As part of our “Slice of Americana Series” every Saturday in July we’re sharing fascinating links to some great bloggers who write about their lives and adventures in the USA. Last weekend we traveled into The West. This week we’re featuring The Heartland.
1. INDIANA
I was born in Indiana and always thought we Hoosiers had exclusive rights to good old St. Nick – you know, the Jolly Fat Man. Juliann at Browsing the Atlas explains why.
2. ILLINOIS
If you love architecture the way we do, then head on over to Virginia’s 23 Buildings You Shouldn’t Miss in Chicago.
3. IOWA
In the summer there’s nothing more All-American that baseball. Megan at Olio in Iowa does something I’ve always wanted to do. She visited “Field of Dreams” (Remember the movie with Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones?).
4. KANSAS
There are few things more American than a State Fair. From butter carvings to wheat fountains, Catherine shares 100 Years of the Kansas State Fair.
5. OKLAHOMA
Jeff at Planet Bell takes a detour through western Oklahoma.
6. NEBRASKA
Peggy at Where to Next? says you can get all things cowboy in Nebraska … with great photos to prove it!
7. ARKANSAS
Addie at old world new girl loves Arkansas and introduces us to some of its treasures.
8. SOUTH DAKOTA
Tara at Snapshots and Sojourns gives us 10 great reasons to visit South Dakota.
9. TEXAS
Lulu gives a wonderful answer to the question, “How will you know you’re in Texas?”
10. WISCONSIN
Tosh at The Other Fork in the Road has written a smile-inducing love letter to Wisconsin.
Stay tuned for more from The Heartland this coming week.
Have a great weekend!
Terri
Last Updated September 5, 2023
A LITTLE LAGNIAPPE (something extra) …
Because July is such a hot month in the States, I thought a little something to cool you off might help. Join Nicole at THIRDEYEMOM as she explains the art of surviving a Minnesota winter.
Photo Credits: 1. Terry Shuck via Wikimedia Commons 2. rachjose 3. EricPruis
GALLIVANCE 
I found some great new blogs to follow! I am loving this series!
Thanks Laura! It was really fun to pull together – who knew it would be such a challenge! Every state needs a blog like yours to really highlight its attributes. Maybe an idea for when you hit the road … 🙂 ~Terri
I’ve thought of that. I looked up almost every state as “**in photos.com” and all are available except USAinPhotos.com
Sounds like a plan to me. Think of all the fun you and Toad will have. 🙂 ~T
I hope your readers enjoy glimpsing a slice of Texas. Thank you for including it in your series.
You’re welcome Lulu. I just loved your post, and the “Husband Day Care” sign totally cracked me up! 🙂 And the belted galloways – growing up we always called them our “Oreo Cows.” ~Terri
Loving this series. So many great bloggers out there, and thanks to you I’m finding some of them!!
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying it Rusha! In addition to all your great traveling, you do such a wonderful job of highlighting what’s going on in your neck of the woods, so I set out to find some more “Rushas.” 🙂 ~Terri
Haven’t you been busy! New world to travel by armchair tourist. 😀 Thank YOU.
You’re welcome Tess. I wanted to feature every state in the U.S. and it was such fun discovering people who write about their home state or favorite place they visited. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Terri
You make me smile. How thoughtful and thanks again. 🙂
Forgot to mention that stone sculpture is unbelievable.
Isn’t he cool! He’s a statue of Chief Leatherlips in Dublin, Ohio. Here’s a link to the post James wrote about him. 🙂 ~Terri
https://gallivance.net/2013/08/12/chief-leatherlips-a-voice-of-reason-not-heeded/
Thanks for the link. I enjoyed the read.
You have really captured the essence of the heartland. I love state fairs, South Dakota, and everything that makes me homesick when I’m away. Great series! Thanks for including me.
Totally my pleasure Juliann. I just love the way you write. 🙂 And since you know that Indiana is near and dear to my Hoosier heart, your post makes me smile. Who can resist Santa Claus? ~Terri
Such a great series Terri. I can’t stand to look at the snowman though. Sorry Nicole. Here in Canada we are savouring our few months of snowless bliss.
Thanks so much Sue! I absolutely understand that you’re relishing your beautiful Canadian summer, but from sweltering Georgia, that snowman is looking downright refreshing! 🙂 ~Terri
Perspective is an amazing thing isn’t it Terri? 🙂
Nice idea! I only know Virginia and I can’t promise to make time to visit any of the others. Somebody keeps stealing it when I’m not looking 🙂
Happy days, you two!
Many thanks Jo. We’ve lived in Virginia – twice.! 🙂 The first time we were working in Washington DC, and the second time we were in Richmond. It’s a beautiful state. So what area were you visiting? ~Terri
I’m laughing, Terri 🙂 Virginia as in one of the ladies whose blogs you featured.
Too funny Jo!!! I guess I had my head in the clouds … duh! 🙂 Virginia Duran’s blog is fabulous – I love her architecture guides. ~Terri
SO detailed! The nearest I’ve been to the place is via Cathy Dutchak’s blog Nomad Interrupted, and she’s off to China soon. I can’t keep up 🙂
Cathy and I were talking and she knows our old neighborhood in Richmond (The Fan). She does a beautiful job of blogging about wonderful places in Virginia. Is she going to China for business or pleasure? ~T
Working for 9/10 months, from September. No decent job prospects locally so she’s off again. 🙂
I hope she has a great experience in China. I’m sure she’s a wonderful teacher. 🙂
Have you guys run across http://andreareadsamerica.com yet? She’s doing an American Vignette series–might be a nice crossover opportunity for you both. Love the ideas, all of them.
Thank you Dina. I just took a look at Andrea’s site and it’s wonderful. I love the approach she’s taking. Thanks for letting me know about it. Have you submitted anything? ~Terri
Fantastic! Loving this series and actually it is ironic as MN has been unseasonably cool this summer but Monday it will hit 95! I will be rereading my post on winter then to cool off! 🙂
Wow Nicole! 95!!!! I didn’t think it ever got that hot up there. Sounds like we sent some Georgia weather your way. Your winter post is wonderful – just the breath of cool air we needed. 🙂 ~Terri
Yes believe it or not Minnesota is the land of extremes…..hot and cold! We get it all here! It even gets into the 100s in summer. 🙂
It’s hot in England too but I’m shivering now after seeing your snowman. Great post!
Thanks Carol. I remember how hot it can get in England – I was always so surprised. But at least you know in September it will start cooling off. For us here in Georgia, we won’t get a whiff of cool air until late October. ~Terri
I love this series! What a great way to highlight the work of others. I have found some great blogs to follow, thank you!
So glad that you’re enjoying the series Martha. There are so many talented bloggers out there, so it’s a joy to connect with all these new folks. ~Terri
Great post, loved it!
Thank you Lucia. It’s been such fun to discover all these great blogs. ~Terri
Thanks for linking to my site! I really enjoyed these links, especially the Kansas, Texas and South Dakota links. I want to visit South Dakota now.
You’re welcome Jeff – that post was great! We spent a lot of time camping in South Dakota a few summers ago and it’s everything that Tara says. We’ve also been there in winter and it’s gorgeous. I think you’d like it. ~Terri
Thanks so much for including Nebraska and my blog post in the list. Now I have to add the other 10 to our to-do travel list. Great links.
You’re welcome Peggy. I thoroughly enjoyed your post because it reminded me of my Dallas days and my first experience with cowboy paraphernalia! And when you mentioned the cowboy/country cookbooks at Young’s I swooned – but not so sure I would go for the one devoted entirely to rhubarb. 🙂 ~Terri
Thank you for this list, these states are on our route in the next two years, and yes I will check out those bloggers.
Thank you too for checking us out 🙂
Hi Steve and Mona Liza! I see that you’re in our old stomping ground – Kentucky. James grew up in Glasgow, KY near Bowling Green, and we went to college at UK in Lexington. You’ve done a wonderful job of capturing the beauty of the state. 🙂 Glad that you can use these links, and so glad you stopped by. If you’re heading farther west, you might enjoy these link below. All the best, Terri
https://gallivance.net/2014/07/12/into-the-west-10-links-youll-love/
I absolutely love this series you are doing and am getting some great travel tips. Thanks so much! 🙂
Thank you LuAnn. And I just love the piece you did on Isle Royale. We have a relative who is the General Manager there, and we understand it’s gorgeous. It’s on our bucket list, but we haven’t made it there yet. Where are you headed next? ~Terri
We have a friend who recently backpacked at Isle Royale and loved it! We are headed across MN, with a short stop to visit friends who are also traveling in our direction, into the Dakotas to visit a few more NP’s.
That sounds great. We really enjoyed T. Roosevelt NP (lots of bison) and the Badlands. Have a wonderful journey. Did you manage to escape the ticks? ~Terri
Finally, but while in the boundary waters near Ely the mosquitoes finally found us. With all that water, it was bound to happen. 🙂
Thanks for featuring my blog post about the Kansas State Fair in your list. It’s about that time again for the Fair, too! Thanks especially for linking all of the other great posts of my fellow Midwesterners! Some great reading and inspiration there. (We’re going to our county fair tonight. It’s my first time for that…)
You’re welcome Catherine. I just love State Fairs, so your post really tweaked my craving for a corn dog. 🙂 I grew up on the Indiana and Ohio State Fairs, but when we moved to Dallas years ago and met “Big Tex” I knew that I was hopelessly hooked. We haven’t been to our Georgia State Fair yet – must put that on the list. How was the county fair? ~Terri
The county fair was great! I can’t believe I’ve never been to it before. I’ve lived in Johnson County a LONG time. I’m looking through my photos this morning. I can almost smell the funnel cakes! There were corn dogs there, too (of course!)
Loved this article, I found it very useful! Can’t wait to read all the links! Thanks for including my article 😀
Thanks … and you’re welcome Virginia. Welcome home from China. Can’t wait to hear all about it. ~Terri