Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve – South Dakota
Located on 1,500 acres along the Missouri, the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve was donated to South Dakota by the granddaughters of the original homesteaders. Specially geared to children, nature trails and historic buildings show the history of the area.
Danish Alps - Nebraska
Named in honor of the Danish immigrants in the area, Danish Alps State Recreation Area is a small state park surrounding a water-shed lake created for flood and erosion control.
Leo set up for parks on the air event and I walked around the lake. I didn’t realize it was three miles around.
As my friend from Denmark says, there are no Alps in Denmark, but the naming of the park shows the Danish sense of humor.
LaMars, Iowa: Called the Ice Cream Capital of the World, LaMars is small in population and large in ice cream. The home of Blue Bunny, LaMars produces more ice cream per capita than any city in the world. Take that Brenham! Starting as a milk delivery company with “rented” cows and a delivery wagon, the company continues today under family management. The LaMars Visitor Center includes an ice cream store, a gift shop, and a movie theater showing the history of the company.
Like most towns, LaMars has decorated “icons” of their community scattered around town.
I seriously had ice cream and became a sundae.
And, you can’t go through Iowa and not see a pig house. Just like in east Texas with the chicken houses, in Iowa you see pig houses. Something has to be done with all that corn. By the way, Tyson Foods is the largest employer in the area.
Ponca State Park - Nebraska
Situated along the Missouri River bluffs in northeastern Nebraska, Ponca State Park contains a natural, non-dredged stretch of the Missouri River. The sculpture, Towers of Time, greets visitors. The sandstone-appearing towers represent the origins of life along the Missouri. One of Nebraska’s most visited state parks, there are a variety of cabins and camping areas with lots of recreational activities and programs.
Old Oak Tree
In 1964, a core sample was taken from the tree, aging it to 320 years old.
Towers of Time
This sculptural representation of three towers celebrates the origins of life, geological formations, and the mammals found in the region.
Missouri OverLook
Just a beautiful view of the unaltered Missouri.
Ponca State Park Nature Center
The Lodge includes a nature center with the story of the Missouri. Many paddle wheelers wrecked on the snags and sandbars. I loved the child-size paddle wheel boat.
Windmills
On the way to Ponca State Park, we noticed this windmill exhibit. We’ve never seen windmills that the wings “moved” when in use plus there were also traditional ones.
Markers
Of course, I had to stop and read the markers.
And then, there was the behemoth butterfly.
EXTRAS
You never know what you'll see around the city.
FINAL NOTE
As we leave Iowa, I must mention that we have been bombarded with presidential advertising. As soon as the TV comes on, there is some white male telling us they know how to make everything OK. Yuch, things to come.
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