Page 460 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

458  THE GREA T PLAINS

Practical Information are required to wear helmets in
in some states, especially if the
Up-to-date information is essential when planning an itinerary rider is under 18 years of age.
across the Great Plains, where cities and attractions are often Speed limits vary but are
separated by miles and miles of rolling prairie. A region of small usually between 70 and 75 mph
towns, wide-open spaces, and distant horizons, the beautiful (112 and 120 km/h) on
Interstate Highways, which are
landscape of the Great Plains draws visitors searching for a located outside crowded urban
taste of wholesome Americana. The best time to plan a trip is areas. Radar detectors are
from mid-April through late October, but bear in mind that permitted in all the states.
many of the historic sights are open only from Memorial Day
(end May) to Labor Day (end August). Etiquette
Great Plains residents tend to be
friendly and polite. Drivers on
Tourist Information
constructed building and then the empty back roads usually
Travelers entering the Great tune into a local radio station for acknowledge an oncoming car
Plains via a principal Interstate additional information. or truck by raising one or two
Highway are greeted with signs fingers off of the steering wheel
advertising a state “Welcome Getting Around in a modified version of a wave.
Center.” These centers provide a The polite response is to offer
full range of tourist information, Most of the major cities in the the same in return.
as well as clean restrooms and Great Plains have public bus
coffee. Most of the region’s systems that provide affordable Festivals
major airports and train stations but limited service. However,
have information desks stocked the convenient St. Louis Metrorail The Great Plains states stage a
with free brochures and maps. system is the only public rail wide range of annual community,
All of the larger cities and smaller transit system in the region. regional, and state festivals. The
towns operate Convention & largest of the region’s many fairs
Visitors’ Bureaus, which provide Driving in the is the Iowa State Fair, held in
free directories of events, August in Des Moines, while
attractions, accommodations, Great Plains one of the country’s friendliest
and restaurants, both in print Driving is the best way to explore Inde pendence Day celeb-
and online. the region, since most sights are rations takes place in historic
usually situated far away from Independence, Missouri. All
each other. Thus certain pre- through summer, Native
Natural Hazards cautions are necessary to ensure Americans in South Dakota hold
Tornadoes usually occur a safe journey. Seat belts are a several traditional “powwow”

during summer, particularly must for drivers and front-seat get-togethers. Other summer-
in the eastern portions of passengers in all the states. Most time events are the historical
Kansas and Oklahoma, called states also require seat belts for productions staged by the Great
“Tornado Alley.” In the event back-seat passengers. Child seats Plains Chautauqua Society.
of a tornado warning, travelers are also mandatory, but age Musical festivals also abound
should first seek shelter in the restrictions may vary from one in the region, with summer
basement of a solidly state to another. Motorcyclists blues festivals in Kansas City,
St. Louis, and Lincoln vying for
top billing. The Walnut Valley
The Climate of the Great Plains bluegrass festival in Winfield,
Kansas, and Woody Guthrie
This is a region of extremes, with Free Folk Festival in his
hot summers and cold winters, KANSAS CITY hometown Okemah, Oklahoma,
especially in North and South 91/33
Dakota. The southern states – °F/C are also very popular. Polka
Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma 71/22 71/22 music, beer, and German
– have a more temperate climate, 66/19 food end the festival season
with milder winters. With its 32°F 45/7 49/9 at Missouri’s Oktoberfest, in
cooler nights and sunny days, 39/4 the Missouri River community
June is perfect for touring the 0°C 22/–6 of Hermann.
region’s historic sites. Wildflowers 22 26 17 18
are most colorful in May and days days days days
September, while October’s 3 3.6 3 1 Sports
changing colors make it ideal for in in in in Missouri has a monopoly on
scenic drives through the month Apr Jul Oct Jan professional sports teams in the
wooded Ozark Mountains. region, with Kansas City and
St. Louis operating the region’s

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Eyewitness Travel
LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template
“UK” LAYER
Practical template V2 (OpenType) “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 10th November 2006
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm
Size 125mm x 217mm