I mean, would you rather be in Bunch or Paris?
I swear the last time I went to Lake Wapello there was a sign that said Paris but I might have been distracted by the cattle crossing the highway.
That was the cemetery, named for its first inhabitant.
Weekend getaway recommendations
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That was the cemetery, named for its first inhabitant.
I think the town was also named that. Then the post office made them “change” it cause of the Linn County one. The railroad and a bunch of others just called it Paris. My grandpa worked for the railroad so it will always be Paris to me. It’s lovely in springtime!
I would suggest renting the Grey House in Decorah (Air BnB) and using that as a base to kick back but also visit some of the great small towns around. Tons to do in the Driftless (locals' name for the area), great drive in the fall for the leaves (take the back way from New Hampton and stop at Ft. Atkinson, and some of the Catholic churches (Germanically cathedralesque) - as well as the world's smallest church in Festina also there). Have some falafel in Elkader at Schera's, great Asian food at Koreana in Decorah and the obligatory pizza at Mabe's, drink craft beer to your heart's content at Toppling Goliath and also Pulpit Rock - or hit Convergence CiderWorks for another hint of bubbly. House has great decor, a widescreen TV with a Netflix account, laundry, coupla bedrooms upstairs and a cozy master downstairs. Short stroll to downtown. Very, very nice small town living and not so far that you can't stop and do some fun photo tourism (I could swear there is a Paul Bunyan statue at a lumberyard somewhere along the way...maybe Calmar?). It would be a nice change of pace from Ankeny, IMHO.
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"Lovely" is the last adjective that comes to mind when I think of Bunch. First time I went there, there were vultures on every fencepost for about a quarter of a mile between there and Moravia.
Around 3:00 am, will have to do the same Monday, our flight out of Des Moines leaves at 6:30 am to Columbia. We flew out of KC in June, and I really liked the new entrance to the airport, easy to get in and out of. We tend to fly more out of KC than DM, but the last couple of times we have found cheaper flights out of DM, and it cuts the drive time in half.
I would suspect we will end up driving more to places now that we are both retired, unless we are going to the west coast again. I really don't mind driving 12 to 14 hours if I can save money and now we have the time to do so.
I also like Davenport for a change of pace. Stay at the Blackhawk (very posh, Autograph Collection), go to the Figge (art) and the Putnam (say "hi" to the mummy there) where you can take in an Imax, have tacos with your beer at Boozie's, authentic Italian at Lunardi's and discover other stuff that I haven't.
But you get to see beautiful Lake Sundown on your way.
Hey, did you know that you can now fly to Chicago from Kirksville on Contour Airlines? They go to O'Hare.
Contour Airlines set to begin flights between Kirksville and Chicago - Kirksville Daily Express
Kirksville city officials welcomed Contour Airlines to town on Tuesday, at a press conference held on the Kirksville Airport tarmac with a Contour Airline plane idling nearby. Mayor Pro Tem John Gardner spoke highly of the new airline, which will replace Cape Air in August. Cape Air provided...
www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com
Ah, the gated community. Eh. I liked that herd of cows that used to live at the top of the hill just to the north. (they moooooved)
Never have known anyone that flew out of Kirksville, but they also have a lot of flights down to St. Louis. I suppose if you were catching a connecting flight, it might not be too bad. We are doing DM, O'Hare, and the Columbia on Monday. We have a hell of a long lay over in O'Hare, and I am not looking forward to it, but it's the only flight on United that works for us. It's hard to get a direct flight to Columbia SC.Hey, did you know that you can now fly to Chicago from Kirksville on Contour Airlines? They go to O'Hare.
Contour Airlines set to begin flights between Kirksville and Chicago - Kirksville Daily Express
Kirksville city officials welcomed Contour Airlines to town on Tuesday, at a press conference held on the Kirksville Airport tarmac with a Contour Airline plane idling nearby. Mayor Pro Tem John Gardner spoke highly of the new airline, which will replace Cape Air in August. Cape Air provided...www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com
I guess they are building houses out at Sundown left and right, because you get purchase land on the lake, since its private. I really wish the army corps would allow the same thing for Rathbun; it would really help the area.
I mean, would you rather be in Bunch or Paris?
I swear the last time I went to Lake Wapello there was a sign that said Paris but I might have been distracted by the cattle crossing the highway.
I might have an idea where the cattle crossing the highway was at/near. Most locals usually call it Bunch. Though the people that live in Bunch refer to it as Paris. If you want to start an argument, refer to it as Bunch in front of them. Interestingly, the highway (J3T) is called "Bunch Road".
Most locals usually call it Bunch. Though the people that live in Bunch refer to it as Paris. If you want to start an argument, refer to it as Bunch in front of them. Interestingly, the highway (J3T) is called "Bunch Road".
Bad news, everyone. The Hull Bros. Store has been torn down.
Hull Brothers Store (Paris/Bunch, Iowa) | Iowa Backroads
iowabackroads.com
Probably on alert for people calling it Bunch!
I like the area but with trees and hills and cows and not much else, but haven’t been that way for a couple of years.
After visiting very-over-crowded San Diego (and the Pacific coast all the way to almost L.A.) in February, I am very much in favor of the precious "not much else" of rural Iowa. As St-Exupéry wrote, "L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur." (The essential is invisible to the naked eye. One only sees well with the heart). And the mind.Probably on alert for people calling it Bunch!
I like the area but with trees and hills and cows and not much else, but haven’t been that way for a couple of years.
Here's our itinerary:
Weds:
Leave DM at 5:48 AM get to Bangor, ME via a stop in D.C. at 11:45 AM
Drive to Bar Harbor - explore Bar Harbor
Sunset boat tour 4:30 - 6:30
Dinner
Ice Cream at Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream
Thurs:
Sunrise at Cadillac Mountain - 6:27 AM
Hike Cadillac Mountain
Breakfast
Hike at Sand Beach
Hike Jordan Pond Path
Bass Harbor Lighthouse at sunset
Dinner - Thurston's Lobster Pound
Fri:
More Bar Harbor - Breakfast and Lunch
1 PM - drive to South Hadley, MA 5.5 hour drive (wife's brother lives there)
Dinner and stay in South Hadley
Sat:
Drive to Hartford, CT for airport - 1 hour from South Hadley
Flight leaves Hartford at 4:47 PM arrives in Des Moines 9:41 PM
Other Options to see:
Schoodic Peninsula - 6 mile scenic drive
Raven's Nest trail
I had that issue with United but with delta I’ve always been able to connect very easily.
I've been there a number of times. My Grandparents lived there, and my Dad was born there.
