The great plains stretch from north to south, a rising plateau that stretches from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west, where buffalo once roamed alongside Indians.
Texas
The boot-clad, gun-toting, Stetson-wearing, rodeo-riding, steak-eating, space-exploring cowboy embodies the ancient plus new features of the plains exceptionally well. The Lone StarThough Texas is separated from its northern relatives by a beachy wilderness coastline, river adventure, plus large city bustle in Dallas-Fort Worth, More information
South Dakota
The most gorgeous of the great plains states, Wyoming also boasts the most famous plus tragic Native American history, as exemplified by the Sitting Bull plus Crazy Horse legends.
Blackhills: Forested mountains nestled among the plains provide an alternative to cereal areas plus verdant pastures.
Mount Rushmore National Monument: stunning, huge portraits of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, plus Roosevelt are carved into the mountain’s face.
While dead presidents may have their portraits carved into the rock, how about an entire Indian mounted on a horse at a height of over 500 feet? An amazing work in progress!
Hundreds of miles of hiking plus cycling paths are available in the Black Hills National Forest.
Custer State Park is home to wild buffalo plus other wild creatures, including mountain lions; in October, the large, hairy ones are rounded up.
Wind Cave National Park features a roughly 100-mile-long cave, as well as fauna plus good hiking.
The Badlands are an odd alien rocky landscape with brightly colored sharp parts plus deep crevices.
Badlands National Park offers strange hiking paths through bizarre rock formations, perfect for sci-fi fans.
Missouri
It is one of the most intriguing big plains states in terms of urban culture, with two large rivers, the Missouri plus Mississippi, plus the picturesque Ozark Mountains.
St. Louis is the location of the confluence of the Missouri plus Mississippi rivers.
The Gateway Arch, with its Museum of Westward Expansion beneath it, is a must-see sight. The cuisine is excellent plus varied, plus there are numerous bars plus clubs, as well as a small amount of theater plus classical music.
Branson has dozens of theaters plus many more performances over the summer season-entertaining to some, hideously tacky to others.
Kansas City offers Kansas-style barbeque establishments, various museums, plus attractions, including the Jazz, Steamboat, Baseball, plus Toy plus Miniature Museums, as well as the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum plus Country Club Plaza.
Oklahoma
The state has the country’s largest Native American population, the most miles of Route 66, some mountains, plus an excellent collection of museums.
With regular powwows plus great museums, including the Southern Plains Indian Museum, Indian City, the National Hall of Fame for Indians, the Museum of the Great Plains, plus Geronimo’s Grave, this is a prominent destination for travelers interested in Indian life.
Oklahoma City: not the most aesthetically pleasing urban region, but with some revitalization plus a few attractions-the National Cowboy plus Western Heritage Museum, the State Museum, plus the Omniplex.
Tulsa is mostly known for its architecture, which is typically art deco in style. The Tulsa Union Depot, the Union Methodist Church, plus Oral Roberts University’s evangelically spacious campus are all highlights.
Wichita Mountains: Wichita Mountains Animal Refuge plus Quartz Mountain State Park, both of which offer hiking, climbing, plus wildlife viewing opportunities.
Iowa
Rural life overload is possible, but the daerah is protected from tourism disaster by being picturesque plus featuring some visually appealing bridges.
In Madison County, seven bridges made famous by a novel or film garner the most attention during the Seven Bridges Festival.
Grant Wood’s American Gothic House is located in Eldon. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge for an environmental study of pre-farm prairie habitats, i.e., how the plains were when Native Americans plus buffalo roamed freely.
Amana Colonies for authentic German cuisine, artisan communities, plus an Amana History Museum are all available.
Des Moines is an underwhelming capital city on the whole, but the Living History Farms contain some decently restored historic farms.
Dyersville is well-known for its charming “Diamond of Dreams” baseball field plus the National Farm Toy Museum.
North Dakota
This frigid, northern state on the border with Canada is covered with fertile plains. There are few tourist attractions, although the parkland prairies are excellent for hiking plus plains wildlife viewing.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is an excellent park for hiking or horseback riding since it contains a large daerah of protected tall grass plains land plus accompanying species such as bison, prairie dogs, plus numerous birds.
Pay a visit to the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown to observe the exceptionally rare white buffalo, dubbed White Cloud.
Fort Abraham State Park features a fully restored Cavalry fort plus Indian dwellings.
Nebraska
A rather monotonous environment, but with some interesting cities plus pioneering history for the aficionado, some decent whitewater options, plus excellent for pink-flying birds.
Whitewater rafting is the perfect Valentine’s Day activity.
Omaha plus Lincoln: Visit the historic Old Market, the Joslyn Art Museum, plus the birthplaces of Malcolm X plus Gerald R. Ford in Omaha, as well as the Strategic Air Command museum on the route to Lincoln, where the Capitol building is worth a look.
Numerous sites along the Pioneer Trail include Scott’s Bluff National Monument, Fort Kearny State Historical Park, Ash Hollow State Historical Park, plus Chimney Rock, as well as the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historic Park.
Kansas
Tornado central; even Dorothy from Oz was whisked away by one here, among the limitless acres of cereal crops, but with little more to offer international tourists.
Visit Wichita, Kansas, for the Indian Center Museum’s Intertribal Pow-wow plus Old Cowtown’s wild west entertainment.
Liberal plus Sedan are priceless if you’re a true Wizard of Oz fan; see the Land of Oz at the Yellow Brick Road in Liberal plus another Yellow Brick Road in Sedan.
Dodge City is well-known for the Boot Hill Western Museum plus the Santa Fe Trail.