Receta Iconic Iowa Road Trip: Contrasting Old and New

Remember when I told you all I was going on an Iowa road trip with my dad?

My dad and I both landed in Chicago at midnight on a Wednesday, opting to rent a car and go on an Iowa road trip as opposed to trying to route our way into a smaller airport.

Our Iowa road trip was guided by a few stops to see relatives on the way to our final destination: my dad’s 50th high school reunion in Cedar Rapids. After landing, we drove through the night and catnapped roadside before pulling into Rock Island Arsenal as the sun rose. The army men at the gates were super-friendly and gave us directions after we explained that we were dazed, a little confused, and very eager to see some tanks!

We skipped the locks on the island and…