Who Says Interstates are Boring?

Well, actually they can be very boring, but NOT if you get off from time to time.

The December 14, 2008 Chicago Tribune had and article by Mike Conklin titled "Rev up your drive aloooong I-80" which through Iowa and Nebraska was described as being about as boring and monotonous as you can get. And, that's at 756 miles, nearly one=fourth of the coast-to-coast road. One 72-mile stretch in Nebraska between Grand Island and Lincoln is about as completely straight as you can get, maybe a few yards either way.

HOWEVER, you can break up the 13-14 hour trip with eleven, count 'em, eleven "quirky sites within just a few miles off the route."

Here they are starting with the Mississippi going westward:

IOWA

1. Iowa Welcome Center, LeClaire, Exit 306-- scenic view of the Mississippi River. Plenty of information as well. Isn't Buffalo Bill's birthplace near there and this time of the year, possibly bald eagles. www.Iowawelcomecenter.com

2. I-80 Truck Stop, Walcott, Exit 284-- Opened in 1964 and not your normal truck stop. Has a truck museum (great place for one) and 30,000 square foot showroom and fantastic buffet. www.iowa80truckstop.com

3. Louis Sullivan Bank, Grinnell, Exit 182-- Interesting downtown, train station turned into restaurant and the Jewel Box Bank on Broad and 4th designed by famed Chicago architect and mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan.

Built 1914 as the Merchants National Bank and now Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. www.grinnelliowa.gov.SullivanBank

4. Bob Feller Museum, Van Meter, Exit 113-- at 310 Mill Street. Hall of Famer Bob Feller grew up on a nearby farm and was pitching for the Cleveland Indians while still in high school.

It includes the baseball bat Babe Ruth leaned on while giving his farewell speech at Yankee Stadium. They were playing the Indians that day and the Babe pulled Feller's bat out of the rack on his way to home plate. www.bobfellermuseum.org

Not Finished Exciting You. --RoadDog