Living in Tornado Alley, an area stretching from Texas to Nebraska, means grappling with both the thrill and the challenge of nature’s raw power. For decades, Greensburg, Kansas was known for being the home of the largest hand-dug well in the world. On the evening of May 7, 2007, their history would be forever changed. Residents […]
Greensburg, Kansas – A Tale Of Rebirth Read More »
Whenever I plan a trip itinerary, it needs to include a variety of dining experiences. We hope it will provide enough choices for others to find something they like. Winnipeg has so many options that I struggled to narrow them down. After a day filled with visits to the zoo and botanical gardens, we were
St. James Burger – Family Friendly Eats Read More »
A visit to the Hjemkomst Center, in Moorhead, Minnesota is a good way to examine the Norwegian influence on the region.
Hjemkomst Center – Dual City Fun Read More »
We consider ourselves blessed to reside in a city with many diverse attractions. Museums are one of our favorite destinations, and the Museum at Prairiefire fits a specific niche in this category. The museum is inside the Prairiefire neighborhood at 5801 W. 135th Street in Overland Park, Kansas. The building is the first in North
Hands-on Fun At Museum at Prairiefire Read More »
On a sunny afternoon, we traveled along the Red River, heading north from Winnipeg. Our twenty-minute drive allowed views of the Canadian countryside. The familiar sight of prairie plains reminded us how similar the landscape is to our homeland in the U.S. Midwest. Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site was our destination and we were
Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site – A Look Into The Past Read More »
Traveling across North America has provided plenty of variety to our diets. When I’m planning a multiple city road trip, I attempt to add as many cuisines as possible. During a northern excursion, we stopped by Wurst Bier Hall for lunch. It provided an opportunity for going German in Fargo, North Dakota. This is a
Wurst Bier Hall – Going German In Fargo Read More »
It seems that the whole world has seen or read something about Joe’s KC Bar-B-Que. When we think of KC barbeque restaurants, this is one of the most well-known. The love for Kansas City-style barbecue is strong enough, that on any given day, you can see license plates from across America. A visit to one
The Waiting Game At Joe’s KC BBQ Read More »
It’s been a few years since our first Canada visit, so we were eager to return to the friendly north. Our research showed that Winnipeg is only a 12-hour drive from Kansas City. This made it easy to pick our next destination. We liked that our first taste of Manitoba would be in a city
Our First Taste of Manitoba – Forks And Fergie’s Read More »
We may not have lived through the 1950s, but the nostalgia of that era has become woven in our country’s fabric. Television shows, like Happy Days, helped form our view of the “Glory Days” from the end of WWII. Our first evening in Fargo, we discovered this time capsule of Americana. Kroll’s Diner is a
Kroll’s Diner – Retro Dining Vibe Read More »
Road tripping is our passion, but we wondered what the farthest distance a day trip should involve. 2024 seemed like a good year to test this out, so we planned a series of short excursions. Each one would take us a little farther away from our home in Kansas City. Two-hour drives are no issue,
Bentonville Day Trip – Pushing The Limits Read More »
Over the years, Virginia has had a lot of nicknames. King Charles II dubbed it “Old Dominion” due to his loyalty to the crown. In recent years the title “Mother of Presidents” seems more appropriate. After all, eight U.S. presidents were born in this area. With so much history, we knew it was a state
Loving Virginia – Our First Taste Of Old Dominion Read More »
It’s been said that the simple things are quite often the best. Such is the case at Tay’s Burger Shack, located at 1019 Armour Road, in North Kansas City, Missouri. You won’t find page after page of menu items. Here they focus on a few things and they do them right. This hole-in-the-wall eatery has
Tay’s Burger Shack – Grass Fed Goodness Read More »
We are on a mission to show people that interesting stories are found all across North America. One of our favorite historic destinations is Abilene, Kansas. This northern stop along the Chisholm Trail has plenty of Wild West history, but the stories don’t end there. Our news feed is often filled with new things to
Buckle Up For An Abilene, Kansas Day Trip Read More »
These days it is too easy to forget about the earliest residents in the lands we call home. So much of our lives revolve around the daily activities that we have disconnected ourselves from our history. This is why visiting places like the Museum Of Native American History is important. Finding a destination that focuses
Facing The Past – M.O.N.A.H. Read More »
How many times do we drive past a hole-in-the-wall destination without even noticing? If we are being honest with ourselves, this happens to us more than we like to admit. A prime example is a small restaurant that sits at 1032 Minnesota Ave., in Kansas City, Kansas. Home to GG’s Barbacoa Café, this petite diner
GG’s Barbacoa Cafe – Chef Inspired Cuisine Read More »
Being flatlanders doesn’t mean we have no resources for fun. With Kansas City as our starting point, we have a multitude of potential destinations within a 3-4 hour drive. On a beautiful Spring day, we hightailed it down the road for a Wichita adventure. The largest city in Kansas was calling our name and we
Wichita, Kansas – A Nutty Adventure Read More »
Abilene, Kansas held a few surprises for us. Some of you may have heard of the Brookville Hotel, which originated in Brookville, Kansas in the late 1800s. When it moved closer to the interstate, the story moved to a new page. Another generation of fried chicken lovers began discovering this iconic classic. The story doesn’t
Legacy Kansas – Writing The Next Page Read More »
Vacations are our chance to sample other parts of our world. Our excursion to Virginia was opening new opportunities to learn some history of America. While this was the main goal of our trip, we did set aside a day to just recharge. Being so close to the coast, we knew a beach day would
Virginia Beach – A Couple’s Story Read More »
Being Midwesterners, we were looking forward to our visit to Old Cowtown. Wichita has a lot of similarities to our hometown of Kansas City. Both cities were frontier towns, that grew famous for their cattle trade. They also have the confluence of two rivers in the heart of their city. It was near this junction
Old Cowtown – A Step Back In Time Read More »
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.
Up Up And Away to the TWA Museum Read More »
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
Kings Arms Tavern – A Revolutionary Meal Read More »
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
Preserving History at the Arabia Steamboat Museum Read More »
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
Colonial Williamsburg – The Early Days Of America Read More »
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
Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum – Eating Up History Read More »
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
Pawhuska, Oklahoma – A Visit To Osage Country Read More »
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
American Revolution Museum At Yorktown Read More »
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
12 Kansas City BBQ Joints That We Love Read More »
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.
10 Kid Friendly Indoor Attractions In Kansas City Read More »
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
Six Family-friendly Spots In Fort Worth Read More »
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
Frankfort Kentucky – A Colorful Capital Read More »
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
Jamestown Settlement – Winds of Change Read More »
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
Frontier Culture Museum – Where Cultures Blend Read More »
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
Ben Johnson – Modern Day Cowboy Read More »
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
Capital City Museum – Frankfort’s Time Capsule Read More »
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
Charleston, WV – Our First Visit To The Mountain State Read More »
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.
Grapevine Texas – One Day Of Discovery Read More »
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
Fort Worth Zoo – Deep In The Heat Of Texas Read More »
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
Kentucky State Capitol – Timely Visit Read More »
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
Dinner In Dallas – Pork And Pie Read More »
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
Delivering Crunch – Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Read More »
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
Dining In Downtown Grapevine Read More »
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
West Virginia State Museum – Our Doorway To The Past Read More »
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
Exploring Bourbon Country In Frankfort, Kentucky Read More »
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
Fateful Day In Dallas – Sixth Floor Museum Read More »
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
Palestine Texas – A Piney Woods Adventure Read More »
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
Harvest Hall History Lesson Read More »
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.
Cattle Raisers At Fort Worth Science Museum Read More »
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
Wichita’s East Side Read More »
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
Hawkers Asian Street Food – Artful Eats Read More »