Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee has a wide range of delicious eateries like Tupelo Honey Cafe. We found this place during our first visit to the Market Square, which was easy walking distance from our hotel. Since the mid-1800’s, this neighborhood has been filled with businesses that attract workers and visitors alike. These days it is a […]
Tupelo Honey – A Taste of Southern Style Read More »
Little Rock is a city filled with history and we love to learn about the beginnings of the destinations we visit. A stop at the Historic Arkansas Museum was sure to provide a good backdrop for us to find out about the start of the river town. Little did we realize that here we would
Historic Arkansas Museum – Where History Comes To Life Read More »
One of the key goals of Our Changing Lives is to showcase places that are often overlooked as potential destinations. Some are sites that are hidden gems inside of major cities. Others, like Lucas, Kansas, are smaller towns that hold some unique sights that are less known. While many people have never heard of this
Lucas, Kansas – Journey To Grassroots Art Central Read More »
Being at the forefront of the national news is something that many cities would dream of, but not when it is due to public strife. While the conflict at Central High School was 60 years ago, we still see some of the struggles continuing today. Little Rock, Arkansas may have been the backdrop for this particular
Central High School – Conflict In Little Rock Read More »
Whenever we head out for a day full of exploring, we pre-examine the dining options in the area we plan to visit. This was our second Shop Small Saturday event, and we were excited that it was in Parkville, Missouri this year. Picking Stone Canyon Pizza as our lunch choice was a chance to visit
Stone Canyon Pizza – Fueling Our Shop Small Saturday Read More »
We are pretty sure that most of you have heard of the Garden of Eden, but did you know there is one in Lucas, Kansas? When we first found out about this uniquely Kansas attraction, we knew a visit was in store. Samuel Dinsmoor, the creator of this site, built his masterpiece at an age
Garden Of Eden – The Vision of S.P. Dinsmoor Read More »
“I have to go to the bathroom!” It’s amazing the amount of dread that these seven words can create in a parent. How many road trips are interrupted in a mad pursuit of an acceptably clean public restroom? In Lucas, Kansas, the influx of tourists wanting to view the “Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas” created
Taking Bathroom Selfies To Another Level At Bowl Plaza Read More »
In the past few years we have been seeing more and more small businesses gaining a foothold in communities. This is certainly a change from the long stretch we saw of big business edging out smaller competitors. While we know that bigger business platforms offer economy of scale, it’s the smaller business models that bring
Cracking The Top 10 – Rock Town Distillery Read More »
We are betting that many of you have heard of the TV show Rare Visions & Roadside Revelations, which airs on public television. The dynamic trio searches out unique sights across the nation, but in Lucas, Kansas we found a collection that was the subject of one of their stops. At The World’s Largest Collection of
Like many of the cities we visit, Little Rock offers a vibrant downtown. The area we focused on was near the River Market district, which includes the Clinton Presidential Library, an amazing river trail, and a local farmers market. On a beautiful Saturday morning, we left our hotel in search of coffee, before hitting up
Powering Up At Nexus Coffee Read More »
For those who haven’t followed us long, we enjoy a nice glass of wine. Of course, we find that the reason they make so many varieties, is because everyone has their own preferences. Fortunately, we both are fans of wines on the sweet side, so it’s not hard for us to find a bottle we
An InstaTasting At Rowe Ridge Vineyards and Winery Read More »
Our first knowledge of Lucas revolved around how artsy this Central Kansas town is known to be. With only this in mind, we began planning our visit. A “must see” we discovered is the Grassroots Art Center, which is located on Main Street. Opened in 1999, this unique attraction occupies the space of three historic
Grassroots Art Center Draws The Folk To Folk Art Read More »
We hail from a river city, so visiting Little Rock, Arkansas gave us an opportunity to see how they have handled their waterway. With the Arkansas River bisecting the city, it becomes a focal point for transportation and recreation. While cities must always be aware of potential flooding possibilities, we like it when we find
Why You Should Visit The Little Rock Riverwalk Read More »
When you hear the name Oklahoma, many people immediately think of the namesake musical. While farming and ranching still exists in much of the state, Oklahoma City has grown into a thriving metropolis. Our three day visit was chocked full of fun attractions, delicious dining, and unique shopping districts. This overview article highlights some of
12 Top Experiences In Oklahoma City Read More »
You all know how much we enjoy being able to park for the day and walk to multiple stops. The River Market District in Little Rock, Arkansas is one of those kind of destinations. Sitting along the Arkansas River, we expected to catch views of plenty of wildlife. A stop at the Witt Stephens Jr.
Back To Nature At Central Arkansas Nature Center Read More »
Every city and town we visit has a variety of stories to tell. These range from entertaining to amusing and at times horrific. We had no idea what to expect when we visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Most everyone is aware of the bombing that took place on April 19, 1995, and
Survivor’s Spirit – Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Read More »
Our visit to Little Rock had a few surprises that we had not expected. One of them was with our visit to The Root Cafe. The plan had been to have lunch there on our first day, but an opportunity to appear on the hit show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives meant that they had to
Lining Up To Try The Root Cafe Read More »
When we visit a new destination, we try to mix plenty of cuisine choices in our meal plans. One choice we almost always slip in is a burger joint. Tucker’s Onion Burgers had such an interesting backstory that it just had to be included. Our friendly followers in Oklahoma confirmed that an onion burger was
Local Flavor At Tucker’s Onion Burgers Read More »
A chance to visit the oldest science center in the state of Arkansas was not something we planned to miss. While the Museum of Discovery was relocated to their current River Market location in 1998, they have existed since their founding in 1927. With its location being in the heart of the area we were
A Passion For Science – Museum of Discovery Read More »
Most everyone enjoys a vacation, but only has the opportunity to take a handful at most per year. In between these longer trips, it is fun to have a few day trip options in your back pocket. We have lots of small to medium size towns and cities within a two to three hour drive
Sweets, Treats, and Surprises In Chanute, Kansas Read More »
Old dogs may not be able to learn new tricks, but humans are never too old to have new experiences. This was certainly the case when we visited Riversport Adventures OKC for an afternoon of fun and thrills. With three locations, one of our biggest choices was which site to visit. Since the majority of
Facing The Challenges At Riversport Adventures OKC Read More »
Our visit to Little Rock, Arkansas required a little more driving than some of our downtown destinations, but there was still a large portion that was within walking distance of our hotel. The River Market District offered us a chance to mingle with locals, while shopping and dining in some unique spots like Stickyz Rock-n-Roll
Finding Funky Vibes At Stickyz Rock & Roll Chicken Shack Read More »
Like many metropolitan areas, Oklahoma City is a collection of neighborhoods and business districts. Each one has its own distinct flavor and atmosphere. Automobile Alley is an area that once held many of the city’s car dealerships and still has recognizable features from that era. Today it is going through a transition that is breathing
Iguana Mexican Grill – Getting Our Happy Hour On Read More »
Little Rock, Arkansas has a lot of unique features, but one really stood out during our research. The Esse Purse Museum is one of only three brick and mortar locations dedicated to the history of one of women’s most interesting accessory and the only one found in the United States. This may not seem like the most
Esse Purse Museum – One Of A Kind In Little Rock Read More »
Throughout our lives we learn so many important historic names, but our guess is that most of you are unfamiliar with Octave Chanute. When we planned our visit to Chanute, Kansas it never occurred to us how the town had picked its name. A visit to the Chanute Historical Society Museum would help us better
Octave Chanute Makes His Mark In Kansas Read More »
Our visit to the Oklahoma City Zoo was a chance to experience an amazing opportunity for us. We have found that many zoos around the country are embracing the idea of helping their visitors have a more enriching experience. Zoos have guest speakers lecture about the environments that certain animals inhabit. Overnight camp outs can
Hands On Experience At Oklahoma City Zoo Read More »
When we were planning our escape to Little Rock, Arkansas, the first restaurant that I selected was Big Orange in Midtown. From the moment we first saw the menu, it was a sure bet that this was a place that needed to be experienced. The photos we saw of their food looked incredible, and we
Beautiful Burgers At Big Orange Midtown Read More »
We both enjoy watching nature programs and seeing animals in their native environments. Like most people, the only time we see many of these creatures in real life is at a zoo. A visit to Chanute, Kansas opened our eyes to the Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum. It’s fun to consider the experience of an
Untold Adventure Awaits At The Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum Read More »
We love museums of all types, so when we are planning our trips we keep an eye out for unique stops. Oklahoma City is home to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This attraction is filled with stories and artifacts about Western history. When I first reached out to the museum regarding our visit,
Explore The Wild West: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Read More »
If we had a dollar for every time we have heard people remark that there is nothing to see in the middle of the country, we would be rich. While we will usually rebuke their claim, there are times we almost want to keep all of these special places to ourselves. What many don’t realize
13 Unique Reasons To Visit Dodge City Days Read More »
Have you ever been researching dining locations and came across a place that is a “must visit”? When we were planning our Oklahoma City trip we stumbled upon Hatch Early Mood Food and knew it would be a breakfast stop. With our close proximity to Automobile Alley, this place was well within walking distance. When
Morning Rush At Hatch Early Mood Food Read More »
When we first started the planning for our Dodge City visit, our heads were filled with pictures of gunfighters, cattle drives, and other Wild West scenes. Even though we live in the 21st Century, we were hopeful to have a chance to see some nostalgic recreations. The opportunity to time our visit during Dodge City
Rootin-Tootin Time At Dodge City Days Read More »
These days it seems that some of the best little eateries are tucked in out of the way places. Such is the case for Oishi Japanese Cuisine at 12220 Shawnee Mission Parkway. Situated in the 10 Quivira Plaza Shopping Center, we would only see it when we ventured into the parking lot. We remembered a
Plate Presence At Oishi Japanese Cuisine Read More »
One of our favorite types of places to visit are ones like Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. These large scale attractions are a great place to spend large amounts of time and be able to entertain all ages. While they are designed to engage the younger crowd, most have taken steps to make sure
Expand Your Mind At Science Museum Oklahoma Read More »
A stop at a restaurant can just be an opportunity to refuel for more exploring, but there are those times when it turns into something special. Our visit to Casey’s Cowtown Club, in Dodge City, Kansas was one of those special occasions. From the outside it looks like a restaurant one might find along Route
More Than A Meal At Casey’s Cowtown Club Read More »
We can always count on one thing happening when we release a restaurant article in Kansas City. It will create a lot of conversation among the KC Foodies, which almost always results in a list of more restaurants to add to our “Need To Visit” list. Such was the case for Blind Box BBQ, which
Pleasing Presentations At Blind Box BBQ Read More »
Sometimes some of the best things are right under your nose. In Oklahoma City, our stay at the Ambassador Hotel put us right next door to Waffle Champion. This breakfast and brunch eatery specializes in serving up an eclectic menu with an interesting spin on an old classic, the Waffle! This place ranked high with
New Twist On An Old Favorite – Waffle Champion Read More »
Have you ever visited a dual topic museum? We have been to a few, but none like the one we found in Dodge City, Kansas. At the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame, we discovered a mix of teachers and lessons learned. They say we learn from history, and this place is filled with some interesting
Two For One – Kansas Teachers’ Hall Of Fame & Gunfighters Wax Museum Read More »
Some of you will remember back in the day, when shopping was done at small shops owned locally. Over time these were squeezed out by the “big box” department stores. We have noticed that lately there is a sort of renaissance revival of smaller shops happening here in Kansas City, as well as the other
The Changing Landscape Of Shopping Read More »
It never ceases to amaze us how each downtown has its own unique flavor. In Oklahoma City, we discovered their urban environment is experiencing a continued resurgence. An assortment of neighborhoods are included in this revitalization and we tried our best to touch as many as possible. Our stop in Bricktown gave us an opportunity
Making A Run For Bricktown Read More »
We found Dodge City, Kansas to be another great walking destination. The downtown section has lots of shops, sights, and eateries within close striking distance. The morning of the Dodge City Days Parade was a perfect time to get an up close view of many of these sights. After a nice stroll through the neighborhoods,
Brews and Bites At Dodge City Brewery Read More »
Running a travel blog means that we have the opportunity to stay in lots of hotels. Many of them are your standard lodging choices, which each have their own unique style. Every once in a while we visit one that is completely out of the ordinary. Such is the case with Chateau Avalon in the
Tuscan Getaway At Chateau Avalon Read More »
There are lots of highways that criss-cross the Central U.S. One of our favorites is the old “Route 66”, which is also referred to as the “Mother Road”. This old school road has regained much of its popularity, as people from all over the world choose to travel on it. Running from Illinois to California,
Fueling Up On The Mother Road At Pops 66 Read More »
Usually when we tour around a new destination it requires one of us to do the driving. This makes it difficult to truly enjoy the sights. That is one of the reasons we strive to park and walk most of the time, as it helps us get a better lay of the land. In Dodge
Seeing The Sights In Dodge City, Kansas Read More »
Way back around 1980, a little annual event started up to celebrate the rich diversity found in Kansas City. We are sure that the organizers of this festival were hopeful that it would continue, but wonder if they could have imagined that it would achieve its current level of success. Here we are 39 years
See The World at The Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival Read More »
We enjoy visiting destinations that can be reached in just a couple of hours. Living in the Midwest, we tend to space our cities a little farther apart than what is found on the coasts. Fortunately, the miles between them are filled with some beautiful landscape. Abilene, Kansas makes a perfect day trip from the
Abilene, Kansas – Presidents, Residents, and Plenty Of Chicken Read More »
The Wild West may have been many moons ago, but there is still a place that travelers can experience those long gone days. Dodge City, Kansas is one of the original cow towns in the Midwest and is home to the Boot Hill Museum. This living history space has a mix of static displays and
Gunfights, Graveyards, and Grit – Boot Hill Museum Read More »
Kansas City is a city filled with a diverse population. On any given day you can enjoy about any possible cuisine type that you could imagine. It provides plenty of fuel for a myriad of articles about KC restaurants. It seems that there are dozens of corridors that host a collection of eateries, which are
Tasty Bites On The Boulevard – Taqueria Mexico Read More »
Fate is fickle, but sometimes things come back around full circle. This story is about a group of Kansans who decided to launch a small batch distillery in the heart of a city that was once known as the “Queen of the Cow Towns”. Boot Hill Distillery sprang to life in 2014 as the first
Forged In The Dust – Boot Hill Distillery Read More »
Who says dinner time has to be just about the dishes? A visit to Tasso’s Greek Restaurant at 8411 Wornall Road, in Kansas City, offers a meal and more. We stopped in on a Friday evening to check out their menu. Our goal was to try our hand at testing a variety of their flavors. While we
Food, Fun and Broken Dishes – Tasso’s Greek Restaurant Read More »