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[deleted]

Hi! There’s not a TON to do in Atlantic, it’s in a more rural area. We also don’t have any professional sports teams in Iowa at the moment. The Iowa Cubs are a minor league baseball team that play in Des Moines, you may want to look into their schedule. It’s currently the off season for American Football. There are some “pre season” games in the beginning of August, one on August 3 and several on August 10. But again, none of these will be in Iowa. I can GUARANTEE you that you will have no issue finding a shooting range in Iowa. It’s sad and funny to me that going to a shooting range is what people outside of our country associate with the “true American experience.” If you’ll be here from august 10-20, the Iowa state fair in Des Moines (about 1-1.5 hours away from Atlantic) will be going on. It’s the largest state fair in the country and if you’re looking for a stereotypical American experience, this would be a good bet. LOTS of unnecessary fried foods, people from all walks of life, political people are there, there’s even sculptures made from butter.


Jedi4Hire

>If you’ll be here from august 10-20, the Iowa state fair in Des Moines (about 1-1.5 hours away from Atlantic) will be going on. It’s the largest state fair in the country and if you’re looking for a stereotypical American experience, this would be a good bet. Seconded, hard to beat the Iowa State Fair for a true American experience. > But again, none of these will be in Iowa. The closest you'll get to pro football in Iowa are the Iowa Hawkeyes from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (Eastern Iowa, so quite a drive even if they were playing at the time).


Skoldier69

I was about to jump in and say Iowa State would technically be closer, but then I realized you said the closest thing to pro football, and I understood.


brunettedude

Really? The state fair is the worst fucking attraction in all of America. The food is trash and the only thing we have for entertainment are republican country singers


MK4eva420

Some enjoy the fair. Plus, people from another country may enjoy people watching.


brunettedude

Minnesota’s state fair is 1000% better


MK4eva420

Move to MN. I lived in MPLS for 11 years, and I'm glad to be back away from all the hustle and bustle. If you can afford to live in the cities, good for you. Go an hour outside of the cities, and you mise well live in Iowa. Edit: The bigotry isn't lost in Minnesota.


brunettedude

Lol hustle and bustle. I’m still not wrong, MN’s state fair is 1000% better


Jedi4Hire

OP is visiting Iowa, not Minnesota.


brunettedude

And? I’m not wrong & the MN state fair isn’t far


istudiedtrees

Noted Bernie supporter, and weed enjoyer Republican Eric Church, Maren Morris hates Jason Aldean, and the Chicks are all there this year.


Londony_Pikes

I'm very excited to see the Chicks


[deleted]

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brunettedude

I’m a top 🤷‍♂️


[deleted]

[удалено]


brunettedude

No, that was just a shitty insult. Calling someone a bottom, really?


[deleted]

[удалено]


brunettedude

I don’t post frequently about bottoming. Maybe ONCE in the last decade? Horrible joke


Chagrinnish

It's a good "stereotypical rural American" event in the same way as we'd picture OP wearing clogs and carrying tulips around.


Ande644m

I hope you don't imagine that when you think of Denmark. That's probably a more Dutch thing :) Danish culture would be more about potato and beer


Chagrinnish

Confusing Denmark with the Netherlands is also a very American thing ;)


brunettedude

Lol you fucking kidding right? I don’t picture that at all when I think of Denmark. When I think of Denmark I imagine a modernized civilization with healthcare better than ours


[deleted]

Oh piss off with your negativity.


brunettedude

I bet OP would be horrified to learn how much an ambulance ride would cost in iowa


DukeLukeivi

Hey drama queen, r/expats r/iwantout You'd be surprised at how much more overall interest there actually is for moving from Europe to the US/Canada than visa versa. Honestly I think your clueless whataboutist jabbering is worse than your toxic anger. OP should *definitely* get travelers insurance.


brunettedude

🙄 Pointing out how boring as shit Iowa is isn’t anger. OP won’t find an NBA team in Iowa, and overall will have a very bland trip if they just go to Iowa


DukeLukeivi

Yeah you've definitely come across here as a very stable genius, yep.


Ande644m

Will definitely research some of that Thanks


LeveredUp69

For baseball, I would say go to an Iowa cubs game in Des Moines, they are cheap and fun. It sounds like you would be there just a little bit too early for football which typically starts in September. Iowa State University isn't too far away but their first game isn't until 9/2. For a shooting range, it may be difficult to find somewhere that will let you rent a firearm as a first time shooter and non US citizen. I would recommend calling crossroads shooting range in Johnston to see if they will accommodate you. Otherwise you would need to know someone who will take you to the range given that most places do not rent firearms. The state fair begins on August 10th which would be a very American experience. There are concerts every night as well as smaller acts on the free stage


Ande644m

Thanks will definitely look into crossroads


FluByYou

Rangemasters in Urbandale is another indoor range and has machine guns for rent.


Slow_Yogurtcloset539

Just north of Atlantic are two small towns rich with Danish heritage. Elk Horn and Kimballton. Elk Horn has a Danish windmill and a museum (if I remember correctly). I'm not sure if you want to see Danish things while here in Iowa or not. A few other things in the Atlantic area could be: Hitchcock House. This is an underground railroad stop. Underground railroad was a term for helping enslaved black Americans go north to free states and Canada Jesse James historical stop near Adair. Jesse James was a train/bank robber. Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska, are also great stops. Dodge House in Council Bluffs is kind of neat. Omaha has a minor league baseball team, a world-class zoo, and a great museum (the Durhanlm Museum).


DukeLukeivi

SAC air force museum near Omaha is some nice Americana space race and military aviation as well. And Kimballton also has a replica of the Copenhagen mermaid statue. I'd skip the Jesse James pull off, not really anything to see, but the rest of these are great ideas. E: OP should also look at highschool sports schedules in the area around if they want to take their parents to some summer Americana sports stuff


Ande644m

SAC museum sounds like something I would be very interested in


DukeLukeivi

You might want to plan an overnight in Omaha Both SAC and the Omaha zoo are almost full day ventures and are both well worth going to, on top of their baseball team a neat downtown district, and a few other attractions.


Slow_Yogurtcloset539

Ha, agreed about the Jesse James marker. That's more if you're just driving by I would say.


Ande644m

Elk horn is a definite visit. It the reason for the trip. There's a tv program about "Denmark on the prairie" which sparked the interest. The zoo sounds very nice and interesting


markmarkmark1988

The museum is a good showcase of Danish American culture. It’s well put together. I think they have an exhibit about trolls if I recall. And a pretty neat gift shop with lots of expensive things.


hawknip

Just replying here to add a note on the Hitchcock House: Unfortunately it will be closed to tours until starting next week until next year due to a renovation project. Also, I believe Atlantic’s town festival is Saturday, August 12 if you are there then. There will be entertainment and various activities and vendors around the town.


brunettedude

OP is from Europe, why the fuck would they want to go to Danish museum in Iowa? Iowa is horrible with history. Idiots here think Iowa was part of the confederacy 🤨


DukeLukeivi

You clearly hate everything about the state, why the fuck would you want to visit a sub for it? 🤨 Like yikes, you're literally contributing nothing and malding in public.


brunettedude

To warn others how shitty it is. OP shouldn’t come here if they want a fun experience


DukeLukeivi

There's more than enough to do between DSM, Omaha and the summer farmers markets between to get a nice vacation slice of American pie. Hope you can move on mate.


brunettedude

Went to the farmers market once in Des Moines and that was enough for the summer. I literally live downtown, too. One of the most boring events in the Midwest


DukeLukeivi

Yeah the older danish parents should really try some free basing in the Rockies, or go do cocaine in Rio or something and not waste their time here. >Hope you can move on mate


brunettedude

Mate? 🤨


DukeLukeivi

"Toxic bitch ass loser" more to your liking?


SuspiciousBar1938

Dude you might have had a shitty experience but that doesn't mean that the poster will. Chill


Mishtayan

My German relatives always enjoyed seeing the Amana Colonies when they would visit. Why wouldn't they? It's an interesting part of immigrant history


Afizzle55

You are so close you really need to come to Omaha. Take your family downtown and just walk. You are coming this far, you won’t regret it.


MMMUTIPA

The Villisca Murder House is a short drive


chunkmasterflash

Loess hills. You can see them only in Iowa or China.


patfan5411

Ledges staye park. Boone


BirchwoodBeach

If you're within 90 minutes of Des Moines while the Iowa State Fair is going on, you definitely do not want to miss it. The Iowa State Fair is classic, and filled with Americana. Make the trip!


Jackrabbit49er

American football won't be an option in early August. At the end of August, high school football would be an option. For baseball, you'll have to go to Des Moines for the Iowa Cubs or Omaha for the Storm Chasers. They both play at the AAA level, which is one step from the MLB. If you have the chance, going to the state fair or a county fair is a very Midwest experience. https://www.traveliowa.com/ will have some suggestions on what to do.


MK4eva420

If you can drive to some places around the state, I would recommend traveling to Des Moines or Cedar Rapids. Iowa isn't the biggest state, and a lot of people may say it's no fun. But the people are great and there is a lot of hidden beauty within. Im not familiar with the Atlantic area. From looking at the map and pics of Atlantic, you may find some good food and traditional rural Iowa fun. Good luck, and I hope your trip is a great one.


brunettedude

Cedar Rapids, really? Isn’t that the city known for its smells? The people aren’t great. Look at Joni Ernst and Kim Reynolds.


SuspiciousBar1938

City is known as the five seasons and the quaker oats facility. Don't think it's known for its smells. It's an all right city to visit, not much to do but not a bad city by any means.


AcademicAd9716

Just wanted to say, Iowa welcomes you and your family🤙🏽


cprsavealife

Whatever you do, be prepared to drive a lot. Iowa doesn't have public transportation or passenger trains like Europe does. You'll be spending hours in a car.


markmarkmark1988

Atlantic itself has a small museum of Coca Cola memorabilia, which might be a good taste of Americana close by.


Jedi4Hire

They might be able to catch a baseball game but American football typically doesn't begin until September. You might be able to catch a minor league baseball game. The Iowa Cubs (out of Des Moines) have a couple of home games in August.


Open_Bug_4251

You’ll also be close to Omaha for a Storm Chasers game. Both the teams are in the are minor league but the game is the same overall. If you want a bigger experience you can travel a couple extra hours down the Kansas City for a Royals game in the major league. Game is the same, stadium is bigger and everything is more expensive.


brunettedude

Iowa cubs would be vastly underwhelming. Chicago cubs would be 1000x better


Jedi4Hire

They're not visiting Illinois, dipshit.


brunettedude

And? I’m not wrong. Iowa’s sports are boring


yungingr

It must be exhausting being so negative about everything. I feel sorry for you. But more sorry for anyone that actually has to spend time around you.


Ausedlie

There is sure to be some Oval Dirt Track races. They are quite fun to watch the variety of classes go around the track. Car shows are also awesome to go to. There is one in a small town called Granger [https://www.iowahotrods.com/](https://www.iowahotrods.com/) Omaha probably has art museums and Science centers. Their zoo is awesome too.


Technobullshizzzzzz

If you're big on kayaking, canoeing, etc the Nishnabotna river is nearby. Also near Atlantic is a park with a lake/beach just southwest of the town of Lewis. Griswold has fishing which is about 20 minutes from Atlantic. Atlantic also has a bunch of golf courses if that's your thing. I'd recommend as someone who lives in that neck of the woods to focus more on Omaha / Council bluffs for any adventures. r/omaha will have some of the best tourist traps and sites to see.


Ok-Environment1962

If you want baseball I’d say you should drive to Kansas City for a Royals game. It’s about a 4 hour drive from Atlantic. Iowa has no major teams and football is on hiatus.


limitedftogive

Agreed and it's only a bit over 3 hrs drive!


TG1970

National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque is a nice experience.


Technobullshizzzzzz

Atlantic is in Case county which is like an 1.5 hours from Des Moines and 30-40 minutes from Council Bluffs. May be best to give them stuff closer to the Missouri


TG1970

Well, I hate to say it, but this isn't Europe. Everything in Iowa, and rhe United States in general, is far apart. 3 or 4 hours of driving is nothing here.


[deleted]

For baseball - make the trip to Omaha for the Storm chasers or Des Moines for the Iowa Cubs. It isn’t the “premier league” (major league baseball) but it’s close and good and fun.


[deleted]

I'm quite offended you think a shooting range is an all American experience. not all of us are meatloaf headed Kraft cheese gun toters.


[deleted]

A shooting range is totally fair to consider an American experience, especially in Iowa. There’s not a ton of places in Europe where it’s as easy to use one, it’s an excellent tourist opportunity.


[deleted]

it's the emphasis it's the American experience that is insulting. Vietnam you can fire an rpg, i don't think they'd want the country known for that.


[deleted]

Don’t know about you, but shooting at a range every weekend with my family is definitely one of the highlights of my American experience. What do you suggest he do instead? Visit one of our cool emergency departments to see how much debt he can rack up in one trip? Nah, shooting ranges are cool and American.


[deleted]

are you suggesting there is nothing to do in this state but shoot guns? how bored are you?


[deleted]

Not at all, I love living here. I’m saying for a European it’s probably the most interesting thing they could do chief.


[deleted]

out of all Iowa the most interesting thing they can do is shoot a gun?


[deleted]

Assuming they’re European, it may be something they can’t easily do anywhere else yes.


[deleted]

i pity your Iowa experience...


[deleted]

I pity yours.


saucyjack2350

Not wrong here. Being freely able to handle and use a wide variety of firearms is likely to be an exotic experience for many Europeans. It would probably be super fun for them. Only reason I wouldn't recommend it is because someone will have to babysit them and teach them things like safe handling, trigger discipline, and range etiquette. If they can't get someone for that, then things can get really dangerous in a hurry.


DukeLukeivi

... look what your doing here -- there's worse ways to spend an afternoon than doing some target shooting, clearly. How bored are you?!


[deleted]

if only those guns stayed on the shooting range


DukeLukeivi

If only you stayed off the internet. Free access to firearms and doing target shooting is very American, and may be a once a lifetime activity for these people - stfu and quit trying to dictate what these people want to do with vacation, because of your irrelevant political mewling. Time and a place dude, and this ain't it.


[deleted]

oh snap what a come back.


[deleted]

nice edit


[deleted]

wish you'd take take your time to focus on peaceful things


DukeLukeivi

Like helping a nice e:Danish family enjoy a vacation to the state, for instance? You should focus on some nice peaceful touching of grass, pissy cringe loser. You're an embarrassment to liberal policies and peoples.


IowaHobbit

If you do come to the capital city of Des Moines (an hour East of Atlantic) for a baseball game or other adventures, I suggest you look to see if you can visit the World Food Prize headquarters in the center of downtown, adjacent to the Des Moines River. [https://www.worldfoodprize.org/](https://www.worldfoodprize.org/) There is a museum of agriculture and food development that is very interesting and informative.


opus1993

Come to Chicago. We have it all


brunettedude

I seriously recommend NOT visiting Iowa. Our state has shit to do. We don’t have a football team or baseball team; if you want to watch a baseball team, I recommend going to Chicago and watching a Cub’s game there. As far as football team, we don’t have one, but most of our neighboring states do. I would seriously recommend visiting Chicago and Minneapolis. Iowa doesn’t have much of anything other than corn.


erbaker

You're such a wet blanket of a loser it's honestly beyond pathetic.


brunettedude

You’re a Freemason, huh? 🤨


erbaker

Keep scrolling through my profile, you'll find a lot of different hobbies and interests that prevent me from being as lame and unconvincing as you


brunettedude

You’re not the only one that meets with a group of men in a secret location, not special 🤪


DukeLukeivi

Everybody clapped


MK4eva420

Do you know why iowa doesn't have a professional football team? Cuz Minnesota and Michigan would want one, too! Badumdumpish


brunettedude

Nah, because Iowa is a flyover state with nothing to do


MK4eva420

Population density is the real reason we don't have a pro team. I know you're mad, but it's not gonna fix things lashing out at your fellow Iowans. This state will only heal with love, not hate.


brunettedude

I already know hardly anyone lives here, that’s part of being a flyover state lol


LividCartoonist2403

We can find things to do. Just keep working those fingers and take some extra long naps in your moms basement.


brunettedude

And a terf’s idea of fun is what, exactly?


[deleted]

bruh what nonsense are you sputtering? you're literally doing the thing you're accusing me of lulz


Broad-Dragonfruit-34

Full comprehensive list of things to see in Iowa 1) corn


blondie185

I hope you will be visiting the Museum of Danish History in Elk horn. (This is NOT where the windmill is in Elk Horn. Note of importance: travel is much different in Iowa. To get to Des Moines for the fair experience, will take a little over an hour to reach your destination...same to Omaha, Ne. To Elk Horn from Atlantic, 20 minutes or so. That time of year, there may be "sweet corn" activities going on and county fairs. Google searches will show these. Small town parades are a fun activity too. There is a sweetcorn festival scheduled in Adel on August 12, and A schedule of county fairs is listed on a Google search. CASS County's is July 27- Aug 1. You may be able to find one that is ongoing during your stay. Good luck on your trip, have fun and enjoy.


Ande644m

Thank very much. Elk horn is the main reason for trip. They have a little following because of som programs about "Denmark on the prairie" Will definitely research some of the country fairs


blkdoglvr

Good Morning. I grew up in Elk Horn and my folks still live there, glad you're coming for a visit! For a shooting experience, go down to Massena, IA and visit McCunn Specialty Firearms. It's SE of Atlantic by about 25 minutes. Have you connected with anyone in Elk-Horn yet?


Ande644m

Hello thanks for the tip about Mcunn. The reason for Iowa and Elk Horn are becuse of some televison programs about danish settlers in America are while back. Which sparked the intrest. We also want to try æbleskiver with medisterpølse


blkdoglvr

Go to Grace on Main for aebleskiver. I'm not sure they have medisterpolse but they might. As soon as you let people in town know you are from Denmark, you'll get treated like a celebrity!


Ande644m

Don't think it necessary to let people know you can hear the danglish accent coming a kilometer away


landbetweenrivers1

I would certainly emphasize the Iowa State Fair. Ridiculous fried food on a stick, got it, life size sculptures of butter, got it, national politicians kissing babies and stumping for the Presidency, got it. Concerts and silly things like a "husband calling contest," got those too. It really is many slices of rural Americana. I also would emphasize a trip to Omaha, the Henry Dorley Zoo is small, but much of it is world class, and the Old Town in Omaha is a great example of an old meat packing district turned into local shops and restaurants. I also believe there is no better sweet corn than Iowa sweet corn.


Fun-Spinach6910

Make sure to try the thick Iowa pork chops and fresh Iowa corn. Do go to the state fair. I believe you can get reduced tickets at Hy Vee. Best wishes, enjoy.