79. Illinois vs. Iowa - Tug Fest, 30-foot Bicyclist Statue, and Matchstick Marvels

Tug-of-war might be a friendly backyard game, but it is an intense annual competition in Port Byron, IL, and LeClaire, IA. These two small towns stop all river traffic to pull a 2,700-foot rope across the Mississippi River. Besides cheering on our favorite team (or state) at Tug Fest, we look for the 30-foot-bicyclist statue in Port Byron, IL, and then count the matchsticks in the Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sculpture at the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, IA.