Yes, much of the Midwest is flat. Yes, you can drive for hours in a straight line without hitting a hill. But, did you know that Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes (though the actual number of lakes is actually much higher)? Michigan, on the other hand, is the Great Lakes State because it touches four of the five Great Lakes in addition to sporting 11,000 inlands lakes of its very own.

Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana all have miles of Lake Michigan shoreline that, as many Midwesterners might say, rival that of any ocean state. (You'll have to decide for yourself.) Illinois is largely made up of prairieland, hence its nickname, the "Prairie State."

Missouri and Nebraska are marked by rolling hills, (yep, we said hills), and open, fertile plains. South Dakota has the Black Hills, home to famed Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands.

The big, modern Midwestern city of Chicago is the hub for much of the activity and excitement in the Midwest. But, though they are often overlooked by folks outside the area, there are plenty of other cities that provide those looking for an urban experience with a destination--the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Cleveland (hey, it has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!), to name just a few.

If you like architecture, a visit to the Midwest is mandatory to see the numerous Frank Lloyd Wright buildings alone, not to mention others designed by Mies van der Rohe and Louis Sullivan. If music is more your thing, you can hear great blues in Chicago and Kansas City while the classic sound of Motown (plus a little Eminem) still prevails in Detroit. Chicago has great theatre (Steppenwolf anyone?), museums, and other performing arts venues that rival those of any other U.S. city.

The region is also home to some interesting demographic statistics. While the Dakotas are both sparsely populated, averaging around 9-10 people per square mile, and predominantly white, they also report above average percentages of American Indian/Native Alaskan people in their population. In general, as you head further west, the region's population decreases in both density and diversity, especially outside of the major urban areas (Chicago and Detroit).

The Midwest also has a reputation of a place where business gets done. The automobile industry got its start with Henry Ford in Michigan, cereal companies are dominant in Michigan (Kellogg) and Minnesota (General Mills), and breweries gained ground in and around Milwaukee (Pabst) and St. Louis (Annheuser Busch).

So, while there are plenty of cows in the Midwest, there's a lot more to see and do during your spare time than become a pro at cow-tipping. (Besides, the cows are not big fans of that.) If you're considering attending college in the Midwest, plan a visit and spend some time in the region. But remember, as you head further north, you'd better like winter.