aisle insights
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME WHILE ROAD TRIP DESTINATIONS ENTERTAIN, IOWA SUSTAINS
Story and photos by Aaron Putze, APR
T
he Putze family was in good company this year as we joined more than 150 million Americans in hitting the road for a summer vacation. The scenery on our 3,300-plusmile trek through the south and southwest U.S. to experience some of our nation’s most beautiful natural parks was stunning! But it was our return to the beautiful, lush and vibrant countryside of Iowa that made the greatest impression.
Aaron Putze, APR, serves as communications director for the Iowa Soybean Association. He was raised on a farm near West Bend and lives in Waukee with his wife Crystal and children Garrett, Grant and Jaelyn.
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| FRESH PICKINGS MAGAZINE
It seems like just yesterday when, in mid-July, Crystal and I packed the family SUV to the rooftop and rolled out of Waukee for the muchanticipated adventure with our children Garrett, 15; Grant, 13; and Jaelyn, 10. In just seven days, we traversed our way through nine states (Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska). Along the way, we: • Visited eight national parks and overnighted in five locations; • Made stops in Plains and Liberal, Kansas, to see the world’s widest main street and Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz; • Were mesmerized by the splendor of Petroglyph National Monument and El Malpais National Monument (both in New Mexico) and Canyon de Chelley located near Chinle, Arizona; • Marveled at the beauty of Petrified Forest National Park, enjoyed the splendor and the pine-scented fragrances of the Grand Canyon and daydreamed in the quiet, open spaces provided by the Navajo National Monument (also in Arizona);
