After spending much of the summer of 2023 in East Tennessee, Reedi and I planned a round about way to travel back home to Louisiana. Trying to knock a few states off of our 50-by-50 bucket list, we decided on a road trip through the Midwest that would include Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa (new), Wisconsin, Minnesota (new for Reedi), North Dakota (new), South Dakota (new), Nebraska (new), Kansas (new for Robert), Oklahoma (new for Reedi), Arkansas, Mississippi, and back home to Louisiana. After this trip, we have only 8 states remaining on our 50-by-50 and less than three years to make it!
One of the first stops on our trip was to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) is a hidden gem in the heart of Kentucky and Tennessee. With over 300 miles of trails, two lakes, and plenty of wildlife, it’s the perfect place to spend a day outdoors.I successfully parallel parked Nigel in St. Louis. Small victories!Overlooking the city of St. Louis from the 630-foot-tall Gateway ArchA view of the arch from the park belowWe camped at Hermman City Park in Hermann, Mo. It wasn’t much, but it was cheap and it had showers.Starting our day at the Hermann Riverfront. There’s a lot of history in those waters. We spent the afternoon in Iowa searching for fossils in Devonian Fossil Gorge.Sometimes, the most memorable dining experiences arise from unexpected encounters. A humble roadside diner might surprise with its mouthwatering home-cooked meals, while a quirky café could delight with its innovative fusion cuisine. Reedi and I always try to find that little hidden gym. On this trip, Edith Lucielle’s Bait Shack & Wing Depot in Cedar Rapids, IA, did the trick for us.We woke up to a cold, foggy morning in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.A view of Nigel overlooking the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Old Settler’s Overlook in Genoa, WI.Our trip to Minneapolis included a stop at the Mall of America.We stealth camped in the the parking lot of an Embassy Suites just outside Minneapolis, MN. Of all of the boondocking spots that we do, we like hotel parking lots the most as they are generally quiet and feel safe.No trip to Fargo, ND, is complete without a stop at the famous wood chipper from the movie Fargo.Lilo enjoying the view in Nebraska!
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Remember, Puerto Rico is stateish.