Kentucky (KY)

 

Kentucky State Flag

"Bluegrass State"

"Barbecue Capital of the World", "It's That Friendly", "Kentucky's Country Music Capital", "Official State Honey Festival of Kentucky" and "Unbridled Spirit".

Why visit Kentucky?

Passionate equestrians, cyclists and outdoor lovers to enjoy biking, bluegrass music, boating, bourbon, camping, canoeing, caves, college basketball, derby, equestrian farms, festivals, fishing, folk art, golf, hiking, historic sites, horseback riding, horse races, hiking, hunting, kayaking, large lakes, moonshine, mountains, rivers, rolling pastures, shopping, state parks, southern cuisine and white water rafting. 

Racecourse, Louisville, KY. Photo Credit: USA-Reiseblogger/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Frankfort
• State Bird: Cardinal
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Goldenrod
• State Gemstone: Freshwater Pearl
• State Mammal: Thoroughbred Horse
• State Rock: Kentucky Agate

Horse Farm, KY. Photo Credit: alsparkman/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• In 1799, the first state to establish a commercial winery.
• In 1940, along the Kentucky River became the birthplace to Beer Cheese.
• Due to their high calcium soil in the Bluegrass region became a popular horse breeding area.
• Thoroughbreds is a horse breed best known for horse racing. "Hot-blooded" horses best known for their agility, speed, and spirit. Thoroughbred sometimes refers to any breed of purebred horses.
• Produces 95% of the world's supply of bourbon whiskey. 
• Aside from Alaska, it has more navigable miles of water than any other state.
• Home to the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park.
  
• One of only five states that elects its state officials in odd-numbered years.
  
• One of three other states officially called "commonwealths".
  
• Morehead State University (MSU) is one of our nation's only to offer a Space Science degree.
  
• The Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat is made in Kentucky.
  
• State's folk dance is "clogging" heels and toes percussively hitting the floor creating audio rhythms.  
• Birthplace to fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
• While actually green, Bluegrass got it's name from the blue-purple buds that appear blue when seen in large fields.
• Features 2 National Forests, 5 State Forests and 52 State Parks.

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Abraham Lincoln (Late President), Bill Monroe (Musician), Crystal Gayle (Musician), Johnny Depp (Actor), Loretta Lynn (Musician), Merle Travis (Musician), Muhammad Ali (Athlete), Diana Ellen "Naomi" Judd (Musician), Nick Lachey (Musician), Ricky Skaggs (Musician) and Rajon Rondo (Athlete), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: Coal Miner's Daughter (1980), Elizabethtown (2005), Fire Down Below (1997) and Seabiscuit (2003), just to name a few.
• Reads​ Set in Kentucky: Icy Sparks (written by Gwyn Hyman Rubio), Talking Man  (written by Terry Bisson), The Coffin Quilt (written by Ann Rinaldi) and Tree of Freedom (written by Rebecca Caudill), just to name a few.

John A Roebling Suspension Bridge, Covington, KY. Photo Credit: WikiImages/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Some counties are "dry" prohibiting beer and wine sales.
• The state has two time zones.
• State wide indoor smoking ban.

Subject to humidity, mild winters, rainy summers and tornados (April-May).

• Best Time to Visit: April - May and September - October
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July
• Peak Season: June - August

Kroger Field Shelter, Lexington, KY. Photo Credit: Nik Shuliahin/Unsplash 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home, Angel Windows, Backusburg Mounds Archaeological Site, Battle for the Bridge Historic Preserve, Battlefield Park, Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Boone Station State Historic Site, Butler-Turpin State Historic House, Cobblestone Path, Constitution Square Historic Site, Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, Daniel Carter Beard Boyhood Home, Duncan Hall, Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site, Farnsley-Moremen Landing, Fitchburg Furnace Historical Site, Fort Webb Park, Fort Williams - Civil War Battlefield, Gardner Historic House, Green River Academy Historic Site, Henry Clay Estate, Historic Locust Grove, Historic Main Street Fire Station / Florence Fire Department, Historic Mount Pleasant House, Historic Old Louisville, Historic Riverfront, Isaac Shelby State Historic Site, Jack Jouett House Historic Site, Kentucky Historic Marker - Jackson Purchase, LaTrobe's Pope Villa, Liberty Hall Historic Site, Lincoln Hall, Lower Shawneetown Archaeological Site, Middle Creek National Battlefield, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Old Lake Cumberland Railroad Tunnel, Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site, Old Statehouse, Perryville Battlefield, Pleasant Hill Water House, The Bell House, The Ronald–Brennan House, US Marine Hospital, Waveland State Historic Site, West-Metcalfe House, White Hall State Historic Site, Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site and William Whitley House State Historic Site. 
• Museums: American Saddlebred Museum, Ark Encounter, Bullitt County History Museum, Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Big Sandy Heritage-History Center Museum, Bluegrass Heritage Museum, Bluegrass Scenic Railroad & Museum, Capital City Museum, Conrad-Caldwell House, Creation Museum, East Kentucky Science Center & Planetarium, Explorium of Lexington, General George Patton Museum Of Leadership, Georgetown Scott County Museum, Great American Dollhouse Museum, Hardin County History Museum, Harland Sanders Cafe & Museum, Headley-Whitney Museum, Hidden River Cave & American Cave Museum, Historic RailPark & Train Museum, Hopewell Museum, Irvinton House Museum, Keeneland Race Course, Keeneland Sales, Kentucky Derby Museum, Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, Kentucky History Center & Museums, Kentucky Military History Museum, Kentucky Museum, Kentucky Railway Museum, Kentucky Science Center, KMAC Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Mary Todd Lincoln House, McDowell House Museum, Mill Springs Battlefield Visitor Center & Museum, Mill Springs Battlefield Visitor Center & Museum, Montgomery County History Museum, Muhammad Ali Center, Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, National Corvette Museum, Nostalgia Station Toy Museum, Octagon Hall, Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, Owensboro Museum of Science & History, Red River Museum, River Discovery Center, Riverview At Hobson Grove, South Central Kentucky Cultural Center "Museum of the Barrens", 
  Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum, The Abner Gaines House, The Frazier History Museum, The Henry Clay Estate, The Hunt-Morgan House, The Speed Art Museum, University of Kentucky Art Museum, Vent Haven Museum, William Clark Market House Museum and Thomas Edison House. 
• Popular Attractions: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Appalachian Mountains, Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden & Toyland, Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve, Beech Bend, Bernheim Arboretum & Research, Big South Fork National River, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Black Mountain, Bluegrass Distillers, Bourbon Heritage Center, Breaks Interstate Park, Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Carter Caves Resort State Park, Camp Nelson National Monument, Casey Jones Distillery, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Cave Hill Cemetery, Churchill Downs, Colonel Sanders Grave, Columbus Belmont State Park, Country Music Highway, Covington's MainStrasse Village, Crystal Onyx Cave, Cumberland Falls, Cumberland Gap, Daniel Boone's Grave, Daniel Boone National Forest, Dinosaur World, Duncan Tavern, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Eyeball Bridge, Farmington Historic Plantation, Floral Clock, Florence Y'all Water Tower, Fort Knox, Froggett’s Guntown Mountain, Ft Boonesborough, Frankfort Cemetery, Governor's Mansion, Grim Trails Haunted Attraction, Headwaters of the Green River, Heigold House Facade, Henry Clay Monument & Mausoleum, Hoedown Island, Horse Country, Hummel Planetarium, Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, Jefferson Memorial Forest, Jim Beam American Stillhouse, Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, John A Roebling Suspension Bridge, John James Audubon State Park, Josephine Sculpture Park, Kart Kountry, Kentucky Artisan Center, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Kentucky Folk Art Center, Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co, Kentucky Reptile Zoo, Kentucky Rumbler, Kentucky Shores Family Fun Center, Kentucky Splash WaterPark, Kentucky Stonehenge, Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lake Cumberland, Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park, Limestone Branch Distillery, Lost River Cave, Louisville Mega Cavern, Louisville Zoo, Louisville Water Tower Park, Mall St Matthews, Mammoth Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, McConnell Springs, Monte Cassino Chapel, Museum Row, My Old Kentucky Home, Nada Tunnel, National Scenic Byways, Natural Bridge, New Riff Distilling, Newport Aquarium, Oxmoor Center, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Pilot Knob, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Portal Thirty One, Purple Toad Winery, Punkyville, Purple People Bridge, Red River Gorge, Red River Gorge Geological Area, Rose Hill Farm Winery, Salato Wildlife Center, Shakertown Church, SomerSplash Waterpark, Southern Lights, South Union Shaker Village, Switzer Covered Bridge, Talon Falls Screampark, The Butterfly Greenhouse, The Grotto & Garden of Our Lady of Lourdes, The Loudoun House, The Louisville Quest, The Thoroughbred Center, Thrillsville Adventure Park, Trolley de 'Ville, United States Bullion Depository, Venture River Water Park, Ward Hall, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Wicked World Scaregrounds,  William Arnold Log House, Wolf Run Wildlife Sanctuary, Woodford Reserve Distillery, World Peace Bell Center, Yahoo Falls Overlook, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens and Yuko-En on the Elkhorn.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Berea, Bowling Green, Covington, Florence, Frankfort, Georgetown, Hopkinsville, London, Louisville, Lexington, Newport, Nicholasville, Owensboro, Park City, Petersburg and Richmond.
• Special Events: (March) Tater Day, (April) Kentucky Derby Festival, Thunder Over Louisville, (May) Derby Festival,  International Bar-B-Q Festival, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, (June) Beer Cheese Festival, Festival of the Bluegrass, W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, (July) Quaker State 400, (August) 127 Corridor Sale, Kenlake Hot August Blues, Kentucky State Fair, PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, World Championship Horse Show, (September) Anderson County Burgoo Festival, Clarkson Honeyfest, Festival of the Horse, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Logan Co Tobacco & Heritage Festival, Moonbow Eggfest, NASCAR, Ryder Cup, Wounded Warriors Fishing Event, (October) Christian Way Farm Harvest Praise, Galilean Home Ministries Annual Quilt Auction, Garvin Gate Blues Festival, Halloween Fest, Limestone Cycling Tour, Salt Festival,(November) Anderson County Art Trail, Deer Widow Retreat Weekend, (December) Bardstown Kiwanis Club’s Annual Christmas Parade and Live Nativity.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Mammoth Cave National Park

St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, KY. Photo Credit: emilyd3/Pixabay 

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Kansas (KS)

Kansas State Flag

 

"The Sunflower State"

"Jayhawk State", "Midway State" and "Wheat State"

Why visit Kansas?

A low key and relaxed atmosphere destination to enjoy auto racing, biking, birdwatching, cowboy heritage, farmland, fishing, glacial hills, hiking, hunting, military forts, museums, pioneer history, rolling tall grass prairie, space flight history and walking.

Kansas City, KS. Photo Credit: Colton Sturgeon/Unsplash

At a Glance

• Capital: Topeka
• State Bird: Western Meadowlark
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Sunflower
• State Gemstone: Jelenite
• State Mammal: Buffalo
• State Rock: Greenhorn Limestone

Fun Facts

• In 1910, the first state to institute Workers' Compensation.
• In 1911, the first state to regulate the Securities Industry.
• At 650 feet below the earth’s surface underground salt caverns store Hollywood films and documentation from around the world.
  
• Larger than a football field Garden City hosts the world's largest concrete pool, "Big Pool" which is 72,000 square feet holding 2.6 million gallons of water.
• Produces high yields of corn, sorghum, soybean and wheat.
  
• Has our country's third largest state highway system.
  
• Features 24 State Parks.
• Read tales about the state are featured in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and  Little House on the Prairie (1935).
• The fictional town of Smallville is the childhood home of Superman (Clark Kent).
  
• Plaza Cinema (Ottawa) is listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating cinema in the world.
• Hollenberg Pony Express Station, aka: Cottonwood Pony Express Station (Hanover) is the most preserved station of the Pony Express.
  
• Stunt Performer, Robert Craig Knievel (1938-2007) "Evel Knievel" ran his first race in Winfield.
  

Kansas Praire. Photo Credit: ramaxeymiles/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Barry Sanders (Athlete), David Dwight Eisenhower (Late President), Eric Stonestreet (Actor), Jordy Nelson (Athlete), Kristie Alley (Actress) and Martina McBride (Musician), just to mention a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: All Roads Lead Home (2006), Different Flowers (2017), New Girls on the Block (2015), The Tree (2017) and Winding Roads (1998), just to mention a few.
• Reads Set in Kansas: Keeping Faith (written by Jodi Picoult), Sprout (written by Dale Peck), The Topeka School (written by Ben Lerner) and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (written by L Frank Baum), just to name a few.

Sandstone Monument, KS. Photo Credit: Alan Parker/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Only small and medium-sized man made recreational lakes.
• Copperhead and rattlesnakes (poisonous) are residents.
• There's 10% Liquor Drink Tax collected for liquor consumed on the licensed premises and an 8% Liquor Enforcement Tax at retailers.
  
• Dodge City is our nation's windiest city with recorded winds up to 14mph.
• A flat state best traveled by car. Anticipate long distances between sites.

Subject to dust storms, flash floods, humidity, supercell thunderstorms, snowstorms and tornadoes.

• Best Time to Visit: June - September
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Month: July
• Peak Season: June - August

Kansas Hills. Photo Credit: CJMcCay/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Anton-Woodring House, Battle of Punished Woman's Fork National Historic Site, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Buffalo Bill's Well on the Santa Fe Trail, Castle Tea Room, Constitution Hall State Historic Site, Coronado Cross, Dwight D Eisenhower Boyhood Home, Far West Temple Site, First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site, Fort Hays State Historic Site, Fort Larned National Historic Site, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Historic Chisholm Trail Cattle Pens Site, Historic Chisholm Trail Mulberry Tree Marker, Historic John & Mary Jane Ritchie House, Historic Santa Fe Depot, Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site, Johnson House, Kaw Mission State Historic Site, Keebler-Stone House, Little Stranger Church & Cemetery, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site, Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site, Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site, Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark, Nicodemus National Historic Site, Nike Missile Site KC-80, Old Imperial Brewery, Pawnee Rock State Historic Site, Red Rocks State Historic Site, Santa Fe Trail Tracks, Sauer Castle, Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site, The Geographic Center of the United States, The Lane Trail and Union Station Kansas City.
• Museums: Alexander Majors Historic Museum, Arabia Steamboat Museum, Barbed Wire Museum, Big Well Museum, Booth Family Hall of Athletics, Boot Hill Museum, Carry A Nation Home & Museum, Cloud County Historical Museum, Combat Air Museum, Coronado Quivira Museum, Cray Historical Home Museum, C. W. Parker Carousel Museum, Dalton Defenders & Coffeyville History Museum, Dietrich Cabin, Dorothy's House & the Land of Oz, El Quartelejo Museum, Eudora Community Museum, Evel Knievel Museum, Exploration Place, Fick Fossil & History Museum, Fort Bissell Museum, Fort Wallace Museum,Frontier Army Museum, Ft Harker Museum, Gardner Historical Museum, Goodnow House, Great Plains Transportation Museum, Greyhound Hall of Fame, Grinter Place Museum, Heritage Center, High Plains Museum, Jackson County Museum, John Brown Museum, Kansas Auto Racing Museum, Kansas African American Museum, Kansas Aviation Museum, Kansas Children's Discovery Center, Kansas City Automotive Museum, Kansas City Museum, Kansas Museum of History, Kansas Oil Museum, Kauffman Museum, Kiowa County Historical Museum & Soda Fountain, KU Natural History Museum, Lincoln County Kansas Historical Museum, Little House on the Prairie Museum, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, McPherson County Old Mill Museum, Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Museum at Prairiefire, Museum of World Treasures, National WWI Museum & Memorial, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Old Cowtown Museum, Old Depot Museum, Old West Wax Museum, OZ Museum, Parsons Historical Museum, Paul Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings, Pawnee Indian Museum, Pioneer Krier Museum, Red Barn Studio Museum, Richard Allen Cultural Center & Museum, Riley County Historical Museum, Salt Mine Tours, Shoal Creek Living History Museum, Smoky Hill Museum, Sternberg Museum, Stockade Museum, Strataca, The John Wornall House Museum, Thomas Hart Benton Home & Studio, Trego County Historical Society Museum, US Cavalry Museum, Watkins Museum of History, William Allen White House, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, The Original Pizza Hut Museum, Trego County Historical Society Museum, Wizard of Oz Museum, Wolf House Museum, Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City, Wonder Workshop Children's Museum and Yesteryear Museum. 
• Popular Attractions: Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, All Star Sports, Amelia Earhart Birthplace, Asylum Bridge, Big Brutus, Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery, Bluemont Scenic Overlook, Boot Hill Cemetery, Boot Hill Distillery, Bowl Plaza, Buffalo Soldier Monument, Candycane Lane, Castle Rock Badlands, Coronado Cross, Coronado Heights Castle, Cosmosphere, Cyclone Day Memorial, Dalton Gang Hideout, Dargatz Park, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, Dodge City Trolley, Erie Dinosaur Park, Exploration Place, Flint Hills Discovery Center, Fort Riley, Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House, Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area, Friends of Sandsage Bison, Gage Park, Giant Reproduction of Three Sunflowers in a Vase, Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, Great Overland Station, Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Guardian of the Grove Statue, Guard of the Plains, Gyp Hills Scenic Drive, Hays Aquatic Park, Hermit's Cave, Historic Lecompton, Hoffman Grist Mill, Home of Stone, Huron Indian Cemetery, Hutchinson Zoo, Indian Rock Park, Indian Treaty Kansas Historical Marker, Jurassic Art, Kanopolis Lake State Park, Kansas City Museum, Kansas City Workhouse, Kansas Historical Marker, Kansas Landscape Arboretum, Kansas Originals Market, Kansas Speedway, Kansas State Archives, Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, Kenwood Cove Aquatic Park, Keystone Gallery, Kiddieland Amusement Park, Lake Scott State Park, Lakewood Park, Last Chance Store, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City, Liquid Art Winery & Estate, Madonna of the Trail, Matt Dillon Statue, Miami County Historical, M.T. Liggett's Political Sculptures, Mushroom Rock State Park, Neosho Riverwalk, Oakdale Park, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Prairiefire, Quindaro Ruins Overlook Structure, Rainbow Bridge, Riverside Park & Ralph Mitchell Zoo, Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park, Rolling Hills Zoo, Safari Zoological Park, Salsa Man, SEA LIFE Kansas City, Sedgwick County Zoo, Seelye Mansion, Smithalo, S. P. Dinsmoor's Garden of Eden, Suitcase Tombstone of a Traveling Salesman, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, The Ewing & Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, The Fire Hydrant House, The Keeper of the Plains, The Lewis & Clark, The Wichita Gardens, Topeka Zoo, Veterans Memorial Park, Wamego Dutch Windmill, Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens, Wheat Jesus Billboard, Wildwood Adventure Park, Wilson State Park, Windsurfer Beach, World's Largest Ball of Twine, World's Largest Baseball, Worlds Largest Czech Egg, St Fidelis Basilica, Sunset Zoo, World's Largest Easel, World's Largest Spur, World's Largest Things, Worlds Of Fun, Wright Park and Wyatt Earp Statue. 
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Coffeyville, Dodge City, Garden City, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence, Lenexa, Manhatton, Olathe, Overland Park, Salina, Shawnee, Topeka and Wichita.
• Special Events: (January) Kansas Day, (March) Naka-Kon, NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Annual Championship, Planet Comicon, (April) Antique & Barbed Wire Festival, Kansas City FilmFest, (May) Brookside Art Annual, NASCAR, Square Fair, Tumbleweed, Turkey Creek Festival (June) Anime Festival Wichita, Crown Center Antique Festival, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Jazz Walk of Fame, Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen, (July) Amelia Earhart Festival, Dodge City Days, Grand Carnivale, KC RiverFest, (August) Heart of America Hot Dog Festival, Jazzoo, Middle of the Map Fest, Roots Festival, (September) American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Ciderfest & Craft Fair, Dancefestopia, Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Kansas City Irish Fest, Louisburg Ciderfest, Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival, Paxico Blues Fest, Peace Treaty Festival & Pageant, Plaza Art Fair and (October) WaterFire Kansas City. 

Kansas Sunflowers. Photo Credit: sara14n/Pixabay 

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Iowa (IA)

Iowa State Flag

 

"The Hawkeye State"

Why visit Iowa?

Scenic drive travelers who desire charming towns while enjoying bicycling, casino's, farmlands, caves, golfing, hiking, history, horseback riding, museums, Native American burial grounds, riverboats, rolling plains, scenic railways, skiing, snowmobiling, state fairs, and walking.

Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Des Moines
• State Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Wild Prairie Rose
• State Gemstone: None
• State Mammal: None
• State Rock: Geode 

Fun Facts

• On February 3, 1959 Charles Hardin Holley (1936-1959), "Buddy Holly", an American Rock & Roll Musician died in a plane crash near Clear Lake with his band members and pilot.
• Since 1971, has hosted the John Deere Classic, PGA Tour golf event.
  
• In 1989, the first to legalize riverboat casino gambling.
• Wells' Blue Bunny (LeMars) is said to produce more ice cream than any other city in the world.
• Known to have more pigs than people (5:1).
  
• Amana Colonies are seven villages spanning over 26,000 acres bustling in authentic German ambiance and roots since 1855.
  
• Recognized as the most conservative Old Order Settlement with a population of 7000 Amish Residents.
  
• The highest literacy rate in the nation, schools ranked above the national average in scholastic achievement (93%).
  
• Over 85% of the state's land is used for agriculture.
• Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption (West Bend) receives over 100,000 visitors annually.
  
• Features 10 State Forests and 83 State Parks.
  

Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride (RAGBRAI), IA. Photo Credit: S Ahrend/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Ashton Kutcher (Actor), Cloris Leachman (Actress), John Wayne (Actor), Johnny Carson (Comedian), Kirk Hinrich (Athlete) and Seth Rollins (Athlete), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: Children of the Corn (2009), Field of Dreams (1989), Sugar (2008), The Bridges of Madison County (1995) and Twister (1996), just to mention a few.
• Novels Set in Iowa: A Thousand Acres (written by 
  Jane Smiley), 
  Bridges of Madison County (written by Robert Waller), Shoeless Joe (written by 
  W.P. Kinsella), 
  Some Other Town (written by Elizabeth Collison) and What's Eating Gilbert Grape (written by Peter Hedges), just to name a few.

Downtown Des Moines, IA. Photo Credit: Tony Walker/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• During Autumn there are over 260 corn mazes throughout the state.
• Scenic Drives to consider include Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, Delaware Crossing Scenic Byway, Glacial Trail Scenic Byway, Great River Road, Historic U.S. Route 6, Iowa Wine Trail, Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, River Bluffs Scenic Byway and Western Skies Scenic Byway.

Subject to humidity, snowstorms, tornadoes (May-June) and wildfires.

• Best Time to Visit: May-June and Late August-October
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Months: July
• Peak Season: June - August

Winterset City, IA. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Billingsley-Hills House, Buddy Holly Crash Site, Clark House, Dibble House, Dubuque Town Clock, Gilbert-Linn Street Historic District,  Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Hose Station No. 1, Jesse James Historical Site, Joseph Smith III's Liberty Hall, Kanesville Tabernacle, Kilbourn Bridge, Mathias Ham House, Matt Edel Blacksmith Shop, Melrose Historic District, Montauk Historic Site, Motor Mill Historic Site, Plum Grove Historical Site, Rhodes Mill, Simon E Dow House, Snake Alley, Terrace Hill Historic Site, Toolesboro Indian Mounds and Witmer House.
• Museums: Abbie Gardner Cabin, African American Museum Of Iowa, Amana Heritage Society, Ames History Museum, Appanoose Historical & Coal Mining Museum, Bartlett Museum, Bily Clocks Museum, Blanden Memorial Art Museum, Boone History Center, Brucemore, Brunnier Art Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Carnegie Historical Museum, Cedar Falls Historical Society, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Charles H MacNider Art Museum, Dan Gable Wrestling Museum, Delaware County Historical Museum, Desoto National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Museum, Farm House Museum, Figge Art Museum, Froelich Museum, Garrett-Phelps House Museum, Glick-Sower Historical House, Greene County Historical Society, Grenville M. Dodge House, Grout Museum of History & Science, Hawkeye Log Cabin, Hemken Collection, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum, Hitchcock House, Ice House Museum, Iowa County Historical Society, Iowa Aviation Museum, Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum, 
  Jesse James Museum, John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, John Wayne Birthplace Museum, Johnson County Historical Society, Joseph Smith Historic Site, Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, Iowa Quilt Museum, Iowa Rural Schools Museum, Kalona Historical Village, Kinney Pioneer Museum, Living History Farms, Locust School Museum, Matchstick Marvels, McGregor Historical Museum, Museum of Danish America, National Balloon Museum & U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, National Hobo Museum, National Motorcycle Museum, Nelson Pioneer Farm & Museum, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum, Old Capitol Museum, Pella Historical Village, Pearson House Museum, Rensselaer Russell House Museum, Scholte House Museum & Gardens, Sergeant Floyd River Museum, Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City Railroad Museum, Stockman House, Squirrel Cage Jail, Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Surf Ballroom & Museum, The Iowa Children's Museum, The National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center, The Voyage Home Museum, University of Iowa Museum of Natural History, Union Pacific Railroad Museum, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Waterloo Center for the Arts and William M Black.
• Popular Attractions: Adventureland Park, Albert the Bull Park, Allee Mansion, Amana Colonies, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden, Black Angel Statue, Blank Park Zoo, Bonaparte Pottery, Boone History Center, Brushy State Recreation Area, Calliope Village, Cedar Rock State Park, Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, Clark State Park, Clark Tower, Cordova Observation Tower, Crystal Lake Cave, Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village & Olde St Ann's Church, Danish Windmill, Des Moines' Downtown Farmers’ Market, Devonian Fossil Gorge, Dubuque Riverwalk, Dubuque Shot Tower, Dubuque Township Round Barn, Dunning's Spring Park, Eagle Point Park, EB Lyons Interpretive Center, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Field of Dreams Movie Site, Frank Lloyd Wright Home, Grandview Park Bandshell, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Heritage Carousel of Des Moines, Hogback Covered Bridge,Holtkamp Round Barn, Iowa's Largest Frying Pan, Iowa Trolley Park, John Peirce Mansion, Julien Dubuque Monument, Kalona Historical Village, Kate Shelley High Bridge, Ledges State Park, Lewis & Clark Park, Lincoln Highway Bridge, Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge, Lowell & Agnes Walter Estate, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Mowry Irvine Mansion, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, National Balloon Classic Field, Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Parkersburg Historical Home, Pedestrian Mall, Peter Toth Indian, Pikes Peak State Park, Reiman Gardens, Robert D Ray Asian Gardens, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Passenger Station, Rolling Thunder Prairie, Salisbury House & Gardens, Sergeant Floyd Monument, Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, Starr's Cave Nature Center, State Center Rose Garden, Stempel Bird Collection, Sunrise Children's Zoo, Swan Lake State Park, Taylor Country School 4, The Big Treehouse, The Klokkenspel, The Palmer Family Residence, The Sitting Man - Buddha, Traer Salt & Pepper Shaker Gallery, Trainland USA, Trinity Heights, Ulysses S Grant Home, Vermeer Mill, Villisca Axe Murder House, Western Historic Trails Center, Wildcat Den State Park, World's Largest Concrete Gnome, World's Largest Popcorn Ball, Worlds Largest Wooden Nickel, World's Largest Strawberry and Worlds Smallest Church.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Ames, Ankeny, Bentonsport, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Dyersville, Elkader, Iowa City, LeClaire, McGregor, Okoboji, Pella, Sioux City, Waterloo and West Des Moines.
• Special Events: (January) African American Festival , Kee Live Music Festival, University of Okoboji Winter Games, Winterfest, (March) Maple Syrup Festival, Waverly Horse Sale, (April) Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Take a Bite Food Festival, (May) Boone River Valley Festival, Houby Days, Maifest, Orange City Tulip Festival, Pella Tulip Time, Tivoli Fest, Tree Town Music Festival, (June) BACooN Ride, College Hill Arts Festival, Glenn Miller Festival, Ice Cream Days, Lumberjack Festival, Scandinavian Days,Trek Fest,State Center Rose Festival, Whitewater Weekend, (July) AsianFest, Bix 7 Road Race, Iowa Irish Fest, National Balloon Classic, Nordic Fest, Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), Walcott Truckers Jamboree, (August) Great River Tug Fest, Iowa Irish Fest, Iowa State Fair, Meskwaki Powwow, (September) Applefest, GermanFest Celebration, Pufferbilly Days, Pancake Day, Tri City BBQ Fest, (October) Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, Oktoberfest, Scenic Drive Festival, Waverly Horse Sale, (November) Julefest, National Farm Toy Show and (December) Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland.

Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

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Indiana (IN)

State Flag of Indiana

 

"Land of Indians"

"Indian Land" and "The Hoosier State"

Why visit Indiana?

Historians and outdoor motor race enthusiasts interested in architecture, auto racing, basketball, casinos, caves, cross-country skiing, drive-in theaters, fishing, hiking, historical sites, horseback riding, hunting, lakes, marshes, mountain biking, museums, outdoor sports, prairies, riverboat gambling, scenic train rides, sinkholes and valleys.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay

At a Glance

• Capital: Indianapolis
• State Bird: Cardinal Cardinalis
• State Dessert: Sugar Cream Pie
• State Flower: Peony Paeonia
• State Gemstone: None
• State Mammal: None
• State Rock: None

Indiana Farm Parade. Photo Credit: Stephen Marc/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Paleo-Indians, arrived (8000 BCE) after the melting of the glaciers at the end of the Ice Age.
  
• Southern Illinois limestone quarries is known to be a construction building source for the Empire State Building, Pentagon and State Capitals. 
• On June 27,  1977 late Elvis Presley, Musician (1935-1977) gave his last public performance at Indianapolis' Market Square Arena.
  
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the first long-distance auto race across our nation.
• The annual “Picture Postmark” Contest is a holiday postmark designed by a local high school art student created in response to the hundreds of mail sent to Santa Claus, IN over the Christmas Holiday.
  
• Orville Redenbacher (1907–1995), Entrepreneur studied agronomy at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. After graduation, he perfected and sold Redenbacher Popcorn from the trunk of his car.
• Features 2 National Parks, 24 State Parks, plentiful lakes and rivers.
• Has the third largest population of Amish (a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German Anabaptist origin).

Indianapolis City, IN. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Adam Lambert (Musician), James Dean (Actor), Janet Jackson (Musician), Larry Bird (Athlete), Louie Dampier (Athlete), Michael Jackson (Musician) and Mick Foley (Athlete), just to mention a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: A Christmas Story (1940), Amanda (2009), Breaking Away (1979), Going All the Way (1997), Hoosiers (1986) and Original Gangstas (1996), just to mention a few. 
• Novels Set in Indiana: Freckles (written by Gene Stratton-Porter), Raintree County (Ross Lockridge, Jr) and The Underground Railroad (Colson Whitehead), just to name a few.

Bridgeton, IN. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay

Good to Know

• Western Indiana (Parke County), is nationally known nationally for covered bridges (30).
  
• Legendary for bass fishing; largemouth, smallmouth, rock and striped.
  
• America's Christmas hometown is in Santa Claus, IN. Annually hosting family fun the first three weekends in December. Mail your letters to: Santa Claus Post Office, P.O. Box 9998, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998.
  
• Chiggers (Berry Bugs/Trombiculidae) are widespread. To avoid their intense itching do not sit on the ground or stand in weeds. Dawn-dusk mosquitos are plentiful. Prime tick season is April-June.
  
• State is divided into two time zones Central and Eastern Time.
• Has produced more National Basketball Association (NBA) players than any other state.
  
• There are 20 drive-in theaters throughout the state.

Subject to earthquakes, humidity, hurricanes, snowstorms and tornados.

• Best Time to Visit: May - September
• Coldest Month: January
• Hottest Months: July - August
• Peak Season: June - August

Indiana Dunes State Park, Chesterton, IN. Photo Credit: Jeff DeWitt/Unsplash

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Alexander T Rankin House, Archeological Sites 12T59 & 12T530, Bates-Hendricks House, Burris House & Potawatomi Spring, Cairo Skywatch Tower, Carpenter House, Charles L Shrewsbury House, Civil War Memorial Grave, Clark Memorial, Duck Creek Aqueduct, Eleutherian College, Fort Knox II - Vincennes State Historic Sites, Fort Ouiatenon, Gary City Center Historic District, Historic Tunnel Mill, Huddleston Farmhouse, Indiana World War Memorial, John H Bass Mansion, Junction Railroad Depot, Lake Iola Interurban Site, New Harmony Historic District, Nike Missile Site C-45, Nike Missile Site CD-63, Potawatomi Village Historic Site, Riverton Archaeological Site, The Hanging Tree, The John & Catherine Christian House, The Kile Oak, The Kizer House, The Miller House, Tippecanoe Battlefield Memorial and Veraestau Historic Site. 
• Museums: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum , Benjamin Harrison, Brauer Museum of Art, Candles Holocaust Museum, Conner Prairie Museum, Eiteljorg Museum, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Evansville Museum, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, Haan Museum of Indiana Art, Indiana Medical History Museum, Indiana Military Museum, Indiana State Museum, Newfields, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, National Automotive & Truck Museum, RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum, Rhythm! Discovery Center, Santa Claus Museum, Studebaker National Museum, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, The History Museum, The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, World of Motorcycles Museum and WonderLab Science Museum.
• Popular Attractions: Anderson Speedway, Antique Alley, Bluespring Caverns, Brown County State Park, Cass County Dentzel Carousel, City West Ghost Town, Columbian Park Zoo, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, Cottrell Village, Courthouse Tree, Deep River Waterpark, Delphi Opera House, Empire Quarry, Dunn’s Bridge, First Christian Church, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Four Winds Casinos, France Park, Freedom Springs, French Lick Casino, Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Hollywood Casino, Eagle Creek Park & Nature Preserve, East Race Waterway, Hall of Heros, Hoosier National Forest, Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park Resort, Indiana Dunes State Park, Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, Indianapolis Speedway, Indianapolis Zoo, Indy 500, John Dillinger's Grave, Jug Rock, Knightridge Space Observatory, Kokomo Speedway, Lincoln Amphitheatre, Lucas Oil Stadium, Market Street Catacombs, Marengo Cave, Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Monon Community Center, Monument Circle, New Harmony Labyrinth, O'Bannon Woods State Park, Perfect North Slopes, Pine Lake Water Park, Prophetstown State Park, Rose Island, Santa's TOYS, Schimpff's Confectionery, Seiberling Mansion, Shipshewana Flea Market, Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument, South Bend River Lights, Splash House Water Park, Spirit of Jasper, The Dixie Sternwheeler, The Garfield Trail, The Ruins, Tropicanoe Cove Outdoor Family Aquatic Center, Turkey Run State Park, Wellfield Botanic Gardens, White River State Park, Whitewater Valley Railroad, World's Largest Ball of Paint and Wyandotte.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Bloomington, Carmel, Corydon, Evansville, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Gary, Hammond, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Merrillville, Muncie, Noblesville, Santa Claus, South Bend and Terre Haute.
• Special Events: (May) 500 Festival, Broad Ripple Art Fair, Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, (June)Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Indian Market & Festival, Strawberry Festival, Symphony on the Prairie, (July) Brickyard 400, Circus City Festival, Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, Madison Regatta, (August) Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival, HOT ROD Power Tour, Indiana State Fair, IndyFringe Festival, Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Red Bull Indianapolis GP, (September) BBQ & BREWFEST, Bean Blossom Biker Fest, Boone Flavor Fest, Festival of the Turning Leaves, Fishers Blues Fest, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indy Jazz Fest, NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals, NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, Ohio Valley River Cats Catfish Tournament, Penrod Art Fair, Valpo Brewfest, Whitestown Brew Fest, (October) Circle City Classic, Covered Bridge Festival, MotoAmerica Superbikes at the Brickyard, Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, (November) Circle of Lights, Fantasy of Lights, Indy International Festival, Winter Lights Night Festival, (December) Santa Claus Christmas Celebration and Santa Claus Christmas Parade.

Door Prairie Barn, LaPorte, IN. Photo Credit: David Mark Pixabay

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