10-Day Road Trip: Discovering the Hidden Gems of the Midwest
Last year, I embarked on a Midwest road trip (Pittsburgh to Memphis), but honestly, it was a bit disappointing. The whole journey felt "meh," except for the lively Nashville downtown.
❤️ However, my longing for Chicago and Kansas City led me to plan another trip this year. And guess what? It turned out to be quite delightful! Truly, lowering expectations for a trip can double the joy.
The route map is in the image, and the journey lasted 10.5 days:
🚗 San Francisco ✈️ Kansas City (rented a car), drove to Chicago (returned the car) ✈️
Here are my treasure trove of insights 👇
1️⃣ Kansas City: Seeing the Water-Moon Guanyin and Guangsheng Temple murals made my visit complete 🙏. I was amazed that such an incredible museum is free!
Not many people mention the Truman Presidential Library near Kansas City. Visiting it gave me a glimpse into his life, and I truly understood what it means to be "destined for greatness." While many strive to become president, some are simply handed the throne. When fortune strikes, there's no stopping it.
2️⃣ Lincoln: The whole city feels like a college town—small but cozy. The Haymarket District's red-brick buildings exude a retro industrial vibe. Find a café or restaurant to sit in, and you'll feel utterly relaxed.
3️⃣ Des Moines: Its State Capitol building left me in awe ✨. While the city itself isn't particularly distinctive, the Capitol's interior is stunning, blending architectural styles from France, Italy, and New York across different eras. It's also home to one of the largest gilded domes in the U.S. If you have time, join the free guided tour.
4️⃣ Dubuque: A hidden gem along the Mississippi River 💛. This tiny town, almost invisible on the map, boasts streets lined with European-style old buildings and rows of red-brick factories. The city tells stories of its 19th-century industrial prosperity. It's one of those places that, despite its decline, retains a charming allure. A 2-3 hour city walk is just perfect 🚶♀️.
5️⃣ Madison: Studying here must be a dream 🥹. The campus is right by a stunning lake. We visited during the start of the school year, and the city was brimming with youthful energy and vibrancy! The State Capitol building, illuminated at night, is truly elegant. As night falls, it resembles a small castle 🏰.
6️⃣ Lastly, the Midwest countryside: Windows desktop wallpaper brought to life 🌽. Endless cornfields stretch out under skies adorned with fluffy cotton candy clouds. Gazing at them, I couldn't help but think of the Windows desktop background 😂🚗💨.
That's the beauty of travel—you never know what surprises await. So, let go of expectations and embrace the unknown 🥳.