9 Best Prairie Towns For A Weekend Trip
The Midwest Prairie, America's breadbasket, highlights the beauty, abundance, and extraordinary promise of the land. Rivers, grasses, the rich smell of the soil, and the powerful storms migrating in from the west all create a natural environment unlike anywhere else in the country. You'll discover touches of the Old West, and it's easy to imagine yourself a ranch hand on a cattle drive. From life-sized boardgames to historic landmarks, architectural treasures, and natural wonders, there is so much to explore in these Prairie towns a weekend may not be long enough.
Macomb, Illinois
Affectionally known as 'Unforgettable Forgottonia,' Macomb is a perfect road trip destination between Chicago and St. Louis. The heartbeat of this easily walkable town is Macomb Historic Courthouse Square, with a wide range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. You can even see where Abraham Lincoln made an address in 1858 at the McDonough County Courthouse for which the square is named. One of the most remarkable attractions is the Macomb Murals Project. Beginning with The Old Dairy Mural, the project was designed to inspire other community groups and organizations to create murals of their own. Since 2018, at least one new mural has been unveiled each year in downtown Macomb.
Forget Atlantic City, Macomb is the real deal when it comes to games. Macombopoly is a larger-than-life-sized Monopoly adventure and tribute to Elizabeth Magie-Phillips, the creator of Monopoly and a Macomb native. This once-in-a-lifetime experience combines classic gameplay with cutting-edge technology as a custom app brings the game to life, allowing you to interact with its historical content. The 170,000 square foot board features enormous game pieces, including giant spinning dice and a Lincoln hat.
Mason City, Iowa
This north Iowa town, inspiration for Meredith Willson's The Music Man, is surprisingly notable and a haven for photographers, architects, musical theater buffs, American history enthusiasts, and fans of public art. While a weekend will give you a taste, there's enough to do in Mason City for a week, if not more.
Start by visiting Music Man Square, a tribute museum to Willson and his famous Broaday show, then tour Willson's childhood home, located right behind Music Man Square. The MacNider Art Museum houses the most extensive collection of native son Bil Baird's puppets anywhere in the world, including the famous "Goat Herd" marionettes featured in The Sound of Music.
The nationally recognized Rock Glen-Rock Crest Historic District is the world's largest collection of Prairie School Architecture in a natural setting. The crown jewel of Mason City's architectural scene, however, is the Park Inn Hotel, the only remaining hotel in the world designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Take a tour or spend the night. Either way, it's a visit you won't soon forget.
Nauvoo, Illinois
One of the most unusual and little-known prairie towns is the Mississippi community of Nauvoo, Illinois. Many historic sites in Nauvoo are owned and run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, most of which are open to the public. They feature demonstrations, displays, as well as self-guided tours and wagon rides, all free of charge. Visiting the temple is one reason many visit Nauvoo. Although only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a current temple recommend are permitted inside, everyone is welcome to walk the historical grounds and experience the tranquility they bring.
The Visitor's Center is found at 290 North Main Street. Here you'll find maps and missionaries to answer questions and help plan your day. Next door is the old Pioneer town. Spend a day or more exploring all the old homes, history, and beauty. In terms of lodging options, few small towns offer such a diverse range. From Victorian inns like the Hotel Nauvoo to the more rustic Nauvoo Log Cabins, there is something for everyone.
Galena, Illinois
One of the best things about a trip to this part of Illinois is the variety. If you're in an outdoor mood, take advantage of the many water activities available right on Galena River, a tributary of the mighty Mississippi. Play a round of golf or spend a night Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa. You can even go up in a hot air balloon with Galena On The Fly. The town is home to the Great Galena Balloon Festival and Race, an annual event that brings pilots, spectators, and photographers from around the country and the world.
Foodies will enjoy the Historic Galena Food Tour. A local guide will take you to 6 different restaurants. Enjoy a curated selection of food, beverages, and stories from the region. When you are fully satiated, don't forget to browse the many boutiques and shops featuring local artists, or walk it off by exploring the scenic beauty of Apple River Canyon State Park.
Hermann, Missouri
The German town of Hermann will transport you to a quintessential Bavarian experience. You may be surprised to note that this area of the Missouri River was once one of the world's largest wine-producing regions. Although they no longer hold this claim to fame, much of that heritage remains within their numerous wineries and distilleries along the Hermann Wine Trail in Missouri Wine Country.
Like all good German towns, Hermann boasts festivals throughout the year. In August, car enthusiasts will want to catch the Blue Oval Rally, featuring Ford vehicles from Model A's to Mustangs. Hermann also hosts the Harvest Festival, the Wine and Jazz Festival, SmokeFest, and many other events to bring the community together. Visually, Hermann looks like a storybook town, with a surprising number of museums showcasing everything from whiskey and wine to cabooses and antique firefighting equipment. If you get pecking while exploring the town, grab a bite from the deli at Hermann Wurst Haus and a German-style pilsner or Hefeweizen from Tin Mill Brewery. Prost!
Ogallala, Nebraska
Strap on your spurs and giddy-up to Ogallala, the famous Old West cowtown located along the Texas Trail. Ogallala's history as a bustling railhead and cattle drive destination lends it a unique character. Its vibrant Front Street includes a Western-themed museum, a restaurant, and a summer stock theatre. Enjoy The Crystal Palace Saloon's Cowboy Revue, Nebraska's longest-running summer theater. It's a musical tribute to cowboy culture and the wild, wild west. For a much less raucous look at history, head to the Petrified Wood Gallery, where you'll find art made from petrified wood and fossils crafted by local artists, who are also twin brothers.
For an epic Ogallala adventure, your entire family will enjoy the Ogallala Outlaws' Treasure Trek interactive, self-directed scavenger hunt. Have fun solving puzzles and challenges while exploring historic landmarks. Ogallala's location near Lake McConaughy (locals call it Big Mac) and Lake Ogallala makes it a popular spot for recreation, including fishing, boating, and swimming.
Abilene, Kansas
Nowhere near as big as the Texas city with which it shares a name, Abilene, Kansas, is a town steeped in history. During the Old West era, it served as the end of the famed Chisholm Trail. Settled in 1858, it quickly became a major cattle shipping point, drawing cowboys and cattle drivers in droves. Abilene's historic and celebrity locals include Wild Bill Hickok, town marshal for a year, and Dwight D Eisenhower. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library Historical Site presents the life and legacy of the 34th U.S. President, with exhibits on his military career, presidency, and personal artifacts, set amidst tranquil grounds featuring a meditation chapel.
The Abilene and Smokey Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad and museum dedicated to providing entertainment and preserving education. You can take a ride and hear stories about how the Rock Island and other railroads once provided dependable transportation services that were the lifeline of a burgeoning regional agribusiness economy. Choose your trip and board the train at Abilene's historic Rock Island Depot in Old Abilene Town to ride in antique passenger and freight cars. Cap it all off with a meal at Legacy Kansas and a night at Abilene's Victorian Inn.
Dodge City, Kansas
Howdy, pardner! Get into Dodge City, Kansas, nicknamed 'Queen of the Cowtowns.' The name brings to mind images of the great lawmen and scoundrels of the West, saloons and shootouts, and wide-open prairies. Whether experiencing the annual Longhorn Cattle Drive or zipping down a waterslide at the Long Branch Lagoon Water Park, an adventure is waiting for you.
The town's past is preserved in the Boot Hill Museum, which was built on the site of Boot Hill Cemetery. Sip on sarsaparilla at the Long Branch Saloon and try some homemade fudge in the Rath & Co. General Store before you explore the museum. In summer, you can catch exciting gunfight reenactments and variety shows, as well as children's events, including can-can dance and cowboy lessons. At the Old West Photo Parlor, everyone will get a kick out of dressing up as prairie women, gunslingers, saloon girls, and gamblers. You'll leave with a 1800s-style portrait of your western alter ego.
For the real deal, the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo hosts various events throughout the year, showcasing the talents of cowboys and cowgirls. It's a great opportunity to see a true rodeo with competitions in bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, and calf roping.
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a fun place to forget your modern-day worries and unplug for a few days. For a cozy weekend, retreat to one of the cabins at Oakland Mills Park. They are just rustic enough without sacrificing ammenities such as electricity and air-conditioning. Speaking of rustic, the Old Threshers Heritage Museum provides a variety of exhibits, including traction steam engines, a 1915 family farmhouse, farm implements, and a historic mill.
Discover the rarely told story of the Harlan-Lincoln House. Robert Todd Lincoln married Mary Harlan in 1868, and the home houses collections from the Harlan family and the Abraham Lincoln family. Some of the memorabilia contained in the home includes fabric from the lapel of the coat President Lincoln was wearing the night of his assassination, as well as one of the mourning veils worn by Mary Todd Lincoln. The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana displays the a different side of history. Here you can see a vast collection of early-theatre props and costumes, as well as as painted curtains, playbills, and an extensive research library.
The center of the United States holds the history of the country's great surge westward. Today's black tops and county roads are reminiscent of the dusty trails that once crisscrossed the prairie. It's not hard to imagine the hardships and courage it took to make that journey, especially with towns and attractions dedicated to keeping the spirit alive. Take the road less traveled and head off of the highway to see the land that was made for you and me.
