Olio in Iowa

Olio in Iowa’s 2018 Travel Bucket List

It’s taken me a few years to realize that I don’t have the best track record when it comes to completing my annual travel bucket list. Inevitably other plans get in the way and I don’t end up making it to the places I set out to visit.

But nevertheless, I love the process of creating travel goals for the new year. It’s exciting to create a list of places to explore in the coming months and (at least this year) a fantastic way to force me to plan out my year a bit earlier.

When it comes to my 2018 travel, I’ve already got quite a few big trips on the calendar. From Iowa adventures to exploring more Midwest, there are lots of new places I’m looking forward to visiting in 2018.Continue Reading…

Driving the White Pole Road

All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

I’m a sucker for scenic drives and vintage highways. So I’m surprised it took me this long to discover the White Pole Road. Part of historic U.S. Route 6, today the White Pole Road is a 26-mile roadway across west-central Iowa that passes through five small towns.

What was once the “most populous route in Iowa” has become a much less traveled scenic byway. But that doesn’t mean you should rule it out as a way to spend an adventurous autumn afternoon!Continue Reading…

The Saga of Slayton Rock

Giant boulder known as Slayton Rock near Casey, Iowa

So why, you might ask, did I drag my travel partner 20 minutes out of our way to see what is essentially just a giant rock? Great question! The short answer? I can’t pass up attractions like the Slayton Rock.

I have an unshakeable soft spot for seemingly insignificant attractions. I love the idea that no matter how small or trivial, these little tourist stops mean something big to the people who create them. About five miles southwest of Casey, Iowa, on a back country road, I found another one of these tiny treasures in Slayton Rock. Continue Reading…