Oddball Iowa: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places (Oddball series)

By Jerome Pohlen

Book Overview

This zany travel guide presents a more peculiar state than the Iowa Tourism Office might like out-of-towners to imagine. Leaving out the traditional scenic trips to the Mississippi River bluffs and the Amana Colonies, this guide will take the adventurous traveler to the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, the home of the "Lonely Goat Herder" marionettes from The Sound of Music, and the world's largest Cheeto. To enhance the experience of this unusual side of Iowa, the guide includes facts about numerous events in Iowa's history, such as Ozzy Osbourne's infamous bat-biting incident and Jesse James's first moving-train robbery. Iowa is depicted as the birthplace of the Roto-Rooter, the Delicious apple, the electronic computer, the reinforced concrete bridge, and the Eskimo pie. The accompanying photographs and maps will direct travelers to other fun vacation spots and attractions, including the butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair, the annual National Skillet Throw, the Hobo Convention and Museum, the Ice Cream Capital of the World, and the National Balloon Museum.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556525648
• ISBN13: 9781556525643
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Unexpectedly Enjoyable

As a former resident I bought this book on a whim thinking it had a 50% chance of being a dud. I really enjoyed reading through this and actually found myself missing some of these quirky little things about Iowa. ...not enough to actually visit but that really is one of the attractions of the book--you can appreciate the sights without having to experience the hot humid weather, lack of any cuisine expect red meat and bud, etc. I recommend this book for any fellow middle aged ex-Iowans. I think you'll find it worth the price of admission.

Oddball Iowa

The book arrived on time, in EXCELLENT condition. I gave it to my brother, who has everything, for his birthday. He absolutely loved it, and will use it on vacations this year.