This summer I found myself packing up a house and car in Arizona during the hottest month on record. And while I certainly questioned my planning and sanity at the time, after three days of driving I was grateful to be welcomed back to Iowa with cool mornings, green landscapes, fresh sweet corn, and juicy garden tomatoes — aspects of the Midwest I deeply appreciate after a decade away in the desert. What I missed most about Iowa (other than my family, of course) was having four seasons, and I am excited to spend time outside this fall exploring trails, shopping at the farmers market, and reading books from alumni-owned Dog-Eared Books and the Ames Public Library. In a wonderful coincidence, Iowa Stater Joe Weigel shares his favorite spots in Phoenix on page 33, all of which I fully endorse. If you’re ever planning a trip to the Valley and need further recommendations (here’s an easy one: don’t go in July), or have a suggestion of somewhere I should explore around Ames this fall and winter, connect with me at iowastater@ iastate.edu.
Kirsten Kraklio Editor, Iowa Stater Magazine
