Tag Archives: Iowa

Wayne’s IN Holly’s OUT

If you live in or around Winterset, Iowa you are likely hunkering down for an onslaught of visitors this weekend. Most are making the trip to honor a man residents in Winterset knew as Marion Morrison—the rest of the world knew him simply as the Duke. That’s right; American icon John Wayne called Winterset home and this year the community is going all out to celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday. According to event organizers, thousands (some from as far away as Norway and Denmark) are expected to pour into town for the festivities (many make the trip … Continue reading →

Why People Are Traveling To Iowa To View Christmas Lights

I grew up in a small city on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Needless to say, our family’s annual car ride to view local Christmas lights lasted approximately… oh, about, 7 minutes. Of course that was decades ago… long before the advent of icicle lights and inflatable waving Santas. And as for driving to other cities or (gasp) states, well that was simply not an option. Thirty years after my first car ride to view Christmas lights my situation has changed rather dramatically. I currently live in the frozen tundra (Wisconsin) where holiday light displays are … Continue reading →

How To Meet Kevin Costner (Without Having To Travel To Hollywood)

Dyersville, Iowa has been pretty much a celebrity ghost town since filming wrapped on the hit movie “Field of Dreams” 17 years ago. Now residents there are in for a real treat. The film’s star, Kevin Costner will be returning to the eastern Iowa town. Costner (not an apparition, but the actual living, breathing actor) will be appear August 11 at the Dyersville baseball field (the exact location the movie was shot) as part of a “Rolling Roadshow” tour, in which 10 classic movies are being shown at the sites of their filming. For Costner is will be a trip … Continue reading →