National Corn on the Cob Day

As we took our annual summer trips to Minnesota each year to visit Jason’s side of the family, we tried to change it up some and visit different amazing sites along the way. Many times we stopped by the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas and got a yearly picture of us standing in front of it, chronicling in photos how the kids were growing—and the ball was shrinking as the local pigeons picked it apart to make their nests. On another trip, we visited Mount Rushmore, for which we prepared by watching “North by Northwest” with Cary Grant. (We wanted to make sure the kids had the historical perspective of course.) Also, Wall Drug had to be a part of the experience. What’s a road trip anyway without French Toast dripping in butter and syrup at Wall Drug? One amazing place we saw, which I say, must score in the Top Ten Wonders, was Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. An entire building decorated with corn cobs. They boast up to half a million visitors each year. (No kidding.) Apparently in the 1800s it was really cool for a town to have a corn palace. It’s a way to show off the abundance of the land. They use corn cobs and other grains to make incredible murals and ornamental artwork over the entire outside and inside. And of course there is a museum and gift shop inside. You can’t leave without getting your commemorative Corn Palace t-shirt, shot glass, or refrigerator magnet. So next time you’re wheeling through the Midwest and have an afternoon on your hands, be sure to swing by the Corn Palace. There’s a Corn Palace coffee mug with your name on it waiting for you!