your favorite scenic spots, middle of the country, no coasts (HOA, college)

[TheBeagleLady]

Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton are all must-sees. That whole part of the country is just gorgeous. However, one of my favorite getaways is the Bighorn Mountain range in Wyoming. It's beautiful but not nearly as crowded as the National Parks.

[WRnative]

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore certainly are among the most beautiful locations in the Midwest.

If the middle of the country includes Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, the list is endless. Rocky Mountain NP, Yellowstone NP, Zion NP, Grand Canyon NP, Bryce Canyon NP are just a part of the list. E.g., Page, AZ, offers Horseshoe Bend, and Antelope and other slot canyons. Monument Valley certainly would be a top destination. Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon shouldn't be skipped.

This album highlights Michigan, but covers many other scenic highlights in the U.S.

Michigan: Photos

randomSPACE - Photos & Trip Reports

[dude1984]

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI;
Devil's Lake State Park, WI;
Mississippi Palisades State Park, IL;
Gas Station Jesus outside of Dubuque, IA (check out Roadside America Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions for more eccentric sites)...
And my favorite spot ever...Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO

[Ghengis]

World's Largest Ball of Twine Built By a Single Person, Darwin, MN

(from wiki)

[495neighbor]

Great recommendations, rep all around. I'm into the quirky stuff like the big ball of twine and Gas Station Jesus, glad posters are jumping in with those suggestions too.

[YIMBY]

Originally Posted by TheBeagleLady

Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton are all must-sees. That whole part of the country is just gorgeous. However, one of my favorite getaways is the Bighorn Mountain range in Wyoming. It's beautiful but not nearly as crowded as the National Parks.

Agreed.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Great recommendations, rep all around. I'm into the quirky stuff like the big ball of twine and Gas Station Jesus, glad posters are jumping in with those suggestions too.

Are you aware of this website?

Roadside America - Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions

[601halfdozen0theother]

You have to drive Highway 20 across Nebraska. Make sure you stop at the Fur Trade museum in Chadron. At Valentine veer up to Highway 12. Such a beautiful drive.

Coming or going from the Black Hills of SD, you really need to stop in Lemmon and see Petrified Wood Park and John Lopez' absolutely gorgeous sculptures. Seriously, these sculptures are stunning.

If you like accumulations of cool weird stuff, stop at Harold Warp's Pioneer Village in Minden, NE and Har-Ber Village near Grove, OK

When you visit the beautiful Driftless area at the corner of MN/IA/WI(make sure you go rafting on the Root River. On your way west to Nebraska, stop at the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, IA. Side trips in Iowa might include the Living History Farms in Urbandale, and the town of Pella, where the best cookies in the world are sold at Jaarsma bakery.

If you're up in MN going to the Boundary Waters, make sure to take the underground tour at Sudan Underground Mine State Park. And stare down a gigantic iron mine pit in Hibbing or anywhere near Virginia. Oh, and you have to go to the source of the Mississippi River near Bemidji, and admire Paul Bunyan and Babe nearby.

Even though I hate Arkansas (having lived there) I'm still going to recommend the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View. The Lodge there has has really nice rooms and the Folk Center has great performances of folk/gospel/Americana/and traditional country music.

My favorite place in Oklahoma is Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom.

There's lots of other fun places. I'll try to add more as I think of them.

[No Happy]

Yellowstone
Wisconsin driftless
Badlands

[Tyryztoll]

Ouachita and Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.