The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an American classic that has been cherished by readers for generations. From its first publication, in 1876, this adventure into childhood has captured the imagination of Mark Twain fans. As we had already discovered, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) was a master of drawing from life, when creating his […]
Drawing From Life – Becky Thatcher Read More »
Spending time with our grandkids has opened up opportunities to visit some fun destinations. Being able to share our love for zoos with them helps us build a stronger bond while learning more about the world we live in. A recent excursion had us going on safari to the Topeka Zoo for a morning filled
Going On Safari – Topeka Zoo Read More »
The mere mention of the town of Hannibal, Missouri evokes images of Mark Twain. It seems his iconic identity goes hand-in-hand with this river town. Most of us have grown up on the literary works of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who penned the books we read in school. The characters he created kept us entertained with
Triumph Over Oppression – Huck Finn Freedom Center Read More »
How many of us remember that special friend we had when we were growing up? Wouldn’t it be great to have the opportunity to meet back up and join forces later in life? This is exactly what happened to a pair of kids who grew up in the middle of the Heartland. After going their
Self-Serve Banking – Brew Bank Read More »
The year is 1921 and the world is coming out of World War 1. America was coming out of these troubled times with a renewed vigor. With the prospects of the world looking up, people began looking for new ways to expand their horizons. The war had shown people how aviation was the transportation avenue
Take To The Skies – Nicholas Beazley Aviation Museum Read More »
It is fair to say that Evel Knievel is one of the most recognizable names in daredevil history. While there have been many before and after him, he set the bar for showmanship. With over 75 ramp-to-ramp jumps to his fame, he spent the bulk of his life creating the legend that many of us
Always The Showman – Evel Knievel Museum Read More »
It goes without saying that we love learning about animals. Our world is filled with fascinating creatures that leave us in awe and remind us that we are just one piece of a massive ecological puzzle. Whether it’s unusual species or just an unbelievable specimen, there is a ton of education that comes with each
The Wonder Dog Of Marshall Read More »
Picture a vast inland sea teeming with an abundance of prehistoric creatures. Along the edge of the water laid a vast swamp filled with an assortment of dinosaurs. Overhead, Pteranodons floated on the warm air currents, as they scanned the horizon for an easy meal. This is the scene that would have played out in
A Date With History – Hays, Kansas Read More »
It was an unexpectedly cold and wet day in the middle of Kansas. We arrived at Taco Shop for an early lunch with our new friend Janet Kuhn. Our visit to Hays was winding down to the last few hours, so this would be our last get together. It was fitting that our last meal
50 Years And Counting – Taco Shop Read More »
The year is 1865 and the Civil War has just ended. While westward expansion had significantly slowed during the war, it did not take long for it to resume. As settlers pushed for new territories to be opened, it would spark a resurgence of the American Indian War. Out on the westerns front, in Kansas,
Taming The Plains – Fort Hays Read More »
It is no surprise that the pieces and parts of The Wizard of Oz have saturated our daily lives. Based on the children’s novel, written by L. Frank Baum, it has been declared as “America’s greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale”. How many times have each of us uttered one of the familiar phrases that are
Familiar Phrases – Oz Museum Read More »
We love finding cities that have recaptured the magic of their downtown corridor. For decades this nation has seen the urban flight, which has left the inner cores of our cities empty. With all of the existing infrastructure still in place, these areas are ripe for redevelopment, like what we found in Hays, Kansas. During
Eat, Drink, and Enjoy – Gella’s Diner Read More »
It has often been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We know this to be true, as it is fuel for a successful day of exploring. Those quiet moments spent planning our upcoming adventures are some of our favorites. Besides, having the opportunity to sample a variety of restaurants gives
Breakfast Inspiration – Good Evans Read More »
When we visit a new destination, one of our goals is to learn about its unique past. Every city and town has its own stories to tell, it just requires finding the right storyteller. To learn about the early days of hays, we tapped into the knowledge of Katie Annett, from the Ellis County Historical
The Early Days Of Hays – Ellis County Historical Museum Read More »
“Go West, young man, go west.” was a cry to push America’s westward expansion. When Horace Greeley first said these words, in 1865, he saw the potential of the fertile lands beyond the Mississippi River. As emigrants began their westward bound travels, new “roads” would spring up that led toward the setting sun. We love
Westward Bound – The Archway Read More »
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, especially when traveling. It sets the tone for the entire day and provides the start needed to fuel a morning of exploration. While many newer restaurants are focusing on Instagram worthy plates, there is still much to be said for good old-fashioned breakfasts. On
Family Friendly Feasting – Pheasant Run Pancake House Read More »
It may be hard to believe, but millions of years ago Kansas was part of a huge inland sea. Traveling across the western half of the state, it is not an ocean that comes to mind. It takes excursions off of the interstate to expose the true history of the region. We made a visit
Life In Dinosaur Days – Sternberg Museum Read More »
Do you ever wonder what it was like to live the prairie life in 1890? We dropped by the Stuhr Museum to get a firsthand look at this huge living history site. Located in Grand Island, this Nebraska museum whisks visitors back to a simpler time. This extensive complex is made up of a series
Prairie Life In 1890 – Stuhr Museum Read More »
You have probably heard people refer to Kansas as “flat as a pancake”. To many along the coasts, our fly-over state is bereft of any tourism value. Fortunately, we know better. Scattered across our home state is a slew of unique oddities and interesting stories. The drive along I-70 opens up a lot of possibilities
The Chalk Pyramids – Monument Rocks National Landmark Read More »
The end of a long drive should have some kind of reward. After hot-tailing it from Kansas City to Grand Island, Nebraska, we were famished. Before we could even think about touring the local sights, we needed something to get us revved up. Right as we were rolling into town we spotted Thunder Road Grill.
Starting Our Engines At Thunder Road Grill Read More »
If you Google Marysville, Kansas you will find that it is listed as a city in Marshall County with about 3300 residents. While these statistics seem commonplace, they do little to tell the city’s story. To truly understand the dynamics of this historic town you have to experience it firsthand. Our short jaunt from Kansas
Fall In Love With Marysville, Kansas Read More »
Who was Samuel Langhorne Clemens? It has been noted that he was one of the greatest American humorists. Of course, there are many who upon hearing that name, are left with a puzzled gaze. When the name Mark Twain is mentioned, then they immediately picture the white suit and gray haired author. Still others, who
A Man Of Many Names – Who Was Mark Twain? Read More »
Our style of travel can certainly make a body weary. Since many of our trips are designed to gather as much research as possible, we can find ourselves worn out by the end of each day. Fortunately, there is always a place nearby to lay our heads. In Marysville, Kansas we had planned an action-packed
Feeling At Home In Marysville – Trailhead Suites Read More »
Smoke hung heavy around the Oliver Anderson home. Bullet holes pockmarked the brick walls of the house. This early battle of the Civil War had been sparked by the seizure of money by Federal troops. Now they found themselves outnumbered and in short supply of a most important resource. The battle was entering its third
Hemp Bales And Bluffs – Battle Of Lexington, Missouri Read More »
With a trail of dust in their wake, Pony Express riders sped across the prairie on their journey toward California. After leaving St. Joseph, they would find a fresh horse waiting for them about every ten miles. A quick stop allowed them to trade mounts and in a flash, they were back on the route.
Pony Express Barn Museum – Rest For The Weary Read More »
Imagine life 100 years after the United States had won its independence. The year is 1876 and things are changing rapidly in America. Alexander Graham Bell has just invented the telephone. Heinz Ketchup and Budweiser beer make their debut. Here in Kansas, Wyatt Earp is hired to work in Dodge City. The Pony Express had
Koester House Museum – Capturing A Moment In Time Read More »
One of our favorite parts of exploring new destinations is sampling the local cuisine options. When we roll into a new city, we like to keep our eyes open to dining choices that are loved by the locals. Marysville, Kansas has plenty of those, but with just over 24 hours to explore, we realized we
Marysville Dining – Fuel For Exploring Read More »
Located in the heart of the state of Missouri, you will find the city of Boonville. While many pass by the exit along I-70, we went day-tripping in Boonville to learn more of the city’s historical significance. Transportation has seemed to have played a huge role in this Midwest destination, even before it was founded.
Day-tripping In Boonville, Missouri Read More »
Exploring new destinations is always an eye-opening experience. One of our first stops is usually the local history museum. This helps us learn the background stories that are found in every community. That is how we landed at the Marshall County Museum in Marysville, Kansas. Pulling up in front of the 1891 courthouse had our
Background Stories – Marshall County Museum Read More »
Have you ever seen a black squirrel? When we started planning our visit to Marysville, we discovered that this Kansas town has an unexpected mascot. It seems that sometime in the past, black squirrels were introduced to this environment. Now they have proliferated throughout the community and have achieved somewhat of celebrity status. While our
Black Squirrel Sightings In Marysville, Kansas Read More »
When we think about travel at the turn of the 19th Century, everything seemed so black and white. Much of that is because color photography had not yet been invented. Of course, from visiting museums, we also realize that many of the automobiles of the day were produced in one color. Until our visit to
Mitchell Car Museum – Coloring The Past Read More »
How many times have you overlooked a small town, because you didn’t think it had much to see? If we are being honest, this happens too often, because we have been programmed to believe this. Creating our travel blog has opened our eyes and minds to the wonderful collection of artifacts found in villages and
History Lessons In Arrow Rock, Missouri Read More »
Boonville, Missouri rests along the Missouri River, just about 100 miles east of Kansas City. For thousands of years, Native Indians were the sole inhabitants of the region. It was not until the 1600s that the first European explorers would travel to the heart of the continent. A pair of Daniel Boone’s sons would uncover
River, Rails, and Trails Museum – Travel Around Boonville Read More »
It is vital that we examine our history, to let us not forget the lessons that we wish not to repeat. During our visit to Arrow Rock, we had a chance to examine a more sinister side of Missouri history. Growing up in Kansas City, we were taught about the Border War between Kansas and
Let Us Not Forget – African-American Experience Museum Read More »
Who else looks forward to sampling the flavors of a new destination? For us, one of the best parts of travel is the new tastes we encounter. As foodies, each dish holds unique possibilities no matter how many versions we have savored. A day trip to Arrow Rock, Missouri offered a chance to enjoy a
Sandwiches, Shakes, And Shade – Catalpa Restaurant Read More »
It has been said that history tends to repeat itself. During a visit to Arrow Rock, Missouri, we stumbled upon a small museum dedicated to the life of Dr. John Sappington. His name was unfamiliar to us, but as we explored the space, we soon realized the important role he played in history. This little
Stopping The Spread – Sappington Museum Read More »
Traveling the interstate between Kansas City and St. Louis takes you through Boone’s Lick Country. If you are like us, you were completely unaware of this. On a sunny Saturday, we decided to make a day trip to Arrow Rock, Missouri to learn more about this area with an unusual name. While this small village
Life In The Boone’s Lick – Arrow Rock Visitors Center Read More »
As I sit and write this article, we are currently under self-imposed isolation called “social distancing”. While the subject is near and dear to everyone at this stage, I have to wonder what readers will think when they return to this particular article in two or three years. How will our daily interactions change, once
Sunshine and Social Distancing – Ha Ha Tonka State Park 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 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 »
History has a way of sneaking up on you. When we visited Dubuque, we knew we were experiencing Iowa’s first city. The moment that Julien Dubuque first arrived on the western shore of the Mississippi River, was the start of something special. It would be almost 50 years before the city would be officially chartered,
In The Shadow Of Giants At Hotel Julien Read More »
For many of us married folk, dinner and a show is the makings of a great date night. Even when we are on a blogging excursion, we try to make sure our activities are good options for other couples or families. When we planned out our Lindsborg visit, they surprised us with the addition of
Dinner and a Show Under The Stars Read More »