Iowa Public Television

Join Dan Kaercher, recently retired editor-in-chief of Midwest Living Magazine, as he shatters the outdated cliché that characterizes the Midwest as “fly-over country.” Spanning seven weeks and over 11,000 miles, Dan unveils the enchanting diversity of the Parklands of the Midwest—from forests, refuges and scenic byways to rivers, lakes and grasslands. Action-packed adventures and hidden surprises are around every bend. Dan hikes, bikes and paddles his way through these spectacular natural surroundings, nestled throughout the heartland of the country on Parklands of the Midwest.

There is a one-hour version of this program and a series of six half-hour programs.

**Please note: Dan Kaercher personally visited all of the parks, preserves and recreation areas while videotaping these programs in 2005, but circumstances can change. We encourage you to call ahead if you are planning a visit of your own.

Illinois
Shawnee National Forest

Iowa /Nebraska #101
Niobrara National Scenic River (Nebraska)
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (Nebraska)
Lee G. Simmons Conservation and Wildlife Safari (Nebraska)
Strategic Air & SPace Museum (Nebraska)
Loess Hills (Iowa)
Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge (Iowa)
Yellow River State Forest (Iowa)

Indiana
Hoosier National Forest

North Dakota/South Dakota #102
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)
Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge (North Dakota)
Lake Sakakawea & Garrison Dam (North Dakota)
Custer State Park (South Dakota)
Native American National Scenic Byway (South Dakota)
Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

Iowa
Loess Hills

Kansas/Missouri #103
KATY Trail State Park (Missouri)
Meramec State Park (Missouri)
St. Francois Mountain Range (Missouri)
Elephant Rocks State Park (Missouri)
Taum Sauk Mountain State Park (Missouri)
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park (Missouri)
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (Kansas)
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (Kansas)
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (Kansas)
Prairie Dog State Park (Kansas)

Kansas
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area

Minnesota/Wisconsin #104
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wisconsin)
Kettle Moraine State Forest (Wisconsin)
Point Beach State Park/Forest (Wisconsin)
Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway (Minnesota)
Minnehaha Park (Minnesota)
Itasca State Park (Minnesota)
Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota)

Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Illinois/Indiana #105
Shawnee National Forest (Illinois)
Rend Lake (Illinois)
Starved Rock State Park (Illinois)
Hoosier National Forest (Indiana)
Lincoln State Park (Indiana)
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana)

Minnesota
Voyageurs National Park

Michigan/Ohio #106
SLeeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Michigan)
Palms Book State Park (Michigan)
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Michigan)
Hueston Woods State Park (Ohio)
Malabar Farm State Park (Ohio)
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)

Missouri
KATY Trail State Park

Nebraska
Niobrara National Scenic River

North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley National Park

South Dakota
Custer State Park

Parklands of the Midwest
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More Park Information

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