Week-end trip suggestions (Wichita, Olathe, Lawrence: credit, new home, casino)

[cyerby]

Back home in SC it was a couple hours dive to the smokey mountains and a little over 3 hours to the coast, so we could get in some great week-end trips. So, far we haven't made any trips from our new home in Olathe. So...where do you guys like to go? The ozarks sound nice. Do you have any places you like to stay when you visit there?

Thanks for the replies!

[Samantha S]

what kinds of activities do you enjoy? Lots of good lakes in the area, hiking trails ... is that what you mean?

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by cyerby

Back home in SC it was a couple hours dive to the smokey mountains and a little over 3 hours to the coast, so we could get in some great week-end trips. So, far we haven't made any trips from our new home in Olathe. So...where do you guys like to go? The ozarks sound nice. Do you have any places you like to stay when you visit there?

Thanks for the replies!

Some of my favorite spots in the region are Lawrence, KS, Manhattan, KS, Ozark Region, MO, Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (Chase County KS), Konza Prairie Preserve (south of Manhattan, KS), The Driftless region of MN, WI, and IA. I tend to like La Crosse, WI, Baraboo, WI, Decorah, IA, Winona, MN, etc. This region is not too far away from the KC region- especially if you go through Iowa a little faster LOL. Other areas that are in the Midwest that would be much further away would be the northwoods of MN and WI. The general vibe, culture, and people are nothing at all like many people in the Plains.

[linicx]

Grpve, OK is about 40-50 minutes from the SE border where KS. MP amd OK meet. Grove is on Grand Lake, It's a 60 mile long man made lake that has the world's largest multiple arch dam on the south end of the lake. Grove has Civil War and Natice American history, the World's Larges Antique Museum, Japanese Gardens, Bernice Honey Creek State Park has awesome camping facilites and a pump out station. Grove is scenic, the people are friendly and the food is pretty good too. Grove has the only hospital on the North end of the lake. The new library has one of the best genealogy sections in the four state corner. You can find BBq, lake cruises and casino, counry music, sailing, B.A.S.S. Fishing Tournament, art galleries, wnite pelicans in the fall, pet boarding on weekends, Braum's ice cream, Home Made Candy. And it's ranked as one of the top 4 retirement areas in the US. It ain't bad for a small but progressive little town.

If you drive East on 1-44 and follow the signs about 20 miles from the MS/MO border you'll find Carthage, MO. , where the first onland shot of the CW was fired. The third courthouse was completed after the war. It still conducts county business every day. Check out the museum and ride the old elevator. And while you're ont the square don't forget to stop in the Tru Value Hardware store. Lot's of surprises waiting for visitors, During the growing season Grove has farmers market on Wed and Saturday. Awesom park with a 18 hole course that is not only beautiful it is tough. The city may still have the English double-decker bus.. Carthage is home to Precious Moments figurines, too.

If you want to drive about an hour south of Carthage on 71, the Pea Ridge National Battlefield is on the Arkansas border. And if you drive a little further south you'll find War Egle Mill. They still use the 200 year old stone to grind grains into flour every day.

Two hours will get you to Tulsa and major upscale shopping, Eureka Sprins, ARK - the little Swiss village built into the side of a mountain. Branson is about 90 miles. If you go to Branson, you can detour through Wilson's Creek National CW Battlefield at Republic on your way.

Another place that's neat is Honor Park in Muskogee in April. The enitire park is alive with Azalias, and it is home to the Five Tribes Museum.

If I wanted to gete away for a weekend I'd probably grab a tent and head to Grand Lake. It really is worth the time and effort to hang out for two days.

There really is a lot of different things you can experience within a couple of hours from the SE Kansas border.

[upandrunning]

KC if you want a few museums, or gambling, Branson if you want shows, Hot Springs if you want history, NOLA if you want all that and more. Wichita if you want to kill yourself and do not want to loose your depression. LOL

[cyerby]

Thanks for all of the ideas. Keep them coming! That's what this post is about...where do you like to go for week-end (or day) trips? The post really has nothing to do about me...I'm hoping that maybe someone will post something I haven't thought about. Then, I can try it out. Thanks again for all of the ideas so far.

[Modron]

LOL...Hey! That's not funny about Wichita

Wichita has ok stuff. It's, likely, not on a par with KC. I would recommend dinner at Old Cowtown with the Diamond W Wranglers. They are a world class group of cowboy singers who do a great show. There's probably a way to make a museum tour of it by staying a weekend and visiting Old Cowtown, the Wichita Art Museum, and Botanica, - or maybe Exploration Place. Just do the trip in a good season for Botanica. All of these places have websites that can help with planning.

Originally Posted by upandrunning

KC if you want a few museums, or gambling, Branson if you want shows, Hot Springs if you want history, NOLA if you want all that and more. Wichita if you want to kill yourself and do not want to loose your depression. LOL

[cyerby]

anymore ideas y'all?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by cyerby

Back home in SC it was a couple hours dive to the smokey mountains and a little over 3 hours to the coast, so we could get in some great week-end trips. So, far we haven't made any trips from our new home in Olathe. So...where do you guys like to go? The ozarks sound nice. Do you have any places you like to stay when you visit there?

Thanks for the replies!

Go to Hutch and see the Cosmosphere, then get over to Yoder for breakfast at the Carriage Crossing. Don't hit any buggies. For best results do this during the State Fair, so you catch that too. Wear shoes suitable for muuuud because you will probably have to walk through some in the parking 'lot'.

Take a scenic meander through the Flint Hills, and work your way to Fort Riley to see the cavalry museum. One thing that is really wonderful about military posts is that serving military are almost uniformly polite and helpful to visiting civilians.

Visit Kaw Mission at Council Grove, have steaks at the Hays House, then down to the Roniger Museum in Cottonwood Falls. Check out the gorgeous courthouse, go in, ask nicely if they'll show you the old jail in back. If you walk over the brand new bridge between Strong and Cottonwood, look at the credits plaque and give a shoutout to my uncle. If you work it correctly, you could probably also get permission to see the real Knute Rockne memorial (not the ersatz one at the Matfield Green turnpike service exit).

This spring, go down to Wichita and see old Cowtown. Pick a time when you can catch a Shocker baseball game at Eck. Wichita State is to baseball as UNC is to hoop. Take a little jaunt up to Cassoday and see if you can see a prairie chicken. My cousin from Cleveland (living in Wichita due to marriage) still does not believe in prairie chickens, but they are real.

In fall, head down to the site of the Pottawatomie Massacre and give some thought to the hard, cold days of a Civil War that for Kansas lasted eleven years. Do this on a weekend when the Jayhawks are in town playing football against someone really annoying. Make sure to stop for beers at the Free State Brewpub. Get a T-shirt for John Brown Ale.

[leighland]

Lindsborg, Kansas Chamber of Commerce - Little Sweden USA, the Little Sweden of Kansas.