7 Flyover State Experiences Worth Landing For

The Midwest has earned the collective nickname of “flyover states” for a reason – the closest most residents of the country’s two coasts ever get to the states is peering out a porthole from 30,000 feet as they fly to either coast. However, as you’ll see below, perhaps some of the events and destinations in the flyover states will be worth putting down the Gulfstream for a few hours while jetting your way to New York. It’s fashionable to be a few hours late in the Big Apple, anyway.

The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival; Okemah, Oklahoma. While the words “folk festival” may invoke visions of campfires, Cum-by-ah and hairy armpits, this ain’t that kind of party. Woodrow Wilson Guthrie was a pioneer of this country’s modern folk music and Oklahoma native. His tiny hometown of Okemah becomes host to an annual folk festival in his honor bringing all walks of life together to pay musical respects to Woody. Ok, you may see your fair dose of hairy pits and hemp, but where else can you see a dreadlocked hippie grooving next to a cowboy in a pair of wranglers and a Stetson?

Dodge City, Kansas. Prior to the arrival of rough and tumble lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, Dodge City was one of the roughest towns in the old west. The Boot Hill Museum and Front Street have been reconstructed to represent Dodge City in 1876. While there you can see a collection of over 200 original guns, enjoy a chuckwagon dinner or watch a high noon recreation of an 1878 showdown between the Boot Hill Gunfighters. I’m your Huckleberry.

Jewel Cave, South Dakota. 54 miles outside of Rapid City, South Dakota is the 142 mile cave complex making Jewel Cave the second longest cave in the world. With daily scenic tours and lantern and spelunking tours during the summer, this is just the place to get your dark, claustrophobic place fix.

West Yellowstone, Montana. Yellowstone is not only the world’s first national park, it is also the largest national park in the United States. With over 2.2 million acres of geysers, waterfalls, lakes, forests and wildlife, Yellowstone is the finest example of this nation’s wildlife and scenery. You can see grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk and still make it back to Old Faithful in time to see him blow.

Cody, Wyoming. Cody is home to the annual Cody Stampede Rodeo & Cody Nite Rodeo. If watching a 2,000 pound bull try to launch a cowboy into the second deck wasn’t enough, you can always catch one of the parades or clown shows. While in Cody, be sure to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center for a glimpse at some of the best wild west museums in the country.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While there are a number of great things to do in Wisconsin – packing meat and ice fishing come to mind – the city of Milwaukee didn’t earn the name “Cream City” for no reason. No, the name has nothing to do with yacht parties on lake Michigan, the source of the nickname is that frothy beverage that makes men swoon – beer. Perhaps the best tour in this mecca of beer is that offered by the Miller Brewing Company. The original Miller brewery dates back to 1855 and the free tour consists of an hour during which you will learn about the history of the brewery and beer making, not to mention sample some of Miller’s finest.

Hastings, Nebraska. Hastings was the home to chemist Edwin E. Perkins, whose lesser-known inventions include a gasoline additive and a fruity syrup known as “Fruit Smack.” In 1927, Mr. Perkins hit upon something you may be a bit more familiar with – Kool-Aid. Hastings now hosts the “Kool-Aid: Discover the Dream” exhibit interactively detailing all that is Kool-Aid. Included in the exhibit is the original Kool-Aid Man costume that you likely woke up to on Saturday mornings as a child. OH YEAH!

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