CNN - TravelGuide: Pursuits - Tug Fest

(CNN) -- So you think the War Between the States ended in 1865. No way! It is alive and well every year on the first weekend in August, when Illinois and Iowa engage in "The Tug." Imagine a tug-of-war where one end of the rope is in LeClaire, Iowa and the other end of the rope is in Port Byron, Illinois. And one other little item -- the Mississippi River is in the middle.

Port Byron and LeClaire are nestled in the hills along the Mississippi, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Chicago. Once a year, these quiet little towns explode into the excitement of the summer when "The Tug" takes place at 1:00 PM on Saturday. A spectacular fireworks show (dubbed "Greatest over the Mississippi") takes place the preceding Friday night.

The tug idea began more than a decade ago with Port Byron Commissioner Scott Verbeckmoes. Everyone thought he was crazy, but -- with permits from the Coast Guard and the Army Corp of Engineers -- the idea has flourished. The major waterway of the United States, the Mississippi, is shut down for two hours for The Tug. Actually, "The Tug" is nine tugs, each lasting three minutes by teams of 20 men. (There is also a 10th tug, for women.) The winner of the most tugs wins the contest -- over the past 12 years, the record breaks down to seven overall wins for Illinois, five for Iowa.

The planners of Tug Fest have made it a family affair. There is plenty for the children, including a Tug for kids, karaoke, and live bands at night. Whether you choose the Illinois or Iowa side, there will be plenty to do for everyone in the family.

LeClaire, Iowa, is the birthplace of Buffalo Bill, and was incorporated in 1837. Today, its population is 2,800. There are antique shops, excellent restaurants, magnificent turn of the century homes, and a Buffalo Bill Museum. Port Byron, Illinois, is a much quieter town of 1,600 people. Originally the first river port for steamboats, it too, boasts turn of the century homes.

If you go . . .