Tourist stops in Le Mars, Iowa (known as The Ice Cream Capital of the World) feared a drop in business this summer, what with the high gasoline prices, and the completion of the Highway 75 bypass that allows north-south travelers to avoid passing through town.  Turned out business has been as good as ever!  North-south traffic through town has dropped, but east-west traffic has increased.  And “staycation” visitors have boosted business at places like Bob’s Drive-Inn and Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.  Read Magdalene Biesanz’s story in the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.

That’s a Bob’s hot dog pictured above, with loosemeat topping.  Michael Stern, in his Roadfood.com review of Bob's, says "these dogs are natural-casing beauties with a real snap to their skin."  See also the Roadfood.com review of Blue Bunny.