Travel fun for me is having no particular opinion about or knowledge of a place, and then suddenly learning that it is pretty darned cool, and deciding that I must go there!
I’m still sorting through the mounds of information, photos, links and brochures from the recent Travel Media Showcase conference in Kansas City, but I wanted to note that after quick interviews with dozens of representatives from various tourist bureaus, there were 3 places that surprised me.
They were not what I’d expected, although how that can be possible when I had zero knowledge of them anyway, I do not know.
Ready?
- South Dakota — All I knew about it was the Corn Palace, but there is also Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial (still under construction,) the Black Hills, the Badlands, the town of Deadwood and famous people like Custer, Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok plus the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in De Smet.
- Madison, Wisconsin — everything you might enjoy in a college town, but even better, in a pretty natural setting on five lakes. There’s a reason that writer Penelope Trunk specifically chose to move her family there.
- Columbia, Missouri and nearby Lake of the Ozarks — Another interesting, culturally-rich college town (with significant ties to Lewis and Clark expedition history) and a lake that is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Midwest.
I must give an honorable mention to Boise, Idaho, for their active Basque community. Yes, as in the Basques in Spain.
Who knew?
Hopefully I’ll be able to visit all of them someday, to see if they are as surprisingly great as they appear. I welcome comments from any readers who have first-hand knowledge of these travel destinations; please leave a comment below.
Surprise me!
{ 6 comments }
Shelia,
What do you know about Wall Drug. I can remember seeing signs from hundreds of miles away about Wall Drug in South Dakota. Is it a tourist trap or the real deal??
Alan
Hi Alan,
From what I’ve heard, Wall Drug is indeed a major tourist trap, but a fun one, especially for kids. There’s no way that it can beat the Corn Palace, though, right?!
Hello Sheila and Alan,
I’m the Media/PR Manager for the South Dakota Office of Tourism. While Wall Drug is certainly an interesting place to visit and yes, some consider it to be a tourist trap, there are several aspects about Wall Drug that sometimes go unnoticed.
For example, Wall Drug has one of the largest collections of original western art in the country. They also have an impressive western-wear store that carries boots, hats, belts, jewelry, clothing, and more. And you can still see and visit the original drug store, which is still in operation.
Of course, I’m a bit biased, but if you’re driving by on I-90, I definitely think it warrants a stop! :o)
Hi Wanda,
Sure, I remember meeting you in Kansas City at Travel Media Showcase; so glad you dropped by and filled us in on Wall Drug.
I’ll bet on a long road trip it’s just the ticket for taking a break.
When in Rapid City, Reptile Gardens seems to be another “must” (my friends and I joke about all having been there on our family treks to the Black Hills, actually).
Excluding SD for a minute, I think it’s no coincidence that you have an overlap of two categories: university towns and state capitals!
The former always has a ton of free and interesting events as well as cheap, lively places to eat and drink.
The latter has history and is usually a state’s focal point for museums, theaters, gardens, zoos, etc.
Having lots of friends scattered at big universities around the country and a penchant for state capitol tours, I can heartily recommend both categories.
A couple other surprise goodies in this vein, off the top of my head: Missoula, MT; Morgantown, WV; Des Moines, IA; St. Paul, MN.
I would also like to point out that Wall Drug has some of the best homemade donuts, fudge and ice cream around. That alone warrants a stop for me!
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