Sometimes the best adventures are off the beaten path. Certainly you can look in any travel guide for the top sightseeing spots, but we have dug a little deeper to find the hidden gems that maybe aren't so obvious. Check out our handful of Regional Road trips throughout the different parts of the US. Maybe you'll discover something new right in your own back yard!
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From dinosaur fossils to the remains of ancient civilizations, from roping
steers to riding Hogs, the Midwest is an exciting region to explore.
Colorado
Dinosaur National Monument is home to a sizeable deposit of Jurassic-age fossil dinosaur bones. Visit a huge sandstone cliff that housed more fossilized remains of prehistoric animals than any other place in the world.
Breckenridge is a fabulous destination any time of year. In the winter months, plan a nighttime snowshoe hike from the Gold Run Nordic Center; participate in a nature and wilderness clinic; discover the mystery and mythology of the winter constellations.
Mesa Verde National Park offers a dramatic look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo. The park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.
Links:
www.nps.gov/dino
www.gobreck.com
www.nps.gov/meve
Montana
An array of unusual attractions can be found in the 1100 block of Main Street in Deer Lodge. Tour the Montana Law Enforcement Museum and the Old Montana Prison, the first territorial prison established in the western United States. In the summer months, visitors can “fall victim” to the Old Prison Players summer theatre.
Car enthusiasts will enjoy the Towe Ford Museum, housing a fine collection of more than 100 vintage Ford automobiles. The museum complex also includes the Frontier Montana Museum and “Lil' Joe,” a 270-ton electric locomotive.
Links:
www.deerlodgemontana.com
www.pcmaf.org
North Dakota
Geocaching is an outdoor adventure the whole family can enjoy. Test your cache seeking skills in the following North Dakota State Parks:
- Cross Ranch State Park
- Lake Metigoshe State Park
- Lake Sakakawea State Park
- Lewis & Clark State Park
- Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
- Fort Ransom State Park
- Fort Stevenson State Park
- Turtle River State Park
Links:
www.ndtourism.com
www.geocaching.com/map/ND.asp
South Dakota
Certainly, there are landmarks and national treasures you won’t want to miss: Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and the Black Hills.
BUT, if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, then Sturgis is definitely your destination. 2008 marks the 68th Annual Sturgis Rally. Each August, hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists journey to the Mecca of the motorcycling world. Ride to the Badlands, over to Devil's Tower or cruise the scenery and solitude of Sylvan Lake. The Dark of the Moon tour takes people to Mount Rushmore for the evening lighting ceremony.
While cruising through the Badlands, be sure to stop in Wall and visit the world famous Wall Drug Store for some free ice water, homemade doughnuts, and 5¢ coffee…you read it right!
Links:
www.travelsd.com
www.sturgis.com
www.nps.gov/moru
www.walldrug.com
Utah
There are some folks who adamantly believe that Bryce Canyon is more visually stunning than its famous sister, the Grand Canyon. They may be right. With its ancient trees and scenic views, its unique red rock spires called "hoodoos," and its horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters, Bryce’s long geologic history is a wonder to behold.
While in the area, be sure to visit the Paunsaugunt Wildlife Museum. In addition to featuring wildlife exhibits, they have artifacts from ancient Indians, such as the Anasazi and Piute.
Other sights to see: Kodachrome State Park, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and scenic Byway 12, considered one of the best roadways to drive.
Links:
travel.utah.gov
www.nps.gov/brca
travelwest.net/parks/brycecanyon
Wyoming
Here’s a trivia question for you: What is America's first national monument? Don’t know? Okay, here’s another clue: What U.S. landmark gained prominence as a mash potato sculpture and as an alien destination in the movie Close Encounters Of The Third Kind?
That’s right…Devils Tower.
Rising 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, the tower got its name in 1875 when Colonel Richard Dodge's translator misinterpreted the name to mean Bad God's Tower. It was later shortened to Devils Tower. Indians call it Mato Tipila, meaning Bear Lodge.
Links:
www.nps.gov/deto
www.wyomingtourism.org
Kansas
Did you know that Kansas has so many unique tourist stops that someone even wrote a book about them? Here’s a few to pique your curiosity.
- Cawker City: home to the world’s largest ball of twine (17,320 lbs, 40 foot circumference, and over 6,938,709 feet of sisal twine)
- Lucas: The Garden of Eden— Samuel Perry Dinsmoor created his visionary sculptures and Cabin Home between the years of 1907 and 1932 using concrete and native post rock.
- Goodland: On I-70, you can't miss The Van Gogh Sunflower Project—the 24x32 foot painting is displayed on an 80-foot high easel.
- Vornado: home to the Antique Fan Collectors Museum—over 250 fans including many rare and one-of-a-kind items, the oldest dating back to the mid-1800s.
Links:
www.travelks.com
www.garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com
www.vornado.com/about/new/museum.htm
Nebraska
Krazy about Kool-Aid®? Kool-Aid got its start in Hastings. Now every kid’s favorite drink even has a permanent exhibit at the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
Each year on the second weekend in August, thousands of “kids” of all ages gather for Kool-Aid Days. The festival features the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand, boat races at the city Aquacourt, the kwickest Kool-Aid drinking contest, the Kool-Aid classic car cruise of America, carnival games and trolley rides through the Hastings historic district. Guaranteed fun for the whole family!
Links:
www.visitnebraska.org
www.hastingsmuseum.org
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