Nostalgiaville, USA, Kingdom City, Missouri

Somewhere over the rainbow, where tomorrow is another day, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin serenade customers as they shop for poodle skirts and saddle shoes. Inside an eye-catching pink and blue building, tin signs commemorating “I Love Lucy” and “The Andy Griffith Show” decorate the walls, and cars pull away with hula girls or fuzzy dice displayed in the front windshield.

Martha Doyle pulled into the parking lot of Nostalgiaville, USA, two blocks north of I-70 in Kingdom City, Missouri, and asked to borrow a phone book in 2000. She spoke with owners Ron and Judi Dunwoody, who offered her a phone book and a part-time job in the store. Now, after nine years, Doyle is a veteran with her own small collection.

Home is where the stomach is. That is the old saying, isn’t it? Perhaps not, but that sounds about right to me, considering that my hometown is Columbia, Missouri. Columbia is conveniently located smack dab in the middle of the state, halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis on I-70. It is the perfect place to stop for any type of food at any time of day. Because I’ve been a resident of Columbia since I was 2 years old, I’ve developed a pretty good idea of places locals would recommend.

Of course, Columbia hosts a multitude of chain restaurants that are pleasant to eat at, but why eat somewhere that can be found in any sizable city? I encourage you to step outside of your chain of chains and experience nationally recognized Columbia cuisine. Especially in the downtown area, countless locally owned restaurants serve cuisines that range from fast to fancy, burgers to Thai food. There is something for everyone — I promise you will not be disappointed and neither will your stomach.

GCS Ballpark, Sauget, Illinois

Die-hard baseball fans come to watch their favorite team, rain or shine, not because of a winning record, the publicity or a preferred stadium seat, but for the experience: hotdogs, nachos, balls, strikes, outs, innings, chants and cheers. Getting caught up in the atmosphere of a Major League stadium may leave spectators feeling like they’re only a small part of the big game. For those die-hard fans seeking a more intimate atmosphere for their beloved game, there is a solution — a night at the GCS Ballpark.

The GCS Ballpark, named after Granite City Steel, a local credit union sponsoring the team, is located only 15 minutes from Busch Stadium in Sauget, Illinois, and is home to the Gateway Grizzlies. The team is part of a little-known professional baseball association, the Frontier League. Founded in 1993, the league is composed of 12 teams, divided into the East and West Divisions. Teams come from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa 

In 1913, the Wells family started a dairy company out of their backyard in the small town of Le Mars, Iowa. Today, the city of Le Mars produces 100 million gallons of ice cream per year, more than any other city, prompting the Iowa state legislature to crown Le Mars the Ice Cream Capital of the World in 1994. 

With a population of 9,435, Le Mars seems like an unusual home for the acclaimed Blue Bunny company. Liz Crosten, manager of corporate communications and public relations, said that one of the two factories still stands at the edge of a housing development because the family just continued to build onto the original backyard business.

Stone Hill Winery, Hermann, Missouri

Nestled in central Missouri among the farms and small towns lies a group of wineries. Although Missouri is not as well known for wines as certain parts of the world, it is host to many vineyards and wineries, which offer tasty and reasonably priced wines. Among the oldest and best known of these is Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Missouri. 

Thomas Held, director of sales and advertising for Stone Hill Winery, said Hermann is a city with much to offer because of its distinct German culture.

“Hermann itself has 70 to 80 bed and breakfasts, German architecture, rolling hills, vineyards on the hillside, romance and ambiance,” Held said. “You can put yourself back in time, and it can be quite romantic.”

Pella, Iowa

An 1800s-style windmill stands in defiance of the wind, just off the town square of Pella, Iowa. This korenmolen, meaning corn mill in Dutch, boasts the record as the largest authentic windmill in America. The windmill serves as one of many examples of the Dutch traditions of Pella.

The Pella community of about 10,000 lives among a dappling of buildings that display a 19th century Dutch façade. Stores bearing names such as Bisschopswijn, Jaarsma Bakery and Van Den Berg’s Limited enhance the town’s Dutch culture by selling authentic Dutch products.
Jim Brandl, a retired businessman turned tour guide for the Vermeer Mill and Interpretive Center, said Pella has striven to preserve the town’s Dutch culture.

Over the years, the Pella Historical Society has worked hard to promote Pella as a place for visitors to view Dutch architecture and ways of living.

Originally settled in 1843, Dutch immigrants established Pella as a safe haven to escape from the religious persecution that plagued them in their homeland. In the Netherlands, the Dutch built many windmills because running water is scarce. Because rivers and streams stripe the Midwest, water could power the mills in Pella instead of wind. Despite the frequency and utility of windmills in their homeland, the original settlers chose not to build a windmill in Pella.

Crown Candy, St. Louis, Missouri

Located near downtown St. Louis, Missouri, Crown Candy offers an atmosphere that the average corner candy store can’t. The vintage jukebox, old-fashioned Coca-Cola collectibles and antique signs allow visitors to feel as though they have taken a step back in time. With a traditional soda fountain and a menu that boasts items such as a newport — a sundae with a lot of whipped cream and pecans — this establishment clearly offers more than just a tasty meal. It offers the feel of a simpler time.

Part of Crown Candy’s charm comes from the fact that it has a history that makes it different from the run-of-the-mill candy store. According to the store’s Web site, Harry Karandzieff and Pete Jugaloff opened Crown Candy when they brought their confectioners’ skills from Greece in 1913. The two men wanted to create an establishment with a family atmosphere in which to sell their sweet treats. In the 1950s, Harry’s son George took over, keeping the business in the family. Today, George’s three sons, Andy, Tommy and Mike Karandzieff, run the family business.

Cuba, Missouri

History no longer is confined to the books in Cuba, Missouri, but rather spills across the side of a shoe store, the local eye doctor’s office, traffic control boxes and a series of half-walls constructed around town.

Residents of Cuba, a town of about 3,500 people located about 85 miles south of St. Louis on historic Route 66 and I-44, began painting their history on various buildings and re-created structures around town in 2001 as a way to beautify the city. What began as a single mural that celebrated the centennial of the local bank has mushroomed into 12 full-size murals depicting historical events — some little known and some widely noted — that make the town a prime tourist destination for people traveling Route 66.