Things That Are Completely Normal in the Midwest

The Midwest Has a Few Things You Just Don't See Anywhere Else

Spend enough time in South Dakota, Minnesota, or Iowa and you'll eventually realize there are certain things here that seem completely normal to us but might leave someone from another part of the country scratching their head. That's part of what makes the Midwest so fun and unique.

Yes, We Really Do Wave at Possible Strangers

Drive past someone on a rural road and there's a good chance you'll get a little wave.

It doesn't matter if you know them. You might have absolutely no idea who is behind the wheel. But there's something about passing another vehicle on a quiet stretch of road that makes a quick hand raise feel mandatory.

Try doing that in a busy city and people might think you're auditioning for a parade.

Everyone Has a Favorite Small-Town Bar

Every Midwest town seems to have a place like Cheers where everybody knows your name. You don't just go there for a burger. You go there because your friend's cousin works there, somebody from high school is sitting at the next table, and there's a high chance you'll run into someone who knows your parents.

It's basically social media, except there's fried food and the gossip comes with a side of ranch.

We Take Weather Personally

A Midwesterner can turn a simple weather forecast into a full conversation.

"Looks like rain tomorrow."

"Yeah, but they're saying it'll clear up by noon."

"I heard it's supposed to get windy."

"Well, that's what they're saying right now."

Five minutes later, you've somehow discussed the seven-day forecast, last year's storm and whether the farmers need the rain.

We Know How to Make a Road Trip Out of Anything

Need to drive 90 minutes for something? That's not a long drive. That's a day trip.

We will happily drive across state lines for a restaurant someone recommended, a festival we've never heard of, or a giant roadside attraction that takes 15 minutes to see. And honestly, that's one of the best things about living here.

The Midwest may not always get the attention of bigger destinations, but it has its own personality, and once you notice all those little quirks, you start to realize just how much of them you wouldn't want to change.