Central Iowa from Behind the Wheel
by KATE MADIGAN
With films like ��The Bridges of Madison County,�� ��The Field of Dreams,�� and even ��Sleeping with the Enemy,�� Iowa has been romanticized by Hollywood time and again. But the real Iowa is much more than the backdrop in a blockbuster movie �C it��s charming and exciting �C and it makes for a great weekend road trip!
If you��d like to experience Des Moines and Central Iowa for yourself, take a page from my travel journal and discover the charms of this place that��s both steeped in Americana and uniquely cosmopolitan.
Friday night: Rolling down the windows and opening the sunroof of my Buick Lucerne, I hit the road!
My first stop�� First Fridays Artwalk in Fairfeld. This monthly Central Iowa event draws crowds from all over the Midwest �C and with dozens of galleries representing many untold artists, plus musicians playing gigs throughout downtown �C it��s the perfect place to start the weekend.
After the evening wound down, I hopped back in my Buick and headed to Ottumwa (on the way to Des Moines), where I stopped for the night at a charming bed and breakfast.
Saturday: After wandering around downtown and grabbing a bite to eat at the world-famous Canteen in the Alley restaurant (where Richard Nixon and a host of other celebrities and politicians have noshed on delicious loose-meat sandwiches), I drove my Buick down the meandering roads from Ottumwa to Des Moines.
Once in the city, I couldn��t pass up the chance to do a little more gallery hopping in Central Iowa. So I spent the afternoon bouncing from one amazing place to the next. Some stops on my list included:
?The Des Moines Art Center ?Gortz Haus Gallery ?Hoyt Sherman Place ?Kavanaugh Art Gallery ?Olson-Larsen Galleries
After a day of exploring the best arts scene in the state, I had finally had my fill (and a few stunning purchases I was able to fit into the trunk of my Buick). So I checked into my room at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, then headed down to the Forty Three for a cocktail and some fantastic French brasserie fare.
Fuled up and ready to go, the night was spent chatting with friends new and old at Star Bar, and listening to the best Blues in the city until the early morning hours at Blues on Grand.
Sunday: A few strong cups of coffee and a truly superb chocolate croissant at Gateway Market later, I bade Des Moines and the rest of Central Iowa farewell and hit the highway once again.
Even if art isn��t your thing, Central Iowa (and Des Moines in particular) are worth your time. There��s so much happening �C from clubs to sports, art to music �C in Iowa, there really is something for everyone.
About the Author: Kate Madigan is a master baker who grew up in the heart of Des Moines and currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her college professor husband. And while her beloved bakery keeps her in The Twin Cities most weekends, her Buick Lucerne gives her the freedom to travel to her favorite places throughout Central Iowa. For more information about the Buick Lucerne, visit www.iowabuick.com.
