🚂 Discover Ames, Iowa

We've wanted to do one of these experiences for years, so when we learned we would be adding this day to our filming in Ames and Boone County, Iowa, I think someone (Patrice) may have squealed with delight.

We arrived with the crew, met owners Mary Joy and Alex, got settled in our rail cars, and then started pedaling out (the cars are pedal-powered) to enjoy beautiful views of the Des Moines River Valley. It was a crisp early Fall morning, and Mother Nature gave us a gorgeous day!

The ride’s showstopper is the 750’ long, 156’ high, Bass Point Creek High Trestle. They stop you right before crossing and give you another safety chat . . . one car at a time crosses the bridge. As we pedaled out to the middle, we realized, there are no sides!! No sides to the car, no sides to the bridge, it's straight down. You are strapped in, and the cars are heavy, substantial, and we felt absolutely safe, but it did make for a breathtakingly unobstructed view of the river valley and beyond. WOW!! Speechless!

Side bar: Did we mention that one of our crew members has a fear of heights? Oh yeah, he's a trooper! We do some pretty challenging hikes, climbs, and take in views from all sorts of elevation, but I think this one may have really tested his inner fortitude.

Rail Explorers USA has 7 locations in the country. After our first ride here in Boone, Iowa, we will be planning trips to the other 6 locations just so we can book another Rail Explorers experience like this. It is such a unique way to see a region/location. You are immersed in the landscape and have some of the best views you wouldn't experience otherwise. We can't wait to do this again!

Check it out on this week's episode from Ames - Saturday, April 19 at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery
Photos