Iowa

Iowa is best known for its flat, sprawling farmland, which seems to stretch out endlessly in all directions. In fact, the state's land is filled with extremely fertile soil and contains about one quarter of the best farmland in America. The gentle terrain seems to have influenced both history and culture throughout Iowa, a quiet region lacking large cities or historical turmoil. Even its largest city, Des Moines, is not exactly a crowded, bustling destination. For the most part, you'll find average small-town American villages and culture in Iowa, which makes it a great place to go to get away from the noise and business of urban life.

Des Moines is the business center of Iowa, which for many years has been the insurance capital of American agriculture. Not surprisingly, agricultural insurance does not create many tourist attractions. The Des Moines Art Center has a fine collection, though, and the downtown region is filled with interesting modern architecture. Outside the city, nearby Winterset is famous as the birthplace of movie legend John Wayne, and you can visit his memorabilia-filled house there. The city is also known as the setting of the wildly popular novel "The Bridges of Madison County," which also became a popular film. The six 19th century wooden covered bridges featured in the novel and film are in the area, and you can walk across every one of them. Visitors can also visit the set where the film was made.

The other leading tourist attraction in Iowa is the Amana Colonies, seven villages founded in 1855 by German religious communities. Though not linked with the more famous Amish or Mennonites, the members believe in a simple, collective lifestyle, which they still lead today. A small museum in the area celebrates their history, and you can get a glimpse of their distinctive heritage by wandering through their villages.