They say that education is one of the best investments. Does that mean if you learn about money, you are doubling the value of your education? Perhaps my math doesn’t quite add up, but you can certainly learn a lot at The Money Museum. This FREE attraction offers a lot for all ages and helps […]
Want Some Free Money? – The Money Museum Read More »
Every fall, as the cool October air begins to settle over Kansas City, Kansas, something truly magical takes place in the heart of the city. Día de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, transforms Central Avenue into a vivid celebration of life, memory, and tradition. Amid a backdrop of city vibes, soulful music, and
Vibrant Spirits & Colorful Souls: Experiencing Día de Muertos in Kansas City, Kansas Read More »
Tucked into the Prairiefire complex, at 13500 Nall Ave., is a family-friendly activity center. Pinstripes is not just a venue—it’s an experience. This unique entertainment destination offers a unique blend of bowling, bocce, and dining. With its chic, modern design and inviting atmosphere, Pinstripes is the perfect escape from daily life. After a morning of
Pinstripes: Overland Park’s Ultimate Entertainment Destination 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
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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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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
Taking It To The Hole – Prehistoric Putt Read More »
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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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
The Truman Museum-The Buck Stops Here Read More »
For decades, schoolchildren from around the metropolitan region made the annual field trip to the Kansas City Museum. I remember visiting during the time that it focused primarily on our hometown’s history. It also featured hundreds of taxidermized animals in lifelike settings. In 2008, the museum was closed for a complete renovation and repurposing. When
Kansas City Museum – A Renewed Purpose Read More »
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 »
Kansas burst into the Union in an unusually bloody fashion. Human presence can be traced back to at least the 1400s. It would be the mid-1800s that saw the quick escalation of violence. The story of Bloody Kansas has been told many times, but we find each site sheds a little more perspective. The Johnson
Changing Times – Johnson County Museum Read More »
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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Our visit to Fort Osage whisked us back over 200 years to a time when America was much smaller than it is today. Our nation’s freedom had been won in the American Revolution, and we were in the midst of a great expansion. The Louisiana Purchase had allowed the fledgling nation to increase its land
Fort Osage – Life On The Edge Of The Frontier Read More »
A visit to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop takes guests back over 150 years, to a time when the territory was just opening for business. With so much history at this site, we were scratching our heads wondering why we had never visited. Knowing that nothing can be done to change the past, we pushed ahead
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop – Fine Country Read More »
As Autumn descends on the Midwest, people will find an abundance of harvest-themed festivals. Welcoming Fall brings a change in the air, that signals the shortening of daylight hours. We find ourselves trying to savor every moment. Scanning the Kansas City calendar of events, we noticed the annual Fall Festival at Missouri Town 1855. Since
Missouri Town 1855 – Welcoming Fall Read More »
For decades, people around the globe have struggled with the ‘Spring Forward’ that occurs each year. While we understand the reasoning behind this daylight saving practice, it doesn’t make the frustration of losing an hour anymore pleasant. Just as we begin to see the dawn appear at a decent hour, we are plunged back into
Spring Forward With An Outdoor Art Walk Read More »
Kansas City is filled with so many entertainment options that we struggle trying to cover them all. When our daughter suggested a brunch outing, I decided to look for something out of the ordinary. Since we are all lovers of art, a visit to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art was a perfect fit. This
Losing Their Voice – Kemper Museum Of Contemporary Art Read More »
Looking for an escape from the city without having to leave the city? Some of our friends have been giving us suggestions on places to visit. When a few told us details about the Parkville Nature Sanctuary, it seemed like the perfect place to take a walk on the wild side. These days long distance
Parkville Nature Sanctuary – A Walk On The Wild Side Read More »
It seems that people are coming up with new ways to re-purpose familiar items all of the time. Finding alternative uses for shipping containers seemed to be a logical next step. A visit to North Kansas City, Missouri showed us how one group of ingenious people had built a space that combines function and frugality
Iron District – Taking It Outside Read More »
The sun shone brightly, casting its warmth on the cool May morning. Early shoppers arrived in downtown Kansas City to bring some normalcy back into their lives. With the Stay At Home orders being slowly rescinded, some of the public are venturing out to places that seem strangely familiar. We visited City Market to see
Loosening The Lockdown – The New Normal? 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 »
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 »
The beginning of Fall is sometimes a moving target, in Kansas City. While the accurate astronomical date for 2019 is September 23rd, the meteorological comes on September 1st. For many parents around the metro, it starts once the kids go back to school. For us, we consider the unofficial beginning to take place when the
Kicking Off Fall Festival Season In Kansas City Read More »
Over the years we have visited loads of various museums. They come in all sizes and focus on a host of topics. Some of our favorite are the one-off type that feature some unique subject. A newcomer to the Kansas City scene is the Museum of Illusions KC, located in Union Station. We dropped by
Museum Of Illusions KC – The Art Of Forced Perspective Read More »
With so much of the country left to explore, sometimes we struggle finding time to spend in our own backyard. We made a renewed commitment to take a deeper dive into Kansas City culture this year. Zoological parks are one of our favorite diversions, wherever we travel. For years, we have visited the Kansas City
Fresh Look At The Kansas City Zoo Read More »
For those who haven’t followed us long, we enjoy a nice glass of wine. Of course, we find that the reason they make so many varieties, is because everyone has their own preferences. Fortunately, we both are fans of wines on the sweet side, so it’s not hard for us to find a bottle we
An InstaTasting At Rowe Ridge Vineyards and Winery Read More »
Running a travel blog means that we have the opportunity to stay in lots of hotels. Many of them are your standard lodging choices, which each have their own unique style. Every once in a while we visit one that is completely out of the ordinary. Such is the case with Chateau Avalon in the
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Way back around 1980, a little annual event started up to celebrate the rich diversity found in Kansas City. We are sure that the organizers of this festival were hopeful that it would continue, but wonder if they could have imagined that it would achieve its current level of success. Here we are 39 years
See The World at The Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival Read More »
Kansas City is a metropolis filled with countless tales. Every corner of the city has its urban legends, myths, and tall tales. Somewhere along the way, many of these began with an inkling of truth and were merely stretched with passing time. Not long after the Civil War ended, many pioneers would pass through Independence
A Story Of Passion Extinguished – Vaile Mansion Read More »
The promise of a warm Spring day in Kansas City can often change quickly. Such was the case when we visited the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kansas. We were meeting up with a group of social influencers who had been invited to an Instameet being hosted by Visit Kansas
What To Expect At The National Agriculture Center Read More »
There are varying opinions on the amount of enjoyment one can get from visiting a localized history museum. Some shy away from them, believing that they are dull and boring. Others, like ourselves, find that there are a multitude of personal stories just waiting to be uncovered. In Paola, Kansas we visited the Miami County
Why We Enjoy Places Like Miami County Historical Museum Read More »
These days many places are downsizing, but it seems to be the exact opposite for sporting goods stores. Each major chain is trying to one up the competition, and this creates the perfect opportunity for families to beat the bad weather for the day. We recently visited one of the Scheels stores to see what unique
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Most Kansans have heard the name of John Brown. This iconic legend was a hero to some and a villain to others. Although he was not born in the state, many of his most notable actions occurred there. During our Miami County Road Trip, we stopped at the John Brown Museum to learn more about
A Man Touched By Fire – John Brown Read More »
A day trip to Osawatomie, Kansas was less than an hour drive from Kansas City, but landed us in a different era. This itinerary was designed to showcase a variety of historic sites in Miami County. The Osawatomie Museum Complex, located in the downtown, was one of our stops. This locally oriented twin museum tells
What We Learned At The Osawatomie Museum Complex Read More »
Our plan to visit the southeast corner of the Kansas City metro opened up the window for a few unique stops. The two main areas we would be in were Lee’s Summit and Lone Jack, Missouri. When I plan an outing, I always look for something to use as an overflow attraction. This is meant
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Being from the Midwest means that we can find lots of historical sites within close proximity to our hometown. While it may not be Crystal’s favorite, I am particularly intrigued by the Civil War battles and skirmishes in the region. These are numerous, so she has learned to make the best of it, and look
True Grit At The Lone Jack Civil War Museum Read More »
It is nice to know that Kansas City has a lot of attraction options that can be enjoyed during any weather. On a cold winter day we made a visit to Sea Life at Crown Center. This marine adventure zone offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Who’s Viewing Who? A Visit To Sea Life Kansas City Read More »
Our outing with the grandkids, to Union Station, included a surprise for them. They knew about Science City, which had them all pumped up, but we also would be visiting the Gottlieb Planetarium. This 150 seat theater is housed in the lower level of Union Station, and offers daily shows with a variety of topics.
Seeing Stars At Gottlieb Planetarium Read More »
The majority of the time Crystal and I travel by ourselves. Recently, we took a day to do some exploring in Kansas City, and were joined by our grandkids, as well as a close friend of the family. Our destination was Union Station, and one of the most anticipated stops was at Science City. It
Seeing Science City Through Kid’s Eyes Read More »
Many trails west originated from the Kansas City area, and the rivers that flow through it were the highways for explorers and traders alike. Through the years, Kansas City became home to a variety of unique sights, sounds, and flavors. Jazz music became the heartbeat of the city, and nowhere did it beat louder than
Kansas City Jazz Museum Keeps The Music Alive Read More »
Staying at our home base during the holiday season offers us a chance to visit some of the great attractions found throughout Kansas City. A recent visit to the 18th & Vine area gave us an opportunity to meet with Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. On a chilly Saturday morning,
Life Lessons at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Read More »
When we pass the Grinter House, in Kansas City, Kansas, I try to imagine the life of the Grinters. Being one of the first homes in the area, they surely faced long periods of isolation. Built around 1857, it served as the home for Moses and Anna Grinter. A trail nearby led to the Kaw
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We are honored to have so many of you follow us on our journeys, and enjoy all of the interaction we have with people. While traveling can be exhilarating, we try to have just as much fun when we are at home in Kansas City. There are so many options to enjoy in our city,
Labor Day weekend is the unofficial start of Fall, which means tons of festivals. Santa-Cali-Gon Days celebrates the extended weekend with entertainment, local vendors, and live music. This multi-day event takes place on the square in historic Independence, Missouri. While limiting this list to just ten things is difficult, these are the most popular reasons
10 Reasons To Head To Santa-Cali-Gon Days Every Year Read More »
When we received an invitation to the Worlds of Fun 2017 RIP Party we knew we would be in for a howling good time. The party was designed to celebrate the new season of the Halloween Haunt, which is their annual Fall festival. Living in Kansas City offers a chance to experience all four seasons, but it
Showing No Fear At Haunt Read More »
One of the cool things about Powell Gardens is that just about every visit gives the opportunity to see something new. Botanical gardens change by the season, which make them a special place to savor. Another bonus is that they are most often an affordable entertainment option. We want to thank Powell Gardens for their hospitality.
Landscape Magic at Powell Gardens Read More »
It’s safe to say that most people in Kansas City have heard of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival . (Many just call it KC RenFest) Since it began in 1977, it would also be fair to say that most have either attended or knows someone who has. We have been quite aware of it, since it’s
A Day Full Of Knights At KC RenFest Read More »
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