The Field of Dreams Movie Site is tucked away in Dyersville, Iowa, about a 40 minute drive east of Dubuque.   After years of talking about it, the hubby and I recently planned a trip to this field as the centerpiece of a long weekend in the Buckeye State.  You can read my full recap of the experience here, but a picture is worth 1000 words. 

The photo to the bottom left shows how the field looked the whole time we were there – just enough people to allow for a sense of atmosphere, but not enough to make the place feel crowded.  Everyone was “playing nice” and sharing the field well during our visit.  Guests can walk right up to, but not into or completely around, the house and other outbuildings featured in the movie.

There are no organized tours, movies, or other traditional tourist offerings at the Movie Site.  We simply played catch in the outfield, popped in and out of the corn, and then sat on one of two tiny sets of bleachers and watched some future major leaguers in action. 

The only organized facility on site is the itty bitty gift shop, which sells a wide variety of Field of Dreams merchandise as well as the movie itself.  I look like a fool in a baseball cap, but couldn’t resist buying a magnet and water bottle under the guise of “supporting the field.”  Prices were pretty reasonable although you can find the Field of Dreams DVD much cheaper on Amazon.

Overall, this site was a truly refreshing experience, exactly as advertised, and well worth the trip.  The Field of Dreams Movie Site is open seasonally, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Admission is gloriously FREE, as is parking.  You can check out the official website here.

My blogging has been on hiatus for the past month as we enjoyed a fabulous trip to Key West and cruise on the Disney Wonder.  However, we’re now back to business as usual, which means the Midwest and great Midwestern things! 

Today’s post is about a rather unique museum, the Muhummed Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.  I’ll admit, I passed this one by on my first trip to Louisville and was dragged there kicking and screaming on our recent visit.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a sports fan, period, much less a boxing fan, so I fully expected to be bored out of my skull.  As it turns out, this facility is as much about history and social commentary as it is about boxing, and fully kept my attention for the duration of our two-plus hour visit. 

The Muhummed Ali Center is located in an attractive, modern building in downtown Louisville with a very nice exterior courtyard.  Center hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Adults cost $9.00 and children $4.00.  Various discounts are available, including $1.00 off for anyone who can show a ticket stub from another Museum Row participant (Louisville Science Center, KentuckyShow!, Glassworks, etc.)  Students, even graduate ones like my husband, save $4.00.  I hope the museum is making enough money to stay open, as it was virtually empty when we visited at 2:00 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon.

The museum’s exhibits span several floors.  If you have limited time, be sure to see the films, as they are very well-done, and the olympic torch display, which is located on one of the lower floors.  My full write-up on the museum can be found here.  Overall, the Muhummed Ali Center, while perhaps not a Louisville “must-see,” is certainly a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Because flash photography was prohibited, I have very few interior photos of the museum.  I did snap a shot of the interactive torch film (above), which dramatically details Ali’s lighting of the torch at the 1996 Olympics.

While most of the museum is adult-oriented, there are a few kid-friendly displays including this tile mural created out of hundreds of children’s drawings.  There is also an interactive boxing display where kids can put on gloves and try their hands in the ring.