Escapees July-August 2024

Riverside Golf Course, an 18-hole, per 72 layout facility rated by the Professional Golfers Association and is open to the public. There is also a transportation museum on the grounds showing railroad equipment from the past. Even though Council Bluffs’ historic sites represent ties to the past, this city now caters to its residents and guests with broad streets and interstates providing access to all parts of this city. Restaurants located throughout the city satisfy every appetite. In fact, Council Bluffs is a treasure trove of sites satisfying many interests and for those who like history. It is certainly worth a few days during any RV excursion through southwestern Iowa. DOROTHY RIEKE began teaching at the age of 16 and continued to teach for over 40 years. After retirement, she spent most of her spare time writing for magazines. She lives on a farm with her husband in southeastern Nebraska.

Because Council Bluffs owes most of its growth to the railroad, many local attrac tions re fl ect the industry’s in fl uence on this town, In May 1869, the tracks of the Union Paci fi c and Central Paci fi c railroads were joined at Promontory Point, Utah. So Council Bluffs has its own golden spike, a 56-foot-tall concrete spike erected in 1939 to mark the premiere of the fi lm, UnionPaci fi c . Other monuments of historical signi fi cance include the Kinsman Monument, a tribute to Colonel Kinsman and other Civil War veterans, a marker honoring Lewis and Clark’s meeting with the Otoe Indians and the Lincoln Monument, erected on the spot where Abraham Lincoln stood, in 1859, when he visited Council Bluffs. Parks for Outdoor Enthusiasts For outdoor enthusiasts, Council Bluff’s 27 parks provide environments in which one can appreciate the

beauty of Midwestern wild fl owers, as well as picnicking, participating in

sports or visiting the monu ments that bring realism to historical events. Friendship, Long’s Landing and Lake Manawa Park all provide camping areas. Lake Manawa is especially popular for water sports, with picnick ing and hiking also available. There are 37 campsites but it can accommodate up to 70 residential units. All campsites are equipped with electricity, modern showers and relaxation rooms, as well as a towing tip. One of the most interesting parks is Bayliss Park, located in downtown Council Bluffs. Visitors can stroll past fl ower gardens and a computer-oper ated fountain that gracefully sprays water during daylight hours and at night. A monu ment marking the original location of the Mormon Trail also stands on these grounds. Those who like to play golf will enjoy a trip to Dodge

You’re driving a tall big rig

www.giraffeg4.com

Check out the newapp truckers are using to avoid this

59

July/August 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine