Interstate 35 is a major highway located in the central United States. And if you ever find yourself nearby, you could make a road trip out of it! It spans all the way from Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota, with plenty of sights to see in between. If you do decide to road trip, make it memorable by adding these must-visit attractions to your itinerary in three Midwestern states.
Iowa
Field of Dreams movie set ©SCPhotog/ BigStock Photo
Start at East Village in Des Moines. It is a great place to get your fill of shopping, dining, history, and culture. And it isn’t far from the highway. The Capitol Building is located here, along with the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and Brenton Skating Plaza. From upscale restaurants to coffee shops and cocktail bars, you’ll find it all.
About two hours north of Mason City is The Music Man Square. It’s a 40,000-square foot museum dedicated to famous composer and Mason City native Meredith Willson. Guided tours of the museum and his neighboring childhood home are available. The attraction has an ice cream and gift shop.
The famed covered Bridges of Madison County can be found clustered around Winterset. You might know it from the movie with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. The town’s Welcome Center has a map to help you find your way around. Speaking of movies, if you’re a fan of the inspirational 1989 Kevin Costner drama (or just a baseball buff), you’ll want to pay a visit to the place where the Academy Award-nominated Field of Dreams was filmed.
Minnesota
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA © sainaniritu / BigStock Photo
From its historic downtown to its arts center and reptile and amphibian zoo, Owatonna is the perfect place to spend the day. The town even has a Village of Yesteryear that includes log cabins, a railroad station, general store, and other replicas of buildings past.
I-35 splits into East and West just south of Burnsville and comes back together near the town of Columbus. At the split, you can head on I-35W towards Bloomington (home of the Mall of America) and Minneapolis (which has a bustling downtown, plenty of breweries, and lots of arts and culture). I-35E takes you through St. Paul, where you can visit the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota Children’s Museum, and the Capitol Building.
The North Shore Scenic Drive in Duluth provides the perfect end to any trip and offers incredible views of Lake Superior.
Ready to see it all for yourself? Don’t forget to check out the best hotel deals in the area on our sister site, HotelCoupons.com.
