Growing up, whenever there was an incredible amount of anticipation involved with something, such as opening presents, my parents were repeated asked when the exciting part was going to be at hand. They would indicate that there would be a "long time nothing" between now and the fun bit. Driving through the midwest, for the most part, feels like a "long time nothing."

Not to say it isn't pretty. It is. I totally get how they call the midwest the heartland. I enjoyed my drive through there. But in all honesty, there really isn't much diversity in the landscape for a very long while.