Welcome to Flyover America

Travel Blog  •  Sophia Dembling, Jenna Schnuer  •  01.08.09 | 4:41 PM ET

united states mapPhoto by Marxchivist, via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Hi. We are Sophia Dembling and Jenna Schnuer. Sophia lives in Dallas, Texas (but was Manhattan born and reared), and Jenna in Queens, NY (aka “not Manhattan”), and we are both writers who are in love with America. Every diner and prairie and highway of it. The places that many people consider flyover territory—Lincoln, Nebraska; Lubbock Texas; Bayonne, New Jersey, and the like—grab hold of us. Flyover America is as much a state of mind as a place. We like to think of it as anywhere in America that isn’t Manhattan or L.A. Flyover America is packed with stories, discoveries and soul. And it’s got some great malls, too.

As well as writing about people and places in Flyover America, our own little corner of World Hum, we hope to get a good conversation going with you. Talk to us. Yell at us. Debate us. And, hell, get started now. Here’s some of what we love. Tell us why we’re wrong.

Favorite Flyover America ...

Small Town

Sophia: Cody, Wyoming
For its proximity to Yellowstone National Park; for the spectacular Buffalo Bill Historical Center; for the creaky old Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill himself; and for the collection of vintage guest ranches in the adjacent Shoshone National Forest.

Jenna: Cordova, Alaska
Because two eagles followed me around for a day. (Really. It happened.) And, out for dinner one night, some tough-guy fishermen at the bar spent the evening debating the strengths and weaknesses of various “American Idol” contestants.

Tourist Trap

Sophia: Las Vegas
Bring friends, stay just two nights (any more is overkill) and take it on its own outlandish terms. Goofy fun. And that includes the Liberace Museum.

Jenna: Gatlinburg, TN
Within a few blocks, you can go from the Ripley’s Aquarium (it confuses me, but it’s kind of neat) to a fantastic local crafts cooperative and, in the mountains above, you can stay in the ultra-stylish Lodge at Buckberry Creek. And, after a hearty breakfast, you can go horseback riding through the Smokies. Just like that, everybody’s happy.

Barbecue

Sophia: Are you kidding? I’m not getting mixed up in this debate. Suffice it to say: sliced beef or pork ribs.

Jenna: That little place with the colorful seats off the main road in Tompkinsville, KY. (Make a right when you see a plume of smoke headed your way.) Give me a minute—I’ll remember the name.

Travel Activity

Sophia: Horseback riding
Even plodding nose-to-tail trail rides, if the scenery is right.

Jenna: Ultralight flying
Wait, no, horseback riding. Wait, no, snapping photos. Wait, no ... please don’t make me choose just one.

Driving Album

Sophia: Simon & Garfunkel’s “Wednesday Morning 3 a.m.”
I’m goofy for the singalongability of anything Simon & Garfunkel, but this folky first album is perfect Americana. (Don’t take my word for it, sing along yourself to this timely tune.)

Jenna: Lucinda Williams’  “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” or “Yummy,” the best mix CD I ever made.
I’ve road-tested Car Wheels in several states. It always works. “Yummy “is (mostly) ‘80s tunes—my favorite musical decade. Yeah, I said it.

Road-Trip Movie

Sophia: “Badlands”
So sue me. Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen are a nasty pair but I love the bleak landscape of the Dakotas.

Jenna: National Lampoon’s Vacation
I was 13 when it came out. Some things just stick.