St. Burch Tavern, Iowa City, IA - Part I, Lunch

Stopping for lunch in Iowa City was on my list as I made my way across the western US, back to the Midwest.

I saw this place from the short drive into their downtown and made a mental note to check it out for lunch. Sure enough, it easily passed the visual test as I walked in, even the patio was busy and airy.

I was seated on my own and picked through their lunch menu quickly - Whole Grilled Cheese and a Green Goddess side salad please... with an on-tap peach-basil kombucha on the side. Perfect!

This is easily now in my rotation during travel through Iowa. What a great little spot - I'd even hope to be their for dinner in the near future. They seemed to take everything serious and were even showing a oyster bar inside. I can't wait.

Dairy Chef, Elkhorn, NE

During a recent visit to a sibling in Omaha, we HAD to make a trip to this nearby town for a visit to their local dairy bar. This one is called Dairy Chef and they're known for the over-the-top heights of their cones and cups of soft serve.

I was ready, but a bit full from dinner. Never-the-less, I had to step-up, literally, to the counter and order a "Tower". I chose chocolate ice cream and Oreo crumbs surrounding it.

This thing was a perfect capper to the night's meal. I believe I got through about half, then the sibling and his family took over - Phew. Note: this is not even close to the biggest/tallest cone or cup we saw that night. And Cone-watching is a legit past-time while you eat - looking at other people's cone heights.

If you're in the area, totally stop by Dairy Chef, I don't think you will leave disappointed or hungry.

The Star Hotel, Elko, NV

Have you ever wandered into a new place on your own, thinking it would be a boring, quiet night, only to have this thought smashed and an evening unfold in front of you? The last time I can recall a night like this, I was in Madeline Island MN, it was some time ago.

I started this evening by asking at the hotel which place is the most popular in town for dinner. She replied immediately that The Star Hotel is the place to be. I took a Lyft to the location and sauntered into the bar, only to be greeted warmly by Angie Lawson, who would take care of me the whole night. 

This is a Basque-style restaurant as many Basques had moved to Mexico, California and Nevada during the start of our country's history. Think gold. As such, Basque was kind of on the menu all night. I started with their Basque cocktail, then a beer and some charcuterie at the bar.  

Once I recovered from that delicious starter, I gave Angie the nod and she took me to their main dining room. They sit everyone family style and while I did sit with two others initially, they picked up and left (their meal was over) and I was on my own at a back table. It worked out fine, I could concentrate on the food. 

Everyone gets fresh-baked bread, soup, and salad along with your decided main course. I loved it all. Very tasty, very friendly folks... 

Mmmm, pork chops...

Once my main meal was completed, I quickly returned to the lively bar area. I sat back down at the bar and had some more drinks, and the bread pudding below - which is awesome, btw!

All in all I believe I ate, drank and chatted with folks for 5 hours that night. It was a great way to spend a solo evening out in the small town of Elko, NV (which is still known for their gold mining to this day). I would 100% recommend The Star Hotel and make sure you tell Angie, "Hi - Marty sent me!".

Naval Postgraduate School / Hotel Del Monte, Monterey, CA

When a cousin can get you access to a military base and allow you to stay on base for the night, you don't ask questions, you get the reservation in. In this case, this "base" is on the old grounds of what was, at the time, a west-coast first. It was the first golf resort available on the west coast and really the precursor to the Pebble Beach type locations up and down the coast today. I'm no expert though, feel free to Google the history of the Hotel Del Monte.

If I have some of my history correct though, this place began in the late 1800's, hosting all manner of celebs, dignitaries, and presidents (4 at last count). In the 19050's, the US Navy decided to move their Naval Post Graduate School from the east coast to the west coast (the Pacific was becoming a much bigger field of operations and the Navy didn't want to be caught off guard). They purchased this property and moved out to it soon after. It is still a working military college/university and also uses the hotel for both military guests as well as their students.

The best part is the whole place basically has an old Hollywood feel to it, but without knowing the right people, you won't get in off the street. In fact, you have to go through a main security gate to get in anyways, so it's not easy to do for Joe Schmoe.

It is an amazing campus and hotel, with simple rooms (no A/C, but you're basically next to the ocean) and amenities, but so much history none of the rest really matters, IMO.

I am told this used to be a full-on swanky pool area, but is now only about a foot deep and considered a "reflecting pond" - lame...

Inside was just as impressive and regal as the grounds...

That's a ceiling, Folks!!!

Stairs to hidden balconies...

And hidden stairs back down to other floors...

Guests have access to their "Trident" bar on base. Great little spot in the basement of the main hall (Hermann Hall)...

And who doesn't love a "mug club"?! They had hundreds of them on the ceiling...

I think you can tell I would go back in a second. Of course, I can't say this to everyone, as you do need to be in the military or have family in the military, but if you get the chance, most certainly go.

Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey, CA

On a recent trip to the peninsula, I managed to luck into their Family Day. That means free entry for all visitors and games for kids. Though I have no family to speak of (of my own) and no kids that I know of, they still let me in.

It is a very nice, modest-sized museum with a number of different artists on display. I'm sure the selection rotates, which is the way to go, IMO.

They had a number of artists and events depicted I'd never heard of before, take a look:

Through out the building, they had curious rooms and walkways, even this interesting (to me) sunlight/window and view of their rafters. Nice place to wander around really...

If you're in town and looking to be indoors for a bit (the sun was getting to be too much the day I went), I would whole-heatedly recommend this little spot.

Farming in Northern CA, Watsonville, CA

This relatively new location that I live in, has given me an up close & personal view of the US' crop production. The town I live in and others nearby are well-known for their produce, almost globally at this point. They are big producers of items like artichokes, garlic, and many types of berries. You can't go far here without seeing a roadside stand selling much of the produce a family would use, and it's all locally grown.

To that end, do you know what the pics are of above? They use these "hoop houses" all over the valley and coast. I believe it's to keep the plants warm for the growing season, maybe even to keep the direct sun off them. Don't take my word for it, Wiki can tell us more HERE.

I'm writing a post about this topic because I have been relatively surprised by how many or how often these hoop houses are used here. You don't see them in the Midwest for grain growing. They really use them a lot here though, everything in white below are these houses. To be honest, I'm sort of fascinated by them, and I don't know why. Enjoy.

Updated: How Many States You Got, Yo!?

Updated in Summer 2019 to include the highlighted states below. If I don't keep track, no one else will.

Just this past week, I was trying to recall how many US states I've been able to get to in my lifetime, and it prompted me to write them down (the ole memory isn't as sharp as it used to be). Here's my list so far (I ain't dead yet!). I'd like to say "in no particular order", but we all know that's not possible with me...

1. Illinois*
2. Wisconsin*
3. Minnesota*
4. Nebraska
5. Iowa
6. Indiana
7. Ohio
8. Michigan (Upper & Lower peninsulas)
9. Pennsylvania
10. West Virginia +
11. Kentucky +
12. Virginia
13. Maryland
14. District of Columbia++
15. Missouri
16. Texas
17. Oklahoma
18. Vermont
19. Rhode Island
20. Massachusetts
21. Connecticut
22. New York
23. Colorado
24. New Mexico
25. Arizona
26. Utah
27. California*
28. Nevada
29. Idaho
30. North Carolina
31. Florida
32. Kansas
33. Wyoming
34. Oregon
* Official resident at one time or another
+ Pretty sure I've been through these on a childhood vacation
++ Not a state but "Honorable mention"

Not all of these were for any extended stays or even overnights. Take Oklahoma for example, this was just as we drove through on a grad-school spring break, but I'll still count it.

Feel free to write your states or totals in the comments.