The First Loop (of three)

Activities are in no particular order, nor do they contain towns where friends live. This is just the first loop so not all states are listed. Stay tuned for the other loop activities when the time gets closer. Also, I may not be able to get to everything on this list, but WELCOME SUGGESTIONS.




Pennsylvania
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg, PA
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge, PA
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Philadelphia, PA
Steamtown National Historic Site
Scranton, PA
Hershey
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh
Lancaster / Amish Land and there is a house museum
Shadyside, downtown Pittsburgh


Ohio
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Put-in-Bay, OH
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Chillicothe, OH

Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, One Key Plaza, 751 Erieside Ave. (tel. 216/515-8420; www.rockhall.com),
Amish Culture Tours


Indiana
Santa Claus Indiana- museum and castle
Studebaker National Museum, 201 S. Chapin St. (tel. 574/235-9714; www.studebakermusuem.org). Also in town is the 38,000-square-foot South Bend Chocolate Company, 3300 Sample St. (tel. 800/301-4961; www.sbchocolate.com),
William Henry Harrison Mansion Museum, 3 W. Scott St. (tel. 812/886-0400; www.grouselandfoundation.org),


Illinois
Big Popeye- Chester
Hometown of Superman and Super Museum, Metropolis, Illinois
Mecca of Albino Squirrels, Olney, Illinois




Iowa
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Harper's Ferry, IA
Fans of Robert James Waller's novels should head to picturesque Winterset in Madison County, off U.S. 92 (tel. 515/462-1185; www.madisoncounty.com). Its five covered bridges date from the 1880s and are National Historic Landmarks. The best time to visit is October, when fall foliage is at its peak and the Covered Bridge Festival takes place. Also notable in Winterset is the birthplace of John Wayne, 216 S. 2nd St. (tel. 515/462-1044; www.johnwaynebirthplace.org). You can visit the four-room house in which the legendary actor was born; it's loaded with memorabilia and photos.

Dyersville: Field of Dreams


Nebraska
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Bayard, NE
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Omaha, NE
Carhenge, Alliance, Nebraska
Rowe Sanctuary (tel. 308/468-5282; www.rowesanctuary.org) and the Nebraska Bird Observatory at Crane Meadows (tel. 308/382-1820; www.cranemeadows.org) are the best places for bird-lovers to check out the snowy-white birds. For a living-history view of life on the prairie, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, 3133 W. Hwy. 34, Grand Island (tel. 308/385-5316; www.stuhrmuseum.org),

Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone, WY
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower, WY
Kemmerer: JC Penney Store No. 1 and JC Penney Museum
Fishing on the Snake River
Buffalo Bill Museum - Cody


Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Gunnison, CO
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant, CO
Denver Botanic Gardens (Denver, Colorado)
Lamar – gas station
Boulder
Vail
Rocky Mountain National Park -- perhaps taking a hike in the high country -- and crossing the Continental Divide on Trail Ridge Road before enjoying the sunset on Grand Lake.

Kansas
World Biggest Ball of Twine - Cawker City, Kansas
Tiny Church, Glen Elder, KS - 7 mi.
Geographical Center of the 48 States, Lebanon, KS - 23 mi.
Wichita and Hutchinson


Oklahoma
Guthrie
Cherokee• Directions: Located in Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation.
3 mi S of city off Hwy 62 on Willis Road Tahlequah, OK 74465 • Other
Contact: info@CherokeeHeritage.org
Fleetwood Ghost Town
National Banjo Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City

Arkansas
Arkansas Post National Memorial
Gillett, AR
Buffalo National River
Harrison, AR
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail
Little Rock, AR
Little Rock High School
Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park


Missouri
Fiorellas Jack Stack Barbecue, KC
Kansas City


Kentucky
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
Hodgenville, KY
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave, KY

Tennessee
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Oneida, TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Emert Street
Gatlinburg, TN
Memphis Botanic Garden (Memphis, Tennessee)
Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, knoxville
Checkout the Underground Sea!


Virginia
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Hardy, VA
Petersburg National Battlefield
Petersburg, VA
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Richmond, VA
Tangier Island
Lexington
Middleburg
Mount Vernon/Monticello
Chesapeake bay
Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown


West Virginia
Gauley River National Recreation Area
Glen Jean, WV
Rafting- Gauley River, New River, Summersville
Once a year BUNGEE JUMPING off the highest bridge in USA!
Beckley: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Berkeley Springs Historic State Park, Spa


Maryland/DC
Assateague Island National Seashore
Berlin, MD
Hampton National Historical Site
Towson, MD
Thomas Stone National Historic Site
Port Tobacco, MD
Baltimore
Annapolis
International Spy Museum, Washington, District of Columbia
Chevy Chase: World's Largest Rubber Band Ball (former)

Than home to better plan the second loop up North starting in Maine.