There are many reasons to visit the great and underrated state of Iowa, and not all those reasons involve corn or same-sex marriage. For example, there are barns. Lots of barns.
And on Oct. 15 and 16, dozens of the state's historic and restored barns will be open to the public with the assistance of the Iowa Barn Foundation. On both days, about 120 participating barns will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Many of the barns were restored with grants from the Iowa Barn Foundation, with the understanding that the barns must be restored as closely as possible to their original condition.
"The purpose of the tour is to encourage barn preservation in the state, to teach young people about Iowa's rich agricultural heritage, and to renew pride in this unique heritage," according to the foundation.
More information about previous barn tours, including a map of participating barns, can be found at the Iowa Barn Foundation web site. More details on the 2011 tour will be posted soon, a representative of the foundation told me.
A bonus for Chicago college football fans: the University of Iowa football team is hosting Northwestern that Saturday in Iowa City at 6 p.m. College football and barns? Sounds like quite the Midwestern October weekend, doesn't it?
Twitter @traveljosh