During the planning stage of our St. Louis trip, we had assembled our preliminary itinerary. A phone conversation with Anthony Paraino from Explore St. Louis shed light on a couple of great attractions we had overlooked. The St. Louis Art Museum was preparing for the launch of a new traveling exhibit. Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds […]
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A friend from work was the first to mention that we should visit Fitz’s Restaurant on the Delmar Loop. We don’t drink a lot of sodas, but the chance to taste some at the source was something we couldn’t pass up. Our lodging was set up at Moonrise Hotel, which is just down the street.
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
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Our request for suggestions of places to visit in St. Louis was met with an amazing number of responses. One location that we kept seeing mentioned was City Museum. We took a look at their website, and were intrigued by what appeared to be the world’s largest jungle gym. Now we may not be as
Like many of you, we associated the name George Washington Carver with peanuts, but couldn’t really tell you why. The knowledge that he was a botanist seemed familiar, but that was about the extent of what we remembered from school. A visit to the George Washington Carver National Monument would forever change this. The site
St. Louis, Missouri has tons of places to explore, but all of that action means working up an appetite. After our visit to the Civil War Museum and Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, we needed to find a nearby restaurant. (You can read about the museum here.) Just a couple blocks away we discovered Cafe Telegraph, a locally
When the name of Joplin, Missouri is mentioned, many will think immediately of the 2011 EF5 tornado that devastated portions of the city. Joplin is so much more than that. It has a rich history reaching back before the Civil War. We stopped in the Joplin Museum Complex to learn more about this southwestern Missouri
When planning our visit to St, Louis, we wanted to make sure we included some stops that would help us better understand the history of the area. Jefferson Barracks happens to be the oldest operating U.S. military installation west of the Mississippi River. On these grounds, the Missouri Civil War Museum has operated since 2013.
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During our visit to Joplin, Missouri we took some time to visit the downtown area. This section of the city falls on the path of Route 66, so it draws a wide variety of travelers every year. After taking in some of the sights, we had worked up a big lunchtime appetite, so we made
Our visit to Baxter Springs, Kansas occurred during the Route 66 Instameet sponsored by Travel Kansas. This was the last stop of the day, so we decided to wander off to explore away from the beaten path. Just a couple blocks from our meeting point, we found the Baxter Springs Historical Museum. We have visited
Let’s just face the facts. We like chocolate! There, it has been said, and there is no taking it back. This may be the reason why so many of our trips include a visit to a chocolate shop. We like to think it is just a service we provide for our readers who are looking
The Midwest portion of the United States is filled with a wide range of destination types. We find that college towns usually offer some interesting things to see, since they have a consistent flow of visitors. Manhattan is home to Kansas State University, and less than a two hour drive from our home in Kansas
Seeing Manhattan, Kansas – Exploring The Flint Hills Read More »
Our Travel Kansas Route 66 Instameet began in Galena, and would end in Baxter Springs. Of course, the space in between was not filled with empty miles. Even though the Mother Road only passes for 13 miles in the state of Kansas, it is filled with some unique sights. With Galena under our belt, it
When we received our invitation to join Travel Kansas for a Route 66 Instameet, it was an offer we couldn’t pass up. Our first Instameet was last year, when we toured various places in Kansas City, Kansas. (Read more about that event here>) This time we were visiting two towns in Southeast Kansas. We wanted
Many people are unaware of the integral role that mining played in the settlement and growth of communities in Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. The discovery of lead in the mid-1800s drew miners to the area. Our visit to the Joplin History & Mineral Museum allowed us a chance to learn more about the history
People who journey along the old “Mother Road”, known as Route 66, will periodically encounter some interesting sights. These bites of Americana hearken back to the golden age of automobile travel, and inspire feelings of nostalgia in many travelers. Galena, Kansas sits at the eastern edge of the Kansas portion of the route, which is
Joplin, Missouri has an interesting Route 66 history. The city actually has multiple paths, since the route was realigned a couple of times. While we were making our itinerary for a visit to Joplin, we worked with Carrie Puffinbarger at Visit Joplin. She pointed us toward testing the eats at The Bruncheonette, a local hotspot that rests
Our day trip to Manhattan, Kansas lasted a little longer than some visits, so we needed to make plans for a dinner meal. After reviewing our options, it was decided to sample the small plates at Bourbon & Baker located on the popular Poyntz Avenue. Scoping the Neighborhood Poyntz Avenue is bordered on one end
Living in Kansas City means that we have plenty of day trip destinations within a short drive from the metro. Lawrence, Kansas is only about 45 minutes away, but offers a dynamically different vibe. While many make this pilgrimage to witness the KU basketball team play at Allen Fieldhouse, we visited for a more historic
Visiting zoos in the Midwest during the winter can be a hit or miss activity. During our day trip to Manhattan, Kansas, we decided to drop in to the Sunset Zoo to see who was enjoying an unusually pleasant sunny day. This smaller zoological park is perfect for a shorter visit, and the lower admission
We have visited Manhattan, Kansas many times in the past, but our trips were always concentrated on the local university. Once that association ended, we never seemed to find the time to return. On a warmer than normal winter day, we made the just under two hour drive from Kansas City to the “Gateway City
Our visit to Manhattan, Kansas took a historical side-trip with a stop at the Riley County Historical Museum. This regional history center is a great place to gather a better understanding of the people and events that molded the city of Manhattan, as well as other towns in the area. An added bonus is that
Riley County History Museum – Flint Hill History Read More »
Most Kansas Citians have visited Lawrence, Kansas at least once in their life. For us, it has been quite a few times, and especially when our daughter worked at Kansas University. When we decided to plan a day-filled excursion, we knew our daughter would enjoy accompanying us to her old homestead. Our first stop was
One of the top destinations in the Midwest is Branson, Missouri. Like many, we have made multiple trips to this Ozark location, but this was our first visit during the Christmas season. A winning bid at a fundraiser silent auction had secured us tickets to Silver Dollar City, and Crystal had been wanting to see
If you are planning a visit to the Branson, Missouri or Eureka Springs, Arkansas areas, you may want to consider adding a stop at Top of the Rock, in Ridgedale, Missouri. We were made aware of it by one of our Kansas City readers, and loved the pictures they shared from their visit. Although we
With winter’s grip firmly on the Midwest, we thought it would be a nice time for a more temperate article. We happened to have overlooked this visit to the Ward Meade Botanical Garden in Topeka, Kansas. It was during a visit to Old Prairie Town that we stumbled upon this 2.5 acre park, which offers
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Our November trip to Branson, Missouri was filled with firsts for us. Among these, was our first experience at Dixie Stampede. Branson is home to a wide array of entertainment options, and many of these are evening shows. Dixie Stampede kicks it up a notch by adding dinner to the schedule, so that guests can
Our most recent visit to Branson, Missouri was scheduled to see some of the Christmas season attractions. After the four hour drive from Kansas City, we were ready for lunch at White River Fish House. First we stopped by our hotel to drop off our things, and park our car. It was nice staying in
Silver Dollar City is a top attraction in the Midwest. Each year it draws throngs of visitors to the Ozarks, so they can experience a mix of old-time crafts and new-age rides. We, like many of you, have visited on multiple occasions, but we have never been to the Old Time Christmas Festival. Each Fall,
Our most recent visit to Branson, Missouri will be one that we will remember for many years to come. This was our first trip during the Christmas season, and we were excited to see the sights. After the four hour drive from Kansas City, (We may have stopped along the way.) our first destination was
Our first day in Branson included some time to check out the shops downtown. Our hotel was within walking distance, and the weather was very agreeable for November. We decided to head directly to the Branson Landing, which is an outdoor shopping center that sits along the water’s edge. One of the most unique shops
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Our visit to the Amana Colonies, in Iowa was a chance to slow down and enjoy a simpler pace. Like many of you, our lives can become so hectic with all of the commitments, that we almost forget how to relax. Our morning drive began with rush hour traffic, but before long we found ourselves cruising
It is obvious that the Amana Colonies are a tourist destination. Why else would a town like Amana, Iowa, with a population around 500 residents, be able to support multiple wineries. Fortunately for us, this made for the perfect chance to create a walking Amana Wine Trail tour. Now it is highly possible that this
When we planned our latest Topeka visit, our first stop was at Old Prairie Town. This historic site is located on the original path of the Oregon Trail. The morning drive from Kansas City was wet with thunderstorms, but by the time we arrived they had passed by. Wet Start After a small argument with Siri
One of the longest operating restaurants in Amana, Iowa is Ox Yoke Inn. Since 1940, this full service restaurant has been serving up “family style” meals to locals and visitors alike. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, they also offer a Sunday brunch buffet option. We want to thank the Ox Yoke Inn for their hospitality.
During our stay in the Amana Colonies we had an opportunity to sample every restaurant in the town of Amana. Our visit to Millstream Brau Haus (simply means “brew house”) introduced us to the oldest brewery in the state of Iowa. We had spent the morning checking out some of the unique shops around town, and
The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center ended up being a lot more than what we expected. This day-trip included our grandkids, so we had filled the itinerary with places we felt would be kid friendly. Our morning had been historic, and lunch was a visit to a local hangout. Now we had arrived at the place we
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We all have seen products that we can immediately identify as “high quality”. At the Amana Woolen Mill, we could tell that the textiles were a grade above what we usually see. This type of quality is a hallmark of this small Iowa community. Designed for Durability The weekend we visited was in between festivals,
You may wonder how we ended up dining at Bobo’s Drive In during a recent day trip to Topeka, Kansas. We had planned to take our grand-kids, as there were some kid friendly attractions we wanted to research. To pick the right dining establishment, I reached out to our followers for suggestions. Before long, we
We knew we were in for an action packed time, when we scheduled our day trip to historic Independence, Missouri. There are so many great things to see, do, and taste that are all within just a few blocks of the main square. To be able to see all of our stops, we had to
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Amana was a communal society for many generations. This meant that large groups worked and ate together. To accomplish this they would serve meals in a family style. The dishes would come out on platters or large bowls, which could be passed around the table. While the communal lifestyle ended in the 1930’s, you can
Are you tired of settling for a chain restaurant along the interstate during your vacation? One of the most difficult choices that travelers make is where to dine. We found dining options in Wichita to be numerous, and wonderful. Join us as we recap some of our top Wichita dining choices, as well as a
We know that the picture doesn’t necessarily exemplify non-stop action, but it was one of my favorite captures. There is a good chance that the gorilla is wondering just how much fun he would have checking out some Wichita attractions. Now we didn’t have time to do everything available in Wichita, but we certainly tried
The Museum of World Treasures is located in the Old Town section of Wichita. The first portion of our visit had us staying just across the street at Hotel at Old Town. Housed in a three-story converted paper warehouse, their collection spans a wide range of topics and time periods. We want to thank the
The Mid-America All-Indian Center, in Wichita, is the only facility solely dedicated to the culture of the American Indians, located in the state of Kansas. Situated on the point of land that overlooks the Arkansas River, a visit to this unique museum was a chance to explore the cultural history of the people who first
Being natives of Kansas City, we believe we know a little about barbeque. The opportunity to add Delano Barbeque Company to our itinerary meant a chance to sample one of our favorite cuisines. This restaurant has only been around for a little over a decade, but it has certainly established itself as a Wichita staple in
One of our main goals is to uncover those almost hidden places like Public. The hunt can be tantalizing, and the rewards are often far above our expectations. Many times it is the background story that adds an extra layer of mystique to one of our destinations. We want to thank Public for their hospitality. Rest assured
One of our first stops in Wichita, was the Sedgwick Historical Museum. We know that a good way to get a quick understanding of a city you are visiting, is by making a trip to the local historical museum. Our arrival was on a bad weather day, so it made for a perfect indoor treat. Palace of
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Our last morning in Wichita brought us to Jimmie’s Diner for breakfast. The owners of the restaurant happened to be there that morning, and we had the pleasure of visiting with them for a while. They made us feel like a couple of the locals, and filled us in on the interesting history of this
Visits to places like Cocoa Dolce can be very hard on us. Being travel bloggers means that we spend lots of time testing a wide variety of foods. When it comes to sweets, we try to locate the really good ones, so a small portion will suffice. Of course, If it’s really good chocolate who can