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. 

Destination Map
Top Experiences

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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