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Join Midwest Living’s founding editor in discovering the region’s often unexpected but always breathtaking natural treasures.

Join Midwest Living® magazine Editor-in-Chief Dan Kaercher as he explores the Heartland’s most spectacular preserves and parks, scenic rivers and lakes, and other top outdoor recreation areas—all perfect for marveling at the incredible and unexpected variety of native wildlife and plants found throughout the region. Each lavishly illustrated chapter tells the fascinating stories behind the natural wonders of the 12 Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.   
Included in this volume are national parks, forests, lakeshores and wildlife refuges, as well as state-run preserves and scenic byways.
Journey with Dan to both famous and little-known parklands in the rumpled, tree-blanketed Ozarks and Black Hills . . . the raw, rugged shores of Lake Superior and the colossal dunes of Lake Michigan . . . the serene grasslands of the Great Plains . . . the eerie landscapes of the Dakota Badlands.
Compelling text and gorgeous photography will lead you on an unforgettable armchair adventure. A wealth of practical advice—including contact information, recreational opportunities, and nearby accommodations and attractions—will help you plan your own trip. Dan even includes signature recipes from expert cooks who fed him along the way!

Dust off those walking shoes, grab your road atlas, and sling a camera around your neck as you join Dan Kaercher—well-respected public television personality and founding editor of Midwest Living® magazine—in exploring dozens of scenic and unspoiled natural treasures in the American Heartland. From Wisconsin’s glistening Apostle Islands National Lakeshore to the rugged and wildlife-packed Custer State Park in South Dakota, planning your own adventure has never been more fun! With something for everyone—breathtaking photography, evocative text, practical tidbits of information, and even signature recipes to entice you—the whole family will never want to leave the Heartland so many call home.

Dan Kaercher, founding editor-in-chief of Midwest Living magazine and host of the accompanying Public Television series, lives near Des Moines, Iowa.