5-Week Road Trip

With our adult kids both married, no pets at home, and a new car .... it was time for a road trip. This 6,000-mile, 20-state journey included 16 overnight stops in small towns and historic cities, where we slept in roadside hotels, unique short-term rentals, and a few more luxurious properties. 

We walked city streets, trekked mountain trails and relished truly great meals. We ate a lot of ice cream. We also made our share of wrong turns, experienced "a few" arguments, and scraped countless bugs off the windshield. 

This diary is not a checklist of the most popular, pricey and often over-rated “must see” attractions along our travel route. While we enjoyed a few of those hot spots, we instead focused on the out-of-the-way, local and unique places well worth supporting and celebrating.

In all of this, I saw God's hand at work in the world He created and in the wonderfully varied group of people who call our country "home."

  • 1: Madison, WI

    Madison, with its five lakes and fantastic locally-sourced food, made a perfect first destination as we headed across the Upper Midwest.

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  • 2: Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green, WI

    Book early for a tour of Taliesan, Wright’s former home and studio. Our favorite local Wright design was this nearby bank, still in use.

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  • 3: Winona, MN and the Upper Mississippi Valley

    Lovely views and a fun mom-and-pop river cruise made this detour off the interstate worthwhile.

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  • 4: Sioux Falls, SD

    The Sioux Falls are found in the middle of this historic city that feels like a small town. More importantly, we found the best biscuits and gravy of the trip.

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  • 5: Rapid City and Western SD

    This jumping off point for Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills has a lovely historic downtown and an unexpectedly diverse food scene.

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  • 6: Custer State Park and the Black Hills

    We arrived very early and were rewarded by close encounters with the bison that roam freely and a traffic-free drive on the famous Needles Highway.

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  • 7: Badlands National Park

    Driving the amazing park loop road before the crowds arrived was key to enjoying the lunar atmosphere and dramatic vistas.

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  • 8: Eastern WY

    A few nights in Buffalo and Cheyenne provided a restful view of this area’s history as the gateway to the American West.

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  • 9: Buena Vista, CO

    Lodging in the heart of this riverside mountain town allows foot access to a wonderful trail system and a nice variety of food and shops.

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  • 10: Leadville, CO

    Once a cosmopolitan and prosperous “Wild West” mining town, Leadville still attracts those seeking adventure.

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  • 11: Santa Fe, NM

    Santa Fe’s arts, architecture and history, combined with the amazing Mexican-influenced food scene, was worth a longer visit.

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  • 12: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX

    At this second-largest canyon system in the US, we found not only great views and a wonderful day hike, but a lot of Texas pride.

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  • 13: Oklahoma City, OK

    We enjoyed rest, good food, and a fun transit system in this industrial and agricultural town.

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  • 14: Eureka Springs, AR

    This historic spa town was filled with shops, restaurants and a peaceful contemporary chapel in the woods.

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  • 15: Memphis, TN

    We skipped Beale Street and Graceland (honest) and instead considered the civil rights and soul music heritage of this city through two great museums, while enjoying local food and a swim.

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  • 16: Knoxville, TN

    A lively downtown (with an array of ice cream parlors) and close proximity to the Museum of Appalachia made this Southern city a charmer.

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  • 17: Blue Ridge Mountains, VA

    Our drive through this scenic countryside featured a black bear siting, historic Lexington, and a unique farmhouse stay.

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  • 18: Harrisburg, PA

    The sunset over the Susquehanna River, seen from our lovely bed and breakfast, was the perfect way to end our journey.

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  • Destination Map

    This simple map shows our overnight stops and jumping-off points.

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  • Top Experiences

    On a trip with so many amazing experiences, these spots still stand out.

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