Exploring a new city takes on a new perspective once the sun sets. The older the destination, the more spirits that roam the city streets filling the darkness with their presence. Their stories can be heard in the creaking staircases and banging doors. While we had learned loads of history, at attractions like Immersion Quebec, […]
History In The Shadows – Le Promenades Fantomes Read More »
Can you imagine visiting a new destination and not trying out some of the local eateries? We always try to uncover those places that draw in the city’s residents, since they usually have some of the best dishes. During our trip to Amarillo, we had plenty of opportunities to sample a wide range of restaurants.
Dining On The Panhandle – Amarillo Eats Read More »
Variety keeps life from becoming boring. You can imagine what it would be like if every museum was exactly the same. Each would hold the same static displays and spout the same factoids. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. Each history museum has its own approach to telling stories from the past. We also have a
Seeing The Details – Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Read More »
No matter where we wander, we seem to always find a good burger. It goes to show just how widespread this staple of American dining has become. During a trip to Quebec City, in Canada, we dropped by Le Chic Shack to sample their creative take on this handheld creation. Building the perfect burger requires
Building The Perfect Burger – Le Chic Shack Read More »
When we are determining the first city to cover in a new state, we look for a place that offers something for all ages. After all, it’s not a family vacation destination, if it doesn’t appeal to everybody. Crystal and I have family in Texas but decided to start with a city far away from
Playing In The Panhandle – Amarillo Entertainment Read More »
We have to believe that we are not much different than most of our readers. Like others, we enjoy a good meal, and trying new restaurants is usually a fun experience. During the winter, we find ourselves having brunch more often. A good example was a stop in Room 39, located at 1719 W. 39th
Room 39 – Why Winter Is Brunch Season Read More »
Part of exploring a new destination should always include learning some of the histories of the region. Since almost every city and town has at least one local history museum, it’s easy to have a cultural connection. For years we have been exploring various sites and devouring the information we find at each one. These
Virtual History Tour – Immersion Quebec Read More »
hen we plan out our trips, it seems that breakfast can be some of the most difficult stops to pick. While we enjoy a good down-home breakfast as much as the next person, those types of places don’t make for very interesting articles. Since we want to offer plenty of options, finding an eatery that
Going Green For Breakfast – Girasol Bakery Read More »
Do you seek out local dishes when you travel? We have found it interesting to sample the local cuisine, and it has introduced us to some new dishes. Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America and home to the earliest French settlement in the New World. During our stay, we
Poutine And Pizza At Cafe L’Omelette Read More »
Baseball is often referred to as “America’s Favorite Pastime”. The crack of the bat, roar of the crowd, and feeling of camaraderie that come with a baseball game are hard to match. When we were offered an opportunity to attend a game during our visit to Amarillo, there was no way we were going to
The New Game In Town – Amarillo Sod Poodles Read More »
Visiting a place like Quebec City allows plenty of opportunities to delve into history. With the first permanent trading post being built in 1608, it established a French outpost in the New World. After getting the lay of the land during our guided tour, now we were ready to do some time traveling in Quebec
Time Traveling in Quebec City – Musee Du Fort Read More »
It seems that our fast-paced travel style can get us burning tons of calories, which is a good thing. Our desire to feature plenty of local dining options always has us on the lookout for unique stops. Amarillo, Texas was filled with choices galore, but we wanted to make sure that we took a little
Comfortable Elegance – Public House Amarillo Read More »
What do you get when you cross southern American BBQ with traditional Quebec cuisine? At Faite á l’os (French for “Made to the bone”) we found it is some of the most well-executed barbecue we have ever experienced. When I spoke to people of our plans to visit a barbecue joint in Quebec City, most
Visiting A Quebec Smoke House – Faite A L’OS Read More »
High in the Panhandle-Plains of Texas, people carve out a life from the rugged landscape. Driving across this flat terrain reminded us of traveling across the western half of our home state of Kansas. This perspective changed when we arrived at Palo Duro Canyon. Laid out before us we saw only glimpses of the 120-mile
Palo Duro Canyon – Millions Of Years In The Making Read More »
To think that we have lived within a short three-hour drive of Missouri’s capital, yet it has taken us so long to visit. When we realized this oversight, we reached out to Visit Jefferson City, to arrange a day of exploration. Wanting to get a better understanding of the history of the city, from past
Past To Present In Jefferson City Read More »
Getting the lay of the land can be done in a variety of fashions. During our visit to Quebec City, we decided to forego a car rental and rely on our feet for most of the trip. Since the Old City district only covers about one-half of a square mile, walking from point to point
Montmorency Falls – Learning The Land Read More »
Everyone knows that they do things bigger in Texas. We discovered this also applies to their outdoor theater located in Palo Duro Canyon. After spending a day exploring the 2nd largest canyon in the United States, we made a visit to Texas Outdoor Musical. This long-running musical has played from June through August for over
Texas-sized Fun at Texas Outdoor Musical Read More »
How often do you find yourself wondering why you haven’t frequented a place more often? It seems that we eat at the Jerusalem Cafe food truck every time we are shopping in the West Bottoms, but rarely visit their brick and mortar in Westport. Clearly it was time to check out their new home at
Dinner Feast At Jerusalem Cafe Read More »
Traveling to a new destination can be filled with wonder, as well as some mystery. Determining your home away from home is one of the biggest decisions to be made. While price can certainly be one factor in the selection process, for us it’s mostly about location, location, location! Our first Canadian trip needed to
Checking All The Boxes – Hotel Manoir d’Auteuil Read More »
For almost seven decades, Wonderland Park has been bringing fun to the Panhandle. In the early ’50s, Paul and Alethea Roads traveled to Amarillo to look over some potential property where they might develop an amusement park. While their first impression was less than impressive, a second viewing opened their eyes to the potential. That
Bringing Fun To The Panhandle – Wonderland Park Read More »
Tours are a good way to get some background information at new destinations. While we will usually rely on our exploration, this doesn’t mean we are against guided excursions. Some places are limited to this type of visit, and we happily join in the group fun. This was the case when we stopped at the
Walking The Block At The Missouri State Penitentiary Read More »
Over the course of our travels, we have learned the truth in the saying “Never judge a book by its cover”. This also stands true for many of the restaurants we have found. Sometimes the little hole-in-the-walls offer up some of the best eats around. It is a common practice for us to set our
Coyote Bluff Cafe – Cowboy Up For Lunch Read More »
Visiting a new destination brings so many fun surprises. All of the sightseeing can work up quite an appetite. Fortunately, almost every downtown has an assortment of locally-owned eateries to choose from. Jefferson City is no exception, and we were filled with anticipation to take a peek behind the curtain at The Grand Cafe. When
The Grand Cafe – A Peek Behind The Curtain Read More »
When we really think about it, Oklahoma City and Kansas City have a lot in common. Both are located in the heart of the country and filled with welcoming residents. They are located on the I-35 corridor, which bisects our nation. They are both transportation hubs and share a history associated with the cattle industry.
OKC Streetcar – Coloring A New Downtown Read More »
Who remembers those summer camping trips from your youth? Those are memories that had been stored in a dusty file in the back of my brain. When we were in the planning stages of our Amarillo trip, we were looking for some unusual stops to add to the itinerary. Braley Hand, our contact at the
Jack Sisemore Traveland RV Museum – Revisiting Our Childhoods Read More »
Whenever we visit a state capital, we try to include a stop at the state museum, as well. While each city and town will usually show a local perspective, these state-sponsored destinations have an overarching view. The unusual thing about the Missouri State Museum is that it resides inside of the capitol building. Since we
Sizing Up Some History – Missouri State Museum Read More »
By now, we are sure that you all know we love barbecue. Being from the Midwest, we have sauce coursing through our veins. Traveling across the continent has given us opportunities to sample this smoky cuisine in some unexpected locations. A visit to Oklahoma City would not be considered an unusual destination for ‘Cue. When
7 Reasons To Chow Down At Bedlam Bar-B-Q Read More »
Everyone knows that the Grand Canyon is the largest in the United States, but you do you where the second largest is at? You can imagine our surprise, when we discovered that it lies just south of Amarillo, Texas. Yes, the panhandle plains are home to Palo Duro Canyon, which is HUGE! While our visit
Take A Wild Ride At Palo Duro Creek Ranch Read More »
Exploring Jefferson City would never be complete without sampling a couple of downtown restaurants. While they have a variety of cuisines to select from, sampling the BBQ scene is often a priority for us. Fortunately, we found an option sitting within easy walking distance from the capital building. After a day of exploring, we were
Sampling The BBQ Scene – Sweet Smoke BBQ Read More »
The idea of containing all of the history of a state in one location would be futile. Each one would be overflowing with a wealth of artifacts and information, that just couldn’t be gathered in one place. Of course, many of the state museums do a fantastic job at detailing a wide variety of the
Touching The Past – Oklahoma History Center Read More »
Longevity is one of the main goals in the restaurant business. Many struggle to make it through the first couple of years, as they fight to build a consistent following. If they make it to five years, then they face the next issue, which is to prevent their menu from becoming stale to their regular
35 Years of Panhandle Pride – Calico County Read More »
On August 10, 1821 Missouri officially became a state. At that time the capital was in St. Charles, but plans for a new state capital were in the works. From what we could ascertain, Jefferson City was the only place specifically created to serve as the capital of a state. After the Missouri state legislature
Storied History At Jefferson Landing Read More »
You may have noticed that we have a thing for downtown areas of destinations we visit. Over the past few years, we are seeing more and more cities experiencing a revitalization of their urban regions. This return to the core has sparked the opening of some unique attractions, shops, and lodging options. Of course, when
Bringing Brunch To Downtown Oklahoma City – Kitchen 324 Read More »
This was our first visit to the southern High Plains region of Texas. With three days to explore, we planned on learning about the history of the region. The huge mesa that encompasses this portion of the high plains is actually named Llano Estacado. It is often translated as the Staked Plains. Using Amarillo as
Life In The Staked Plains – Panhandle Plains Historical Museum Read More »
Kansas City has become a destination for some of the best Mexican cuisine north of the border. All across the metro, diners will find an array of options, with dishes that originate from the various states in Mexico. Much like dining across the United States, each Mexican district has its own flavors to impart. We
Hacienda To The Heartland – Mi Ranchito Cocina & Cantina Read More »
While the banjo did not get its start in America, it has certainly found a way into the culture of American music. I have had a fascination with this unique sounding instrument for many years. When our travels brought us back to Oklahoma City, it offered an opportunity I would not pass up a second
Picking And Grinning At The American Banjo Museum Read More »
Some like it hot, but we prefer it to be flavor-packed. Amarillo, Texas is chocked full of intriguing dining options, so we knew our trip would be delicious. One of the reasons we chose Amarillo as our first Texas blogging city, was that it lies smack dab on Route 66. There is a section of
Tex-Mex Fix On Route 66 – Braceros Mexican Grill & Cantina Read More »
It’s hard to beat a good burger for lunch. Wherever we travel, we always look to add at least one good burger joint to our itinerary. It never ceases to amaze us with the unique ways that eateries find to dress up this handheld staple. During a return visit to Oklahoma City, we had a
Rocking The Classics At S&B’s Burger Joint Read More »
Traveling through the Texas Panhandle can bring with it some unusual sights. One of the most popular paths is to follow along the old Route 66, which passes through Amarillo. Just west of the city, we happened upon the Cadillac Ranch. This quirky art installation is visited by thousands of budding artists annually. The open
Ever Changing Landscape – Cadillac Ranch Read More »
Let’s face it, us Kansas Citians have a thing for barbecue. There may be other cities that claim the crown for this delectable cuisine, but there is a reason that the World Series of BBQ is held in our hometown. For those needing more proof, just drive by Arrowhead Stadium before a Chiefs game, and
Get Sauced At Big Q Bar-B-Q Read More »
To gain a true history of Dubuque, you have to go all the way back to the 1700s. The first European settler arrived in the region in 1785. Julien Dubuque had received permission from Spain to mine the lead-rich deposits in and around the bluffs of the Mississippi River. The ownership of the territory would
Discover Dubuque – Iowa’s First City Read More »
How many of you find yourself moving at a faster pace during your vacations? It seems that we feel the clock ticking on our time away, and we want to pack it full of leisurely activities. By the time we return home, we feel like we need a vacation from our vacation. We have found
Peace In The Panhandle – Amarillo Botanical Gardens Read More »
Kansas City has slowly, but surely become a haven for Mexican cuisine. From the small Mom & Pop street taco shops of KCK to the larger chain restaurants scattered throughout the metro. It seems that finding a taco vendor is just about as easy as locating a barbecue. When Guy Fieri decided to jump into
Blurring The Line – Guy Fieri’s Dive & Taco Joint Read More »
Don’t you like it when you find a hometown connection when visiting a new destination? This is exactly what happened to us, during our stay in Amarillo, Texas, but we will talk about that in a minute. Part of our focus, on this trip, was finding stops that are perfect for Route 66 travelers. (Here’s
Cowboy Spirit At The Big Texan Read More »
To this day, we are amazed at the number of hidden gems that we find spread around the Kansas City metro. There are so many alcoves and pockets dotting the landscape. Thank goodness for Google Maps, since finding places in the pre-computer age was much more difficult. Of course, there are paths that many of
Discover Hidden Flavor – Queen Sweets Bakery Read More »
There were certain attractions that were “must-sees” during our visit to Dubuque, Iowa. Being Iowa’s first city, it is no surprise that there is a river nearby. Of course, this isn’t just any river. Visiting the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium promised to be an adventure on a grand scale. After all, it’s the
Nature’s Highways – National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Read More »
When we planned our visit to Amarillo, there was an unusual stop that we wanted to catch, which lies north of the city. The Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is the only park in Texas dedicated to preserving the quarries of the native peoples. The admission to the park is FREE and includes the beautiful
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument – Digging The Past Read More »
It never ceases to amaze us, that one specific dish can have so many variations. A prime example of this is pizza. We are sure that images of various versions of this Italian delicacy are floating through your mind. Not only are there a myriad of ingredient combinations, but these days there is an untold
Saint Louis Style Pizza In Kansas City – Leo’s Pizza Read More »
When we are developing an itinerary for a new destination, picking our dining locations is especially important. I got my blogging start by hosting a local restaurant site for five years. When we expanded to our travel blog, it was important that we maintained our roots. Fortunately, locating interesting restaurants is usually easy. When I
Family Tradition At Vinny Vanucchi’s Little Italy Read More »
Too many travelers find Kansas to be just another “fly-over” state. To us, that term also refers to those that just cruise along I-70 on their way to some other place. What many of them do not realize is that by getting off of the interstate, they have an opportunity to enjoy a truly cultural
Calling Kansas Explorers – Check Out Little Sweden USA Read More »