Let’s see a show of hands of the people who knew there was a TWA Museum in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. An unseasonably warm Saturday morning was the perfect chance to check it out. Located at 10 Richards Road, in the Charles B. Wheeler Airport, this unique museum highlights the 75-year lifespan of the airline. […]
Dining in a pre-Revolutionary War tavern was a new experience for us. During a day in Colonial Williamsburg, we stopped by Kings Arms Tavern for a lunchtime meal. Everything about this visit was special and we were ready to soak it all up. While this may be a reproduction, the attention to authentic details is
When we think of the Wild West, visions of chuckwagons, cattle drives, and lonely cowboys play out in our minds. The steam engine, invented in the early 1800s, impacted the path of history. As the country raced to build railroads across the wide expanses, the age of steamboats arrived. Living on the confluence of two
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The city of Williamsburg, Virginia is a familiar name to many people. Did you know that this historic settlement began as Middle Plantation? Way back in 1632, English settlers discovered this area provided high ground between the York and James rivers. The settlers began at Jamestown, in 1607, but quickly spread across the peninsula. After
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What do you get when you combine delicious food and an astonishing collection of sports memorabilia? Located in North Kansas City, Missouri is Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum. This sports fan Mecca opened in 1986 and has drawn visitors from far and wide. Notoriety has come from many directions, including lots of the top sports
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We’ve known for years that the treasures of the United States aren’t found on the interstates. It’s the small towns and cities that fall around and between these thoroughfares that hold the essence of life in America. Lying northeast of Tulsa, you’ll find Pawhuska, Oklahoma. This town gained fame as the home of the Pioneer
The “David versus Goliath” story of the American Revolution influenced political ideas around the globe. How could a fledgling nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time? The victory did not come without sacrifices and was not unanimously supported by the colonists. Our visit to the Historical Triangle of Virginia included
Kansas City BBQ transcends normal cuisine status and is hailed as the standard by which other barbecue is judged. Don’t get us wrong, we have found delectable smoked meats all across North America. Barbecue started in a pit, where meats were cooked over a trench filled with burning embers. These days there are three main
Kansas City has an average of 100 rainy days per year. That may not sound like a lot, unless you have kids (or grandkids). What’s a parent (or grandparent) to do when the weather doesn’t cooperate for an outdoor activity? Don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of 10 kid friendly indoor attractions in Kansas City.
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Since Fort Worth’s start, way back in 1849, this city has been known as a cowboy town. These days the city still embraces its rowdy past but with a different approach. We journeyed to where the west begins to scope out six family-friendly spots in Fort Worth. This One Day Stay would test our skills
Before we visited Frankfort, Kentucky, we thought it was just about thoroughbred horses, fried chicken, and bluegrass music. What we were to discover was a vibrant past filled with curious moments in history. Did you know that Kentucky was originally part of the Virginia colony? The largest of the original 13 colonies, Virginia ceded the
In late April, of 1607, three ships appeared on the horizon of what would become the Virginia coast. Onboard are 105 passengers who are determined to create the first permanent English settlement in America. Their five-month trip was just the beginning of the challenges these early settlers would face. We journeyed to Jamestown Settlement, along
Traveling to Virginia gave us our first views of the Shenandoah Valley. As pioneers poured into the region, during the 1600s and 1700s, many passed through this area. With an agricultural-based economy, farming was key to almost every family. Our first Virginia stop landed us at the Frontier Culture Museum, in Staunton. We were eager
If you’ve watched many westerns, you are familiar with Ben Johnson. This Oklahoma native, grew up ranching, before trying his hand as a stuntman in Hollywood. When John Ford gave him his break, he ran with it. Ben would appear in over 300 movies and win an Academy Award. In the middle of his acting
It’s not as easy to be a capital city. Frankfort had to outbid neighboring cities to gain the title, in 1792. Twice the capitol building burned down, which allowed those other cities to attempt to usurp the seat of state government. Having a centralized location helped keep the capital in “Mainhattan” (Frankfort’s nickname). To learn
North America is filled with special places just waiting to be explored. As we move farther into our blogging life, our journeys have opened our eyes to new landscapes. This trip allowed us our first views of West Virginia, “The Mountain State”. Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, this capital city was once
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Texas holds a special place in our hearts, so we always enjoy visits to the Lone Star State. With so much to see and do, we find that there just never seems to be enough time. This trip included four unique cities all within striking distance of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. After completing our visit
Our visit to Grapevine, Texas may have been short but it was packed full of fun. When the first settlers arrived in this region, they discovered fields of wild Mustang grapes. It seems like they picked a great name for the town, which was organized in 1844. Our visit was concentrated near the historic downtown.
They say everything is bigger in Texas and evidently that includes the heat index. During the summer of 2023, the Lone Star state experienced an impressive heat wave. We happened to schedule a visit during the start of this event but being sun lovers, we made the most of it. A stop at the Fort
The Kentucky State Capitol isn’t the first of its kind. In fact, it is the fourth building since Kentucky achieved statehood in 1792. We were excited to add a visit to our growing list of capitols, with Frankfort being the 18th under our belts. A trip to the eastern seaboard allowed us to plan two
A visit to the Lone Star State would feel incomplete without at least one barbecue meal. After a day full of educational opportunities, we were ready to explore more of the Deep Ellum neighborhood. Being so near to our downtown hotel, this area was convenient and interesting. An earlier visit allowed us to scout out
Growing up in the Midwest, we discovered the depth of flavors that can be found in this region’s dishes. I remember waiting impatiently as my grandmother fried up chicken for Saturday night dinner. The smell was intoxicating and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the crispy coating. Fast forward a few decades and
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Each city we visit brings with it a chance to sample new flavors. Dining in downtown Grapevine, Texas offered a wide range of choices. With only three meals to plan, we had to narrow down our decisions. We decided to stick to Main Street, which is where a large portion of our activities were taking
A summer adventure led us down roads we had never wandered. Our first stop, on this eastern adventure, landed us in Charleston, West Virginia. Being our first foray into the Mountain State, we chose the capital city as our starting point. Situated just a few steps from the state capitol, the West Virginia State Museum
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There are many reasons to visit the Bluegrass State. Some visit for the southern cuisine, which we found in abundance. Others come for the horse racing or bluegrass music. During our One Day Stay in Frankfort, we discovered Kentuckian’s love their bourbon. Nowhere else are the conditions so perfect for bourbon making. From the moment
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When we were young, there were frequent conversations that revolved around the fateful day in Dallas. It seemed like everyone could remember where they were when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. While I was just a toddler on November 22, 1963, the impact that this heinous act created has been reviewed over and over
Just a couple of hours southeast of Dallas is the historic city of Palestine, Texas. Nestled in the Piney Woods region, this area is where the Texas Oil Boom got its start. It’s a nature lovers paradise filled with rolling hills, lakes, and tall pine tree forests. Our adventure was designed to let us sample
Two of our favorite things are history and eating. If we can find a way to combine the two, then we are about as happy as a couple can be. While exploring downtown Grapevine, we had a chance to do just that. While visiting Harvest Hall, we started with a delectable lunch before moving on
During our time in Fort Worth, Texas, we were quickly discovering some hidden gems. With an interesting dinosaur exhibit in our future, we made a stop at the Fort Worth Science Museum. We expected to find a variety of scientific displays but the idea of a “museum in a museum” had never crossed our minds.
Over the years, we have made many trips to the largest city in Kansas. While we usually focus on the downtown region, we recently took time to check out Wichita’s east side. This suburban region is filled with the residents who keep this city running, so we were anxious to sample some new finds. What
It’s no secret that a good meal begins with presentation. We’ve all heard that dining begins with our eyes and some restaurants really embrace that idea. While exploring the Deep Ellum neighborhood, in Dallas, we made a lunch stop at Hawkers Asian Street Food. We had heard good things about this place, so we wanted
Barbeque is almost a religion in Kansas City. Everyone has an opinion and a foundation from which they formed it. Rosedale Bar-B-Que started life on July 4, 1934. Originally known as The Bucket Shop, this was the spot for hot dogs and beer. What started as a way to survive the Depression, soon became a
Life in 1915 was far different from what we see today. Automobile travel was not as widespread, so many journeys involved train travel. In Palestine, Texas, those arriving by rail would find comfort in knowing the Redlands Hotel was awaiting our arrival. 108 years later, the hotel was again being called upon to house weary
When you hear the word “Cowgirl”, what do you picture? For many generations this term was undefined. Women were excluded from this traditionally masculine field of work. Instead, females were defined as the “moral guardians of American culture”. As westward expansion increased, new opportunities opened up for women. The world would discover that women could
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“Go West and you’ll find plenty of land.” That statement was told to an abundance of farmers who found the eastern states were becoming too crowded. Looking for a place to call home, Thomas Nash moved his family to the Grape Vine Prairie in 1859. We can picture the family’s pleased faces when they arrived
Our first visit to Dallas, Texas would have been incomplete without a stop at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. This world-class science center offers visitors a wide range of experiences. When I found out that they have tons of hands-on exhibits, it was put at the top of our list. To add to
Ready for an adventure that’s 135 years in the making? Hop aboard the Texas State Railroad for a Piney Woods adventure. This four-hour excursion offers riders relaxing views of the rolling landscape. The historic railroad was built in 1883 to serve the mining industry. As this waned, the line was repurposed for tourism. These days
Judging barbecue restaurants has always been subjective. We’ve approached our visits with an open mind. This has allowed us to find something we enjoy at each stop. A relative newcomer, to the Kansas City BBQ scene, is Buck Tui BBQ at 6737 W. 75th Street, in Overland Park. Their menu is a mix of East
Exploration Place is the perfect Wichita stop to act like kids again.
We find Christmas time to be a magical season. Everywhere we wander our views are filled with twinkling lights and brightly colored decorations. A day trip to Leavenworth, Kansas provided us with a special bonus. We missed the Carroll Mansion on our past visits, but fortunately this time we had time. They had recently finished
When we heard that Kansas City has a new mini-golf destination, we couldn’t wait to check it out. Crystal and I have long enjoyed a fun round of miniature golf. Prehistoric Putt, located at 13907 E. US Hwy 40 in Independence, is filled with some challenges that are unlike any we have seen before. We
It’s been many, many years since Crystal and I last attended school. That doesn’t mean we don’t remember school days fondly. In fact, a stay at the Graduate Hotel, in downtown Lincoln, reminded us of those long ago times. Having a home base so close to all of the action made perfect sense. Located in
Being flatlanders, the raw beauty of the mountains always captivates us. Colorado Springs sits on the eastern edge of the peaks. On a previous visit, we discovered that there were too many sites for us to see in one trip. It took a few years, but we finally made our way back for more exploring. On this
The National World War 1 Museum and Memorial is not a memorial to the war. This national treasure is a reminder of the human spirit and the never-ending fight for peace. Life in the trenches was filled with short periods of sheer terror followed by long spans of boredom. Stretching across the horizon, these muddy, rat-infested trenches
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All of the planning in the world won’t change the weather. When we arrived in Colorado Springs, we found ourselves under a heavy cloud deck. With a limited amount of time for exploring, we weren’t about to let it dampen our spirits. It had been quite a few years since our last visit and we had
Opening a new barbecue in Kansas City is always risky business. With over 100 competitors already churning away, you’ll find yourself in an uphill battle. It’s like competing in the American Royal BBQ Contest every day. When a friend clued us in on a newcomer in North Kansas City, we just had to test it out.
When was your last in-flight meal? It seems like we are barely offered peanuts and a drink on current commercial trips. The glory days of commercial flight seem to have passed but we found a way to recreate the experience on a new level. During a visit to Colorado Springs, we found 4 things not
A historic Independence, Missouri visit wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Growing up in Kansas City, we were well aware of Truman’s ties to the area but had not really studied much about the man. Since the Truman Library had recently completed an overhaul, we felt it was
Our visit to Hendricks BBQ in Saint Charles, Missouri, was a tasty escape during our holiday season. Known for its mouthwatering smoked meats and welcoming atmosphere, this spot promised an experience that’s more than just a meal. With its relaxed vibe and comforting aromas, we felt like we stepped into a warm embrace on a
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Our visit to the Christmas Traditions festival in Saint Charles, Missouri, was like stepping into a holiday wonderland. This annual event transforms the historic district into a celebration of timeless holiday cheer. From festive parades to charming window displays, every detail brings the magic of the season to life. We don’t know how it stayed
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