How do you get to know a place? By being IN it. Not by rushing by, seeing the main attractions, and then zipping off to the next place. Lisa and Tim Trudell, of The Walking Tourists, note, "we like to take our time walking to most local destinations once there, to be able to discover the little things along the way." Indeed.

Glacier in Alaska.

Their site covers a variety of travel experiences, many of which are in the Midwest. We live in Michigan and can't share enough about the beauty, history, and amazing landscapes and people of the Midwest.  Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the Walking Tourists really digs in and shares the essence of a place, anywhere in the world. You'll never know what you'll learn - from candy to food to history to the outdoors. My recent favorite? An article about a fabric artist telling the Holocaust story, in Omaha. It's a great site to dig into, get inspired by, and learn from. Highly recommended!

Sandhill Crane migration near Kearney, NE.

We had a chance to catch up with Lisa, and ask her about her site, the Midwest, walking, and more. Here's what she had to say...

Please tell us about your site, The Walking Tourists...

We are a husband-wife team. We have enjoyed traveling since our days in the hospitality with a hotel company. Lisa spent over 12 years with the company, while Tim spent about 6 years. Lisa has also worked as a travel agent for a few years. We both have full-time jobs, so we do a lot of traveling on the weekends and vacation. We target the Midwest for a few reasons: 1. We live here; 2. We love the attractions the Midwest offers; and the Midwest is often overlooked as prime tourism territory.

Kansas City Skyline.

Mackinac Bridge, which connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan.

What inspired you to start this site?

People used to tell us we were always gone. They wondered where our adventures were taking us. We'd share trip photos on Facebook. So, one day someone suggested we start a blog to share our adventures. Thus, The Walking Tourists site was born.

Bison rutting near Simmons wildlife park, near Omaha, NE.

What might readers be surprised to find on your site?

That the Midwest has a lot to offer travelers? The region - from Ohio to Nebraska - has a lot to offer people. The Midwest is more than Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, etc. Some of the best attractions are off the main roads. Presidents' home towns, cultural centers, and natural attractions.

Milwaukee Art Museum.

What do you love most about the Midwest?

The people. Midwesterners are among the nicest and most polite people. When you tell people you are a travel writer, most seem genuinely interested and excited that you're writing about their area.

Covered bridge in Madison County, Iowa.

What can travelers find, by walking around places? What have you found that has surprised you?

We've found that when we start walking an area, we end up getting more sites to visit and information. One spot leads to another, etc. One place that we learned a lot was in Springfield, IL. We visited the state capitol and the Lincoln presidential museum. We stopped in a store next to Abe Lincoln's law office. While we were there, we were introduced to a guy who does local tours of Lincoln spots. He walked us to the Lincoln home site, and basically gave us an impromptu walking tour of places Lincoln was at or that played a significant role in his life. It was cool.

Seagull near the pier in front of Alcatraz, San Francisco.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

We have found that every area has something to offer. Small or rural areas have their areas of interest. Don't just plan on visiting cities, research the state and local visitors bureau sites. You'll find a lot of interesting places to visit and see.

Omaha skyline.

Read more: http://thewalkingtourists.com/

All photos courtesy and copyright The Walking Tourists