. It vaguely smells of livestock and oatmeal (thank you Cedar Rapids). You are more likely to find a tractor on highway than you are a Hummer. Iowans love meat. Love eggs. Love Milk. Iowa is a state that can't make its mind up on whether it is Republican or Democratic (Which between you and mean is a damn good thing). Iowa is the home of Ashton Kutcher and Shawn Johnson. It snows during the winter and floods during the spring. The humidity is near unbearable in the summer and the leaves never stay on the trees long enough, granted you have trees near you. Skyscrapers are nonexistent outside of Des Moines and even then the buildings have to jump on their own to touch the sky. Iowans love ethanol even though it is a crock of shit (PS. we know that too, just don't care). And despite all of this Iowa's charm is lost on almost no one. What is so great? What is it that makes people go back time after time. I am going to give you the top ten things that make Iowa THE greatest state in the Union.
10) Higher Education: Iowa State University (Ames, IA), University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA), and the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA) are the three state schools and each one excels at their specialties. Iowa State has one of the best Agriculture and Engineering programs in the nation along with a tough Vet Med Grad Program. The university of Iowa has a medical school with a top-notch Hospital. The University of Iowa boasts a 100 percent success rate for heart Transplant patients to live at least one year after surgery. UNI, while smaller, has fantastic Education and Business programs. Each has athletic programs that are top notch in different sports. National Championships, while rare for this great state, are in abundance when talking about College Wrestling. Any parent would be proud to send a child of theirs to these fantastic Universities.
9) I-80, The Worlds Largest Truck Stop: I am deadly serious about this. Many people joke but honestly it is a marvel in civil engineering and consumerism. Sometimes big and bold is great, just ask Texas. If this thing is anything, it is big and bold. Founded in 1964, it has grown to serve over 5,000 customers a day. It has everything from showers to gift shops to fuel to service stalls. It is one-stop shop Truck Stop that even has a dentist and museum. Its worth the stop when you drive by, even if you aren't near it, stop in and fill up.
8) Kate Shelley High Bridge: The Kate Shelley High Bridge is the highest double-track railroad bridge in the United States. Residing west of Boone,IA, it stands 185 ft. in the air as it crosses the Des Moines River. It was originally built in 1899 and finished in 1901. There is a new bridge being built to replace this bridge that will stand 180 ft. in the air and still be the highest in the nation. It is a site to behold no matter who you are. The bridge itself is named after Kate Shelley, a girl who once crossed the bridge on her hands and knees in order to stop a train from crossing during a huge storm.
7) Taylor's Maid-Rite: Maid-Rites are a fixture in Central Iowa and even beyond. The ultimate loose meat sandwich that would even serve Ketchup with its sandwiches until that last few years. Originally started by Fred Angell in 1926, Cliff Taylor purchased the rights and it has since become a family business. To this day it is still apart of the same family. For those that were part of the originals in Newton, Muscatine, and Marshalltown, Taylor's Maid-Rite is a great place to meet old friends and have a great meal.
6) Adventureland: Adventureland is a amusement park that was founded in Altoona, IA in 1973. Adventureland is not Six Flags or Disneyworld or Cedar Point or even Worlds of Fun. But Adventureland is a great place to take your family. It is that place you go back to be again kid. There is fun for all and it is affordable. It may not huge but there are memories that I personally have that I will never forget. Thats what this place creates, memories.
The rest will be coming in a week...
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