Vacations offer a chance to broaden our horizons and expand our lives with new experiences. When we are in the planning phase for upcoming trips, we look for opportunities to include a wide spectrum of activities. Each destination serves up its unique flavor, by presenting a selection of attractions. An excursion to St. Charles, Illinois, […]
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Real life is often more sensational than make believe. Being a fan of westerns, I was excited to finally visit Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was in this city that a real life legend held court during the Wild West days. While many are unaware of Judge Parker’s court, it left an indelible mark on the
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History is a series of stories told by many voices. While each community will have its historical collections, we find the capital cities will usually be the location of the state museum. Here we can gather a better representation of what has transpired, on a grander scale. Our only previous Wisconsin visit had been to
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Have you ever felt like you were standing on top of the world? After a day of exploring Arches National Park, we couldn’t imagine anything matching its wonder and beauty. The evening had found us relocating to our next city, Grand Junction, Colorado. Our plan was an early morning excursion into the Colorado National Monument,
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Nature has a way of supplying an endless amount of surprises. Many friends have recommended to us a visit to the Wisconsin Dells. Having seen a parade of photos from the area, we were excited to add it to our journeys. Located in the southern half of the state, it lies along the path of
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There are some subjects that people tend to shy away from during conversation. Mental illness is one that can leave people feeling uncomfortable. During one of our outings, we stopped by the St. Joseph Museum Complex to learn more about the history of treating mental disorders. What we discovered inside reminded us that those struggling
Glore Psychiatric Museum – Facing The Past Read More »
In 1926, Ford was inventing the 40-hour work week, while Author A.A. Milne introduced the world to Winnie-the-Pooh. Prohibition was at its peak and had been in place for over 5 years. Bootleggers had created an extensive network for the distribution of their products. Our lessons at past museums told us that there also existed
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It seems to me that I’m always hungry when we arrive at a new destination. While this could be tied to the length of time spent in the car, often it is more about getting to know the culinary vibe of the city. We always hear about the importance of first impressions, but what about
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Planning a long road trip requires finding plenty of balance. The required driving time has to be offset with some enjoyable stops. I have found that the longer the drive, the bigger the reward should be at the end. Since this road trip was somewhat of a circular route, I had strategically placed a couple
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It seems that every destination holds at least one surprise for us. Our return visit to St. Joseph gave us a chance to not only update some previous articles but also add a new eatery. Since we love focusing on downtown areas, we headed to Seventh and Felix to see what we could find. The
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The story of Fort Smith begins with the Louisiana Purchase. Before this, the lands along the Arkansas River were used by nomadic Native Indians. A military post, erected in 1817, signaled the beginning of the town, which sprung up along the eastern shores of the river. The fort, and subsequent city, were named after Thomas
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These days there are lots of restaurants vying for your attention. Wherever we roam, we have noticed that more eateries are finding unique ways to draw in a crowd. The Pennant, in downtown Topeka, has discovered a pleasing mix where food and fun collide. Our day of exploring was chugging along, but our need to
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Long ago (actually the 1970s), we were introduced to a new level of movie-making. I can remember standing in line waiting to view a newly released film, named Star Wars. We had no idea what to expect, but an entire generation was introduced to intergalactic entertainment. The use of CGI helped transport us to distant
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It feels a little repetitive to mention that we live in a city filled with amazing barbecue restaurants. While we may not have sandy beaches or snow-capped mountains, any given day can bring the smell of grilling meats wafting across the landscape. When we are looking for southern BBQ in Kansas City, we have a
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Like many frequent travelers, we have a list of destinations that we hope to visit in our lifetimes. Every once in a while, we will discover one that has flown below our radar. This was the case for Fort Smith, Arkansas. The city’s slogan is “Where the New South meets the Old West”. It is
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In only 19 months, the Pony Express made a lasting impact on American history. Just the mere mention of this unique enterprise stirs images of racing ponies carrying wiry cowboys across the changing landscape. Facing pitfalls and hazards, along the way, many of these young men would etch their names in the history books. We
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Traversing our nation, one finds wonder in almost every destination. After a three-day visit with our son in the Seattle area, we were on the downhill slope of our Epic Road Trip. We still had plenty of sights to see, but it would be mixed with an abundance of road hours. Departing early in the
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I have to admit that there’s a little kid in me that can come out at the most inopportune moments. To limit the silliness from becoming too rampant, I find it best to shower my inner child with periodic visits to kid-friendly attractions. Kansas City just happens to be home to quite a few of
National Museum of Toys And Miniatures – Releasing My Inner Child Read More »
What are some of your earliest memories of amusement parks? While researching a visit to Universal Studios Orlando, I discovered that the first modern amusement parks began along the east coast. We are all likely familiar with the name Coney Island and it was home to one of these fun fixtures way back in 1895.
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Our trip to the northwest corner of the country supplied us with some unique opportunities. Dwelling in the heartland brings its own scenes of beauty, but in Washington State, we were finding new experiences. After spending a couple of days with our son, along came a day he had to work. This gave us a
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American history is filled with events large and small, but some created a reverberation felt throughout the country. While the Civil War had legally brought an end to slavery, it did not prohibit the inequality of segregation. Black people were told they were free, but real life didn’t represent this change. Jim Crow laws had
Leveling The Field – Brown Vs Board Of Education Read More »
It may be best to begin this article with a disclaimer. Our daughter is a huge fan of Harry Potter, but Crystal and I approach this book-based series a little less seriously. A monumental dual occasion provided the three of us a reason to head to Orlando for some magical moments. The start of 2022
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As I sit writing this article, my mind is wandering back to our table at HomeGrown Kansas City, located at 338 W. 63rd St. in KCMO. This Wichita-based restaurant broke ground in our hometown and has seen amazing success. It may just be their delectable pop tartlets, which are great paired with a cup of
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When we set about planning our travels for 2021, it was determined that we needed to add a visit to the Northwest Coast. This is the region where our youngest son, Derek, had relocated and we had never seen this part of the country. Those two points would become the basis for our Epic Road
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While the interstate highways work well for transporting people in the quickest fashion, they leave a lot to be desired for sight-seeing. For decades, we have made the journey to Minnesota to visit Crystal’s relatives. Most of the time, we just want a quick route, but when time allows we venture off the beaten path.
Grotto Of The Redemption – Iowa’s Precious Gem Read More »
For more than 100 years, the Pike Place Market has been operating just steps from Elliott Bay. Packed full of creative shops, restaurants, and vendors, there is always something new to see. For this portion of our Epic Road Trip, we joined our son Derek on a day exploring Seattle. He had stoked our imaginations
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With only half of a day to explore Natchez, we had to work quickly to see as much as possible. Even as we toured, we could already see a return visit would be required. With that in mind, we decided to hit the biggest highlights of Mississippi’s first city. A “must-see” for this short visit
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The second day of our Epic Road Trip had finished with a stay in Billings, Montana. We woke on day 3, refreshed and ready to continue our push to the coast. While we wish to explore more sections of Montana, we would have to put that idea on the backburner for now. Today’s schedule included
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What’s 50 feet tall, green, and can be found in Blue Earth, Minnesota? If you guessed the Jolly Green Giant, you were spot on. Towering high above the Green Giant Museum, this iconic figure casts a long shadow. He is so large that he wears size 78 shoes on his long green legs. Ever since
Drawing A Crowd – Jolly Green Giant Museum Read More »
The second day of our Epic Road Trip looked to be filled with many unusual sights. We had started at Badlands National Park, before making our way into Wall, South Dakota. After a quick lunch break in Rapid City, we returned to the road and continued our path west. Our goal was to add a
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During our travels, we like to figure out what each city has for an overarching theme. Bentonville, Arkansas has focused on creating an urban area filled with interactive opportunities. No matter your activity level, there is plenty to occupy your time during a visit. We were pleased to discover food and fun designed to appeal
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Imagine traveling across South Dakota in the 1930s. Most travelers would have come to this area to see the Badlands and Black Hills. In between those two attractions would have been plenty of open space. If you owned a business along this barren drive, you would have struggled to draw in visitors. In 1931, Ted
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When people mention dining in Kansas City, many will think of barbecue. While it is certainly a popular subject in our hometown, it is far from the only cuisine to be found here. In fact, there are tons of great eats to be found tucked away all over town. Kansas City, Kansas is our neck
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As we crossed the Mississippi River into Natchez, we could see the bluffs lining the eastern shore. Little did we know, this day would lead to an education lesson about the indigenous people who used to call this region home. Making our way through the city, we would eventually wind up at the Grand Village
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Our Epic Road Trip was off to an amazing start. We were winding down Day 1, and we had already discovered three fun stops. Heading west out of Mitchell, we made our way across the flat prairie. Our first leg included 500 miles of beautiful scenery, as we traversed across Iowa and into South Dakota.
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Are there places that you’ve been meaning to visit for years? We faced that same situation right in our backyard. The Shawnee Indian Mission has been a destination we have discussed visiting for quite some time. It seems like some other stop would always push this place to the back burner. We finally said “enough
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For the past few years, our travel has focused on destinations that we can showcase to other travelers. After all, our blog was designed to spark ideas for others to enjoy for themselves. Once in a while we will break from the norm and take a little time for some rest and relaxation. Even during
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It is widely believed that it was the Ancient Egyptians who invented pie. This early version was a crusty creation filled with honey. In the 5th Century BC, Greeks fashioned a pastry recipe, which would be tweaked by the Romans to become similar to today’s version. Fast forward to the 1900s, and we find this
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There are times that I do feel sorry for my family, especially Crystal. It should go without saying that I am a fan of dad jokes, what with being a dad. When I was planning the route for our Epic Road Trip, I realized it would take us past Mitchell, South Dakota. This would offer
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Whenever we visit a new destination, we keep our eyes open for a theme. Some cities are all about history, while others can focus on family fun. As we made our way through Mason City, we quickly realized this Iowa city is overflowing with artistic subjects. While it has plenty of history to discover, it
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It goes without saying that a visit to Memphis has to include some time walking on Beale Street. Starting at the Mississippi River, the route travels almost 2 miles into the city. The iconic portion that many people picture is actually only about 5 blocks long. Packed with entertainment, shopping, and dining establishments, Beale Street
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As I sit here writing this article, the winter snow is falling in Kansas City. Our Epic Road Trip is still fresh in our minds, even though it has been a dozen weeks since it wrapped up. Looking out at the cold, it is easy to imagine the times that ice sheets once spread across
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Southern cooking is all about comfort, so you know we love it. While some would consider Bentonville, Arkansas to be the northern edge of the south, we found it gives them a unique position in the culinary world. This vibrant city has a ton of interesting dining options that capture the flavors of the region.
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It seems that more and more cities we visit are learning to embrace art. Some have distinct districts that focus on showcasing artists. Others are finding a flourish of new art forms, such as murals, being introduced to their urban areas. When we arrived in Mason City, it didn’t take us long to find that
MacNider Art Museum – All About Art Read More »
Getting the feel for a new destination requires sampling a little of the local cuisine. Since this trip was all about seeing the south, we wanted to embrace the foods that have become legendary. We had already received a good background on the history of Natchez, Mississippi at the local tourism bureau. It had been
Biscuits And Blues – Natchez Hospitality Read More »
Each new city and town we visit has its own particular feel. Some are historic sites with ages of artifacts. Others are artistic centers that entertain the eyes with rich and unique visions. It only took a few minutes for us to realize that Clear Lake, Iowa has a beach party vibe. Our arrival was
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Standing on the North Shores of Minnesota, one finds themselves admiring the beauty of Lake Superior. The choppy waters hint at the hidden dangers that lie below the surface. Resting in the depths of those cold waters are roughly 350 ships. Many of these were victims of the fierce gales that sweep in during the
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When you travel to the home base of Walmart, you can expect big things. The Walton family has been diligent in giving back to the community and Bentonville has certainly prospered from this relationship. A prime example of this is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Creating a world-class art museum is an expensive
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Traveling can be extremely exciting, but being too long on the road can become uncomfortable. Even having all of the luxuries, won’t remove the desire for the comforts of home. Can you imagine embarking on a perilous two-year-long trip across unchartered lands? That is precisely what Meriwether Lewis and William Clark faced during their famous
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Breakfast meals are some of the hardest to blog about on a consistent pace. While we all love a delectable start to our day, quite often the meals are cookie-cutter style and resemble many others we have enjoyed. It takes something out of the ordinary to help get the creative juices flowing for an article.
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