Is Dodge City worth the trip?

Hi. My Mom is a huge Gunsmoke Fan and always dreamed of visiting Dodge City. We are planning a vacation for 2009 and I%26#39;d like to know is Dodge City worth the airfare, car rental %26amp; hotels? I%26#39;d be coming from AZ, and she from NY. And if yes, how many days do we need? Where should we stay, eat, visit? Should we fly into Kansas City and add that to the trip to fill up the week? Should we add Wichita, Topeka or Oklahoma to make the week trip worthwhile? OR SHOULD WE JUST FORGET IT, AND REALIZE IT WAS JUST HOLLYWOOD? Thanks.

Is Dodge City worth the trip?

If you were driving through Dodge City on the way to some where else it would be worth a short stop but as a destination on its own I would say forget it. Wichita has a more authentic cattle drive era town than Dodge City unless Dodge has made some changes in the last couple of years.

Several years ago a local museum had a clipping from a Wichita newspaper of the 1870%26#39;s about an incident that happened to Wyatt Earp when he was a deputy law enforcement officer here. It seems Wyatt and some of his buddies were in the back room of a saloon on a Sunday morning playing cards when Wyatt somehow managed to shoot himself in the foot. So much for the Hollywood legend of the great Wyatt Earp.

If you wanted to base yourself in Wichita for a few days there are some interesting places to make day trips too but nothing really spectacular such as you will find in Arizona.

Is Dodge City worth the trip?

I was about to say that there are a lot of places in Kansas worth visiting, but Dodge City is way down on the list.

But rereading what you say about your Mom, maybe not. For example, my impression of the original Little House on the Prairie near Independence, was that it doesn%26#39;t amount to much. But then 3 couples on motorcycles pulled up and one of the women was a huge fan of Laura Ingles%26#39; books. She was so excited and thoroughly enjoyed it. Her enthusiasm transferred to the other members of the party and I think they were all having a good time.

So, while it isn%26#39;t a destination I would choose, I say go for it. You can mix in enough other places to have a great weekend. There are many other things to add to the weekend depending on your and your Mother%26#39;s other interests. from a World Class aviation and space museum, zoos %26amp; wildlife parks, the ongoing recovery and ';greening'; of Greensburg, Wichita%26#39;s museums, and Dalton Gang Hideout, to many other things.

If the airfares aren%26#39;t outrageous, fly into Wichita.

rec for limo/trans Newark airport hotel to Cruise terminal

We are a family of 5 from Ontario going on cruise next March 14 from Manhattan cruise terminal..last time we parked at the cruise terminal..hated the traffic and 30/night cost...considering staying at a hotel in Newark,prking van there and taking Limo/van to and from cruise ship terminal...any ideas or recommendations??the distance appears to be about 12+ miles.

Thanks, all

rec for limo/trans Newark airport hotel to Cruise terminal

You have posted this on the Manhattan,Kansas forum,you need the New York forum.

We are about 2,500 km. from New York.

rec for limo/trans Newark airport hotel to Cruise terminal

Sorry johnsazzr - you%26#39;ve posted on the forum for Manhattan, Kansas (the ';Little Apple';), not Manhattan, New York (the ';Big Apple';).

Have a good time on your cruise.

visiting Colorado

Hi everybody

I%26#39;m going to spend a few days in Colorado, and I need your advice on what I should do/ visit. Would it be unreasonable to allow one day to visit the Rocky Mountains National Park (leaving from Boulder), then 2 days to go to the Great Sand Dunes (still from Boulder), and back to Boulder through Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and Denver? Is Denver worth visiting?

Thanks for any tips you could give me.

visiting Colorado

Did you post your question in the Colorado forum? You should, especially for Denver.

We like to spend a week exploring RMNP %26amp; Estes Park!

In C.S. we spent another week exploring Pikes Peak, GOTG, Cave of the Winds and Manitou Springs.

We haven%26#39;t been to the GSDNM,...yet!

visiting Colorado

Yes, I did post it on the Colorado forum, when I realized I had posted it on the wrong forum! ;-))

My trip to Colorado is over now (saaad) but I had a great time close to the parc. I say ';close'; to it because the road that crosses it from Estes Park to Granby was closed the day I went there (because of snow... why did it snow the one night I%26#39;d planned my trip there??) Anyway, it%26#39;s a beautiful region and the weather was wonderful... so, no bad feeling!

Bummer man! That does happen on TRR from time to time. You%26#39;ll have to go back!

I will! ;-)

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Looking for some info please - I think I made a momumental blunder on a recent trip here and can%26#39;t believe it!

We visited the Tallgrass Praire Preserve after seeing photos of the bison in a leaflet. I%26#39;m not sure which entrance we came in but I do know we took the road from Foraker and followed the signs for the Preserve Headquarters.

We passed by a sign which mentioned nature trails and then came to a building on the left (think it may have been a bunkhouse, it was closed but had restrooms). We parked next to this and there was another building which looked like a visitor centre but it was locked and no-one around. It looked like there were some barns behinmd and there were 2 horses and a donkey in a paddock to the left. I was really disappointed as the leaflet had said open 10 till 4 and this was around noon. We figured it was a Sunday in late September and maybe there was no-one around outwith summer season so we drove back out and took the road to Pawhuska. We saw lots of bison on the way but I admit to being really disappointed that there didn%26#39;t seem to be anything else.

Now I discover there is a historic house and tours and lots of other things - my question is where did we go wrong - was there another road or should we have turned off somewhere else? We assumed the bunkhouse type place was the headquarters.

I feel like the proverbial dumb tourist - I%26#39;d like to know where I went worog (as I was the navigator/map reader/human GPS system) before I confess all to my husband who wasn%26#39;t too impressed with my 100 mile or so detour from our route just to see some bison and tallgrass!

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

It sounds like you were at the wrong spot. You should have been acouple of miles north of Stong City right on Highway 177. On the west side of the highway.

Did it look like this? www.kansastravel.org/tallgrassprairie.htm

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

I think she is referring to the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve outside of Pawhuska,OK.

You might try posting this on the Oklahoma forum someone there can probably help you but I know nothing about it.

well, that sums it up - we visited the one on Oklahoma when I%26#39;d been reading the guidebook referring to the one in Kansas. I%26#39;m certainly not going to confess to my other half now! Thanks guys (from the dumbest blonde ever- or so it would appear!)

Trip Report - Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Dallas late Sept

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice earlier in the year for our trip. My husband and I had such a good time it%26#39;s looking like we will be returning to some of the same areas in 2009.

Apologies for the delay in posting the trip report (I%26#39;m still working on some reviews also), I really should have donme this sooner.

Day 1 (Spet 12th) - Flight from Scotland to Newark, delayed 2 hours on the runway before finally arriving into Chicago 75 minutes later than planned. Usual issues at Dollar Car Rental - dispute over what we had prepaid (seems what%26#39;s written on the voucher is open to interpretation!), amazingly no cars of the class we booked etc etc.

Overnight Holiday Inn, Morris - easy to get to and 1st class accomodation.

Day 2 - early breakfast and off on our way. Spectacular rain along the way to Davenport, Iowa but we made it safely and checked into the Staybridge Suites - wow!

Day 3 - Off to the John Deere pavilion and then onto their HQ. Had a fantastic time, spent most of the day between the 2 locations and discovered they have a plant at Waterloo where you can have a factory tour (guess what%26#39;s on the list for next year!). Spent the eveining playing the slots at the Isle of Capri- broke even.

Day 4 - Heading south now however decide to go west first and stop off in Des Moines to visit Urbandale living history farms, sadly it%26#39;s closed on Monday but the staff are lovely and give us loads of info to plan the next trip. South towards Kansas City - beautiful scenery and deserted roads. Stop off at Jesse James homestead in Kearney en route - very interesting. Finally arrive in Overland Park and check at our hotel.

Day 5 - Trip to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame and Museum at Bonner Springs, then a visit to the Kansas Speedway (didn%26#39;t realise it%26#39;s not open to the public so no joy there. Spent late sfternoon at the Shawnee Mission park.

Day 6 - headed tp Atchison to see where AMelia Earhart came from, visited the railroad depot and the International Friendship Forest. Had fabulous ice cream in dowtown Atchison before finishing the afternoon at Overland Park arboretum - well worth the visit.

Day 7 - heading south for Wichita, deviated slightly to Topeka where we made a trip to the Air Combat Museum and National Guard museum - both outstanding and choc full of things to see. Drove south on the 35 and stopped a few times to marvel at the vast open spaces.

Day 8 - Spent much longer than planned at Cowtown, Wichita - thought it was really neat, before visiting Botanica and having a realxing stroll.

Day 9 - planned to go to Dodge City then decided it was for the next trip - headed to Cheney State park and reservoir instead. (good choice)

Day 10 - set off South bound for Oklahoma City - this was the infamous detour to the Tallgrass prairie preserve at Pawhuska to see the Bison - we did see them but I was looking at the info for another Tallgrass prairie preservce slightly further north west so it was good luck rather than design! Arrived late afternoon in Shawnee Oklahoma.

Day 11 - off to the OKC stockyards (my plan was 2/3 hours reality was 6 hours and a very happy husband!) - now late afternoon so we made a stop at Bricktown and had a drink at Toby Keith%26#39;s bar before paying our respects at the Oklahoma City Memorial.

Day 12 - Off to the National Cowboy and American West museum - again had planned a couple of hours- were there most of the day and would go back tomorrow if I could - excellent. Spent the evening gambling at the Firelake Casino near Shawnee (very nice, guessing it%26#39;s fairly new)

Day 13 - heading south to Dallas today we made our detour to Duncan to visit the Chisholm Trail Museum where we met the nicest staff ever and we got wet during the movie! Dropped into downtown Duncan for a soda and had the most devine banana pudding. (you can tell food%26#39;s important to me- I often remember places by things I ate there!!)Arrived safely in Addison - it has grown a little since we last visited in 2005!

Day 14 - Morning visit to Grapevine to have a stroll around and then an afternoon lazing at the hotel pool.

Day 15 - off to the Texas State Fair - parked close by, no hassle, easy access and a very enjoyable day. Watched the bull riding, piglet racing, dog agility and lots more and ate way too much food!

Day 16 - some last minute shopping and lazing by the pool as reality dawned that a return to cold, wet Scotland was fast approaching.

Day 17 - Off to the airport to drop off the rental car (and another 30 minutes wasted with the rental co proving what we had paid for at Chicago - took 2 calls to Dollar at Chaicago to get confirmation before we could finally go!). Back to Newark uneventfully and onward to Scotland.

Sorry it%26#39;s so long but we had such a good time - as I said didn%26#39;t see half of what we had planned and decided there was so much we hadn%26#39;t known about but would like to come back and do next year. Maybe not flying into Chicago or home from Dallas - looking at into Minneapolis and home from somewhere else - who knows.

Anyway, thanks for all your help and many suggestions - it made things so much easier!

Gillian

Trip Report - Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Dallas late Sept

What a great review. I%26#39;ve been to many of the places that you mentioned. And there were some that I would like to see. You really did your homework.

The National Cowboy and American West museum in OKC is really interesting. I too spent more time there than I thought I would.

I found it most interesting that you would come from Scottland and tour the Central part of the US.

I%26#39;ve heard of others coming here and marvel at our wide open spaces. Especially through the flint hills of Kansas. They truly are beautiful.

I%26#39;m so glad you had a great trip....kc

Trip Report - Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Dallas late Sept

Thank you so much for the report. Did you post pictures anywhere?

I am curious on your candid opinion of the Hall of Fame and Museum.

lighthouselover - I did post some pictures along with the reviews - I think the quickest way to find them may be to click on my name on the left and then select the reviews tab at the top. Oddly enough the ones with the photos are the reviews with no photo sign next to them (if that makes sense!)

We love rural areas and wide open spaces, much as I love places lke Chicago and Dallas I%26#39;m more a country girl than a city person so I%26#39;m happiest out in the country. The pace of lifetends to be slower and people can afford to spend more time chatting and so on.

We%26#39;ll certainly be back - too do all the things we missed and some!

good heavens - that statement about the photos is total garbage - the reviews with photos have a little photo icon - the ones without have the option to add photos.

Technically challenged or what!

Passing thru

We%26#39;re traveling thru Wichita in Oct. going to Austin, Tx. via Interstate 35. Looking for a place to stay for one night close to 35, don%26#39;t want to spend to much money, any suggestions. Thanks

Passing thru

I like the Best Western. It%26#39;s on the northly end of Wichita on the west side of 35. Clean rooms, a decent breakfast included and if you have kids, a pool and game room.

Passing thru

There is also a Best Western on the South side of town right off I-35. I believe it is the Governers BW. Their pool is outdoors, so may not be open in October.

You might look for coupon books along Travel Stops on I-35 that has discounts for hotels in various states. But those are for walk-in only and if you are like me, I prefer to have a reservation if possible.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

The Days Inn South at 4875 South Laura has been the best that I%26#39;ve found among the less expensive Wichta hotels.

I am assuming you will be getting on the Kansas Turnpike at Emporia,KS. The turnpike is I-35 from there on. Your best option would be to exit off 35 at the South Wichita Interchange. The Days Inn is located just off of 47th St. a few hundred yards north of the interchange to your right(east) There is also a Holiday Inn Express on 47th Street to your left(west). I think the restaurants in the area are all chain,mostly fast food type. However there is a great little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant called Jalisco just south off of 47th ST. to the left of where you exit I-35. On Fridays and Saturdays they have a Caldo de Cameron(shrimp soup)that is exceptional. It certainly is worth finding it.

For local ';flavor'; fairly close to that location, you might also try Fat Ernies Family Dining at 2806 South Hydraulic. Inexpensive food in a crowded little dive.

The Marriott is a very nice hotel right off of I-35. It normally is fairly expensive however, if you do Priceline and select 3 star, East Wichita and bid $50, it will put you at the Marriott. We stay at Wichita often and have used this method regularly without fail. It is one of the nicest hotels in Wichita, and you can get it for the same rate as the cheap motels.

KCTammi:

Thanks a bunch for the great tip! I was originally reserved at the Motel6 (on the cheap, for $40 bucks), but just followed your advice and got the Marriott for $50. WooHoo!

It%26#39;s only for one night, but I feel much better about stayng in a Marriott then I do a Motel6, lol!

Thanks again!

Glad I could share a well kept secret. You%26#39;ll love it, right next to I-35, indoor / outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness center, gift shop, restaurant, bar, room service and comfy down beds. They have rooms with two double beds and king beds, if you call them and request whichever one you want, you will get it... very nice.

Thank you, KansasCityTammi!

nice tip....i%26#39;ve not used them for wichita, but did when i went to maui and got the westin for $125 a night...sweet deal....and with my starwood membership got upgraded....

biddingfortavel.com has advise on making your bids if anyone is interested.....

foot cream

Thanksgiving Dinner?

Looking for a nice place to have Thanksgiving Dinner. Any recommendations?

Thanksgiving Dinner?

Holiday Inn Holidome at 6th and Fairlawn, the Expocentre hotel retaurant at 17th and Topeka Blvd, and the Prairie Band Casino north of Topeka on Highway 75 at Mayetta all advertise although I%26#39;ve never eaten at any of them for Thanksgiving dinner.

Staying at Great Wolf Lodge for Conference - Restaurants ???

i%26#39;m staying at the great wolf lodge for a week of training (they must have got a good midweek rate....). Where are some good restaurants close by? i know there are alot in the Legends area, but what is recommended? looking for casual dining, middle of the line price range. Thanks!!!

Staying at Great Wolf Lodge for Conference - Restaurants ???

Granny%26#39;s Chicken Ranch is free standing and near the Lodge. All of the dishes we have tried there have been good.

There is also an Arthur Bryant%26#39;s BBQ nearby, but I have never been pleased with the product at that location. For nearby BBQ, I would take State Avenue east a mile or two to Wyandotte BBQ.

I haven%26#39;t been to that location of Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen, but have enjoyed meals at their original location. Also haven%26#39;t been to STIX, but it has been getting some good buzz.

Most of the other places near Great Wolf are chains, so you are probably already familiar with them. One place in the mall that you should at least walk through is T-Rex Cafe. The food is average, but the animated dinos are pretty interesting even to an adult. This is the very first location for T-Rex.

Staying at Great Wolf Lodge for Conference - Restaurants ???

Ted%26#39;s is good, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Bob Evans, and Arthur Bryants are all places we%26#39;ve visited (agree that most are chains but many have good food and reasonable prices)

Go to the Legends shopping area, just down the street. Several great options, Yard House is the best. 100+ great beers on tap, great food and great atmosphere. Can%26#39;t miss. They have happy hour specials on a bunch of their apps. (very good deal) The phone mumber is 913-788-4500. If the weather is okay they have a nice outdoor tables as well.

STIX (sushi, Chinese or hibachi), Granite City Brewery, YardHouse, Famous Dave%26#39;s BBQ or Johnny Carino%26#39;s.

Have a great time at the GWL!

Christmas Displays Arkansas City 2008

One of the earliest Christmas Displays can be viewed at 408 East 5th Avenue, next to the Fire Department.

The display features animations and sounds with a glorious array of lights.

The display is on from dusk for 4 hours each night: Except as it nears Christmas when they will be on the entire night for enjoyment.

Need Rec on Hotel Near Airport & Quick Sights...

Here%26#39;s the whole story. I%26#39;m meeting up with some friends north of Wichita but will be flying in alone one day early.

I%26#39;m planning to rent a car when I arrive, check into the hotel, and then visit some place. Then I%26#39;ll have dinner and get back to the hotel at a reasonable hour. The next day, I%26#39;m planning to check out around 10, then again go somewhere, have lunch, and then meet up with my friend in mid-afternoon, basically returning my car and getting into her rental car.

Hotel Questions: When in doubt, I generally go for an airport hotel. If this were the case, what suggestions do you have? It%26#39;s only for 1 night, and I don%26#39;t need a spa-like place. I%26#39;d like a place that%26#39;s reasonably priced, clean, with good service. I%26#39;d like to avoid paying for parking. On the other hand, would it be better to stay in Old Town to have access to shops and restaurants right outside my door? If so, what hotels would you recommend? That brings me to the next set of questions...

Sight-Seeing Questions: What sights would you recommend that I go to? For example, I should be available from 4:30 - 8:30 on Saturday night (should probably return to the hotel earlier), and I%26#39;ll have 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. free on Sunday. I like learning about the culture/history of the area, and I like going to touristy areas as well. For example, if I were visiting San Francisco, I%26#39;d be interested in Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf (touristy) and the Mission District (for the Hispanic culture).

For a point of reference (in case it matters, and sometimes it does), I%26#39;m a middle-aged (I can%26#39;t believe I just wrote that) Asian woman coming from San Francisco.

Thanks for any info you can provide. I%26#39;m planning 7 months ahead because I need to sign up for the event I%26#39;m actually going to.

Need Rec on Hotel Near Airport %26amp; Quick Sights...

What do you consider reasonably priced?

Need Rec on Hotel Near Airport %26amp; Quick Sights...

Sorry about the delay. I would say under $150. I have sort of decided not to stay in the airport area. A friend who grew up there suggested Old Town/Downtown/Warehouse district but didn%26#39;t have specific suggestions. This way I could come in and out to walk, eat, explore, etc.

I would recommend ';The Hotel at Old Town'; or The Courtyard by Marriott. They are both within a short walk to restaurants,bars etc. There are several good restaurants in Old Town Square. Sabor{sort of South American) Imbiss Grill {German} Hana(Japanese)and the Uptown Bistro (sort of a mix of everything). There is also Oeno which is a wine bar that does some food.

The Museum of World Treasures which I highly recommend is directly across the street from the Hotel at Old Town and the Marriott is right beside all of the above mentioned restaurants.

You might check out www.oldcowtown.org. Wichita has a long history as a cowtown and some people say it is still.

Thank you! I%26#39;ll look into all of those hotels!

If you are going to have a car available I would also suggest going to see the Keeper of the Plains at night. It is a beautiful area overlooking the river, Exploration Place and is very safe (Wichita is very safe--no concerns as a single traveler!) The art museum and cowtown are all in the museum area too and are fun to see if you are new to the area. Since you are used to traveling in a city you will be surprised at how easy it is to get anywhere in town--about 30 minutes to get from one end to the other! I am not sure when you are coming,but Botanica is beautiful especially when the flowers are in bloom. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

Thanks everyone! I am so excited! Another internet friend of mine will be joining me. Hotel at Old Town, which looks like a great hotel, is booked because of an event, so I have a room at the Courtyard. It%26#39;s about $120, so $60/each person is great! This way we can also walk out for food and come back to rest and repeat easily. I also got marketing material from the visitor%26#39;s center, so I have maps. Think I%26#39;ll go to the World Treasures museum as well since they have a T-rex there. I%26#39;ll see if my friend can drive to the Botanica - don%26#39;t know what her interest is. I%26#39;ll post again in case I have questions when we get closer.

easiest way to get to Radio City

We are taking train in on Friday to see a show.

Train (NJ transit) gets us into Penn Station which I believe is on 32nd street.

Looks like quite a walk to get up to Radio City- (or maybe not)- Thoughts on how to get there and back with 3 kids??

easiest way to get to Radio City

I%26#39;ve walked it and didn%26#39;t think the walk was bad.

But you will probably get better advice in the Manhattan, New York Forum, rather than the Manhattan, Kansas Forum.

Welcome to TripAdvisor.

Pat's Pig Rocks ... Burlington ???

Pat%26#39;s Pig BBQ branched out from Topeka and took over the site on N. 2nd St. in Burlington KS, formerly a very nice sports grill and bar. The place is very roomy, with a ';family'; dining room, ';bar'; room, and ';banquet room'; which opens up to expand the bar when needed. This is off the main drag, Hwy. 75. You turn East at the stoplight by the Dairy Queen, go two blocks to the Country Haven Inn hotel, then turn right and there you are!

The food -- Really good BBQ. Pulled pork, ribs, beef, chicken ... it%26#39;s all top-notch, and prices are low. Sweet potato fries are outta this world! Cold beer and a full bar in the south rooms.

The music --- This is a BLUES place. The recorded music playing during the day, etc., is blues and more blues. On a regular basis they have LIVE BLUES SHOWS, featuring top bands from the KC club scene ... TUF, Johnny I %26amp; the Receders, Blue 88, Doghouse Daddies, Delta Highway, Scotty Boy, Eoff Bros Band, Billy Ebeling, etc., etc. Holy Cow! (or Holy Pig!) What are these bands doing in Burlington.

You%26#39;ve gotta come here to see top blues talent without the hassle of driving to KC, and to gnaw some %26#39;Cue.

Pat's Pig Rocks ... Burlington ???

Hey! Pat%26#39;s Pig is on the web at: patspigbbq.com

Has a calendar of shows and specials. checkitout!

Pat's Pig Rocks ... Burlington ???

Do you recomend the original Pats in Topeka?

I think Pats has closed in Burlington. The phone number is out of service and all references to that location have been removed from the website.

Been away awhile ... Yes, the Burlington Pig died. (*sigh*) ... no sweet potato fries in B-town.

I do like the one in Topeka/Pauline, but it%26#39;s more of a family diner atmosphere. They actually supplied the meat for the Burlington restaurant, while it lasted.

foot cream

Thanksgiving Holiday in Wichita

I first called the visitor%26#39;s center to inquire about hotels/restaurants which served a very nice buffet for Thanksgiving. The Marriott on Corporate Hills Drive and the Hilton Airport were top choices. I have requested, and received, buffet menus from each. Has anyone eaten at either one at Thanksgiving?

Next topic, hotel choices: I would like to stay at a nice hotel for 2 nights, hopefully not too noisy. Cleanliness and non-smoking room is absolutely the TOP priority. We prefer a king bed with down comforters and very nice pillows. I need a fold-out couch for my 2 children. Most rooms with two beds are full beds. We want no less than queen. An indoor pool/hot tub is a must, per my kids. I have visited several websites for Hilton %26amp; family and Marriott %26amp; family hotels, as well as the Broadview (however, very bad online reviews, so I%26#39;ve counted the Broadview out). It would be nice to have a scenic view, either Arkansas River or any lakes/ponds. I%26#39;m not familiar with the layout of the city. I%26#39;ve heard about the Bradley Fair shopping area. In fact, called the Hilton Garden Inn which is nearby, but no king w/ couch.

Area attractions which are open Wednesday evening 11/26, Thanksgiving Day and Friday morning? I have a 15-year old daughter who loves movies and shopping. Any outlet stores in Wichita? BTW, what is Kansas%26#39; sales tax rate? Also have a 9-year old boy who is into nature, guns/knives, history, anything to do with water, especially frog hunting (I realize this is fall going into winter, though, %26amp; not really frog hunting season). Good movie theatre (great Christmas movies usually come out at Thanksgiving).

Restaurants for lunch %26amp; dinner Wednesday eve, Thursday eve and Friday lunch? (We%26#39;ll eat breakfast @ hotel, if available). If not, is there a Le Peep%26#39;s?I read a blog re: Jalisco, a great place for Mexican food; is that true? As far as chains we enjoy, is there a Cheddars or Macaroni Grill in town?

Weather: Average daytime %26amp; nighttime temps? Is the fall foliage over, or are there still leaves on trees?

Any other suggestions anyone may have, I welcome. We hope this short holiday stay in Wichita will be relaxing w/ cozy accommodations, delicious food, and something for the kids to enjoy.

Thanks for any suggestions!! Lori from Texas

Thanksgiving Holiday in Wichita

I have not eaten at either Thanksgiving buffet, but both hotels have an excellent reputation. There is also the Hyatt downtown.

As for hotels, if you want a view of the river, your hotel would be the Hyatt. It can%26#39;t be too bad; it%26#39;s where the Rolling Stones stayed when they were in town.

There is good shopping at Bradley Fair (21st and Rock). If you are on the west side of town, try New Market Square at 21st and Maize Road.

Wichita has a nice zoo. There is also an interesting science museum on the river called Exploration Place. It%26#39;s hard to predict what the weather will do. Check out the www.wunderground.com for the latest on the forecast. Some years it is sunny and 70 and other years we have had snow.

The Good Egg at 21st and Rock is our equivalent of Le Peep. Wichita is a food town. I agree with the assessments of restaurants listed on Trip Advisor. There are many options. Many good restaurants in the 21st and Rock area. Check out the Waterfront area as well on Webb road. There are many options in the 21st and Maize area as well. Old Town Plaza would be a fun option for lunch/dinner and a movie. There are several outstanding local restaurants, but also an Old Chicago if the kids aren%26#39;t feeling adventurous.

In addition to the above referenced shopping areas, there are two major shopping malls located on Kellogg one at Rock Road and the other between West and I-235.

The Wichita Eagle, our local paper, will have lots of listings on Friday and Sunday for upcoming events. Also, KMUW.org usually has local events as well.

Friday after Thanksgiving will be Final Friday. This is an event where many art gallaries in town stay open late and serve complementary snacks. If it is nice weather, it would be a fun evening activity.

I suggest you buy a newspaper on Friday for the lowdown on what is going on in Wichita next weekend.

Thanksgiving Holiday in Wichita

I stayed at the Hyatt last week. While it has good views from the rooms on the north side, it has two double beds, rather than 2 queens.

Wow! Thanks for the info. I will take a look at the Hyatt. I appreciate your suggestions on restaurants and shopping also.

We will be leaving Wichita on Friday afternoon in order to return to Texas before dark. Up here in the Panhandle, travelers are frequent to have collisions with deer and turkey, especially at this time of year. We want to be able to keep our eyes open for anything. So, unfortunately, we won%26#39;t be able to do much on Friday. Sounds fun, though.

Yes, a newspaper is a good idea.

Your weather sounds very similar to ours, in fact. Unpredictable! It is going to be around 72+ today, but low 50s tomorrow.

We look forward to our stay. Thanks again! Lori from Texas

Would you say that the view is awesome enough to forego a larger bed? Thanks, Lori

There is a great breakfast place in the Old Town area of Wichita called Egg Cetera,they have a web site www.eggceterawichita.com. You might also take a look at the ';Hotel in Old Town'; or the Courtyard by Marriott,both are in the down town area. Your son might enjoy the Museum of World Treasures which is in the old town area but I don%26#39;t know what their hours will be over the holiday.

As far as a view goes Kansas is about as scenic as the Texas Panhandle. The deer are bad here also.

It was for me, Lori. They were nice beds.

My only real complaint was that the Hyatt hit me up for unexpected additional charges. I spent over $23 on parking and internet.

And the things they charged extra for, were not well done. The internet access was poor, and we had an unreasonably long wait for our car when we were leaving - at a time when there weren%26#39;t a lot of pople arriving %26amp; departing. Plus there was no appolgy for being so slow.

I should have self parked, saved $5 plus tips and had much quicker access to my car.

More great info! I really appreciate all of your recommendations. I will go to those websites and check things out.

I made reservations last evening at the Hyatt. We were able to reserve a room on the 18th floor, per my son%26#39;s request. That view should be nice.

I%26#39;m glad to know we need to watch for deer while in Kansas as well. Thanks for the heads-up!

Yes, most of the Panhandle of Texas is not much to look at; however, Canadian (our town) is an exception to that rule. We have mesas and rolling hills and lots of trees compared to the rest of the top of Texas. Very fortunate there, indeed!

Once again, thank you for your prompt and very informative replies.

With Thanksgiving, Lori from Texas

The view wins out. I booked a room on the 18th floor, riverview, at the Hyatt last night. My son wants an awesome view of the river!

You are right that they do not have a King w/ sofa sleeper. I did, however, book 2 double beds, plus a roll-a-way bed at no additional cost (so they tell me...I hope that%26#39;s the real deal). My teenage daughter and pre-teen son will not have to share a bed - problem solved!!

I truly appreciate the heads-up on parking. We will take your advice and self-park. Internet is not an issue as this trip will be for total relaxation and family time.

Again, thank you for your advice and opinion re: the Hyatt!

With Thanksgiving, Lori from Texas

If you will go to www.kansas.com you will find a list of some of the restaurants serving a Thanksgiving buffet. It is at the top of the second column.

I can highly recommend the ';Olive Tree';. They have been serving great food for at least 30 years,but reservations would be a good idea for the more upscale places.

Thanksgiving Dinner?

Looking for a place to have a nice Thanksgiving Dinner. Harry%26#39;s will apparently be closed for the day. Any suggestions?

Thanksgiving Dinner?

Good question...surprisingly, most of the restaurants shut down on Thanksgiving. There use to be a hotel that did a Thanksgiving spread, but they have since closed....I%26#39;ll keep an eye on the Manhattan newspaper to see if any ads come out and let you know.

Thanksgiving Dinner?

Isn%26#39;t there still a Holiday Inn? They used to do a buffet.

There is a Holiday Inn by the KSU campus, however I am not sure if they have a buffet...you could call: www.holidayinn.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/manhi…

The hotel I was thinking of that use to have the buffet was the Holidome, which is now the Clarion...I have not heard the best reviews on the food at the Clarion.

clarionhotel.com/…

ok...Holidome is the one I was thinking of and guess I didn%26#39;t know it was now a Clarion. (thanks for clearing up my confusing post) :)

I just heard of a couple places that will be open on Thanksgiving...Famous Daves, which is a BBQ place will be open. Also, a restaurant/wine bar called 4 Olives will be open...they will probably do a more fancy (but good!) spin on turkey dinner.

Best of Italy Tour - Globus - August - Help!!

Hi all. My sister and I really enjoyed reading all reviews about Italy. We are both in good shape and in our 40s. Looking to take this trip. Big fear is bad hotels. We%26#39;re not high maintenance just want to be safe. Also can you compare and contrast Globus vs. other reasonably priced Italy tours

Best of Italy Tour - Globus - August - Help!!

Hi My sister and I really enjoyed reading your reviews. We are both in good shape and in our 40s. Looking to take this trip. Big fear is bad hotels. We%26#39;re not high maintenance just want to be safe. Also can you compare and contrast Globus vs. other reasonably priced Italy tours

Best of Italy Tour - Globus - August - Help!!

I hate to be the one to rain on your parade but Kansas is quite some distance from Italy. Globus Tours has eliminated Kansas from its itinerary. Sorry.

is it neccassary to be rude? really.... why not suggest something to her.

I had no intention of being rude. Sorry you misinterpreted.

Just got back from the Globus Italian Treaures tour June 24th, 2008. My husband and two boys ages 18 and 12 took this trip. It was a small tour group. There was only 11 of us. I did some research on the internet before and Globus had the best reviews. We had no bad hotels. Stayed in the Cicerone in Rome. It was located within walking distance from the piazza. We went out walking with the kids at night with no problems. Our tour director Allesandro was the greatest. He was a total asset to the trip. He could tell you where to go and what to see when you had free time. All the hotels were nice. Venice was also very safe. Our hotel was within walking distance of St. Mark%26#39;s square. we hung out in St. Mark%26#39;s square till late at night. It was breath taking. My 18 year old son and another girl on the tour walked around at night in Venice with no problems. The food on the tour was good. The excursions are a bit pricy esp for a family of 4 but worth it. We did the Roman highlights and dinner, the Tuscan dinner-- this was unbelievable -great food beautiful setting and the lagoon cruise in Burano.. we recommend all of them. Some suggestions.. public restrooms that are free are hard to find. Have eruo change with you. When you purchase food in a shop you can then use the restrooms. The gelato- Italian ice cream is a must. If you purchase bottled water from the small shops it is cheaper. Look for the large bottles they are usually the best buy. Off the beaten path you can find cheaper food and pizza where the locals eat. go.. enjoy!! it will be a trip to remember.

Hi, I went on the Best of Italy tour in May 2008. I loved the tour. My friend I traveled with wasn%26#39;t impressed (she cried most of the time and things were not ';good enough'; for her) You have to keep in mind that the standards are not the same in Italy as in the USA.... in some places of Italy. The hotels in Rome, Capri we re beautiful and very clean. In Tuscany, Assisi, Venice.... there were older, smaller and not immaculate like the ones in Rome and Capri. The hotels weren%26#39;t disgusting but just older. I like to stay in nice hotels too but I was in Italy !!! I quickly got over that the rooms were a bit outdated. I focused on the trip itself and not the hotels. The tour itself.... we saw so much on this trip. I didn%26#39;t find it too fast paced at all. I know if we woould have gone bu ourselves, we wouldn;t have seen as much as we did. The optional excursions. We took all of them and they are a good idea..... better than planning on your own and finding your own way. I do have to say that if you are use to exceptional, gourmet food... you may not be so impressed with the food on the optional excursions or the ones included in the tour. Very basic and simple. My suggestion.... opt out on a night or two of an option dinner night and go find somewhere local. We did in Capri and we were so happy we did...a five course excellent meal...a 3 1/2 hour dining experience. OH, and if you do the Best of Italy tour... you ';must'; do the Tuscan hightlight dinner... it was amazing... set in a villa amongst olives trees and vineyard (our tour was anyway). So, the only thing I would do different if I went on this tour again would be opt out on some of the evening optionals and go on our own..... only if you are a foodie, like myself.

Outstanding Kansas Christmas displays.

I think I know all of the good ones in Johnson County, but do you have any recommendations for special displays across the rest of the state?

Outstanding Kansas Christmas displays.

Hi there....we have a very nice display that is a fundraiser for the Topeka Area Retarded Citizens (TARC) and here%26#39;s the info from their web site;

Winter Wonderland A Celebration of Lights is a Topeka, Kansas tradition. Join us for our tenth year of dazzling light displays certain to bring you and your family warm holiday cheer. Enjoy a breathtaking 2 mile drive through Lake Shawnee viewing hundreds of holiday displays, fun animation and holiday music.

November 16 -December 31, 2007, Winter Wonderland X, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., Lake Shawnee Campground

November 16, 5:30 p.m. Reynold%26#39;s Lodge: Sneak Peek Sponsorship Appreciation Celebration.

November 16, 6:00 p.m. Lake Shawnee Campground entrance: Winter Wonderland Lighting Ceremony.

Winter Wonderland Specialty Nights:

Monday, December 3 - Kids Night (Refreshments, activities and Santa)

Tuesday, December 4 - Pet Night (Refreshments, treats for pets and Santa)

Wednesday, December 5 - Senior%26#39;s Night (Refreshments, Bingo and Prizes)

Thursday, December 6 - Family Fun Night (Refreshments, Activities and Santa)

Requested Donation: $7 per car or $1 per person in vans or buses.

Advance Tickets ($5 per car) are available at: Capital City Bank, Capital Federal Savings, Educational Credit Union, and at TARC, 2701 SW Randolph Ave, Topeka KS 66611.

Support TARC%26#39;s Mission: purchase a ';Star of Life'; for the displays at Winter Wonderland.

Outstanding Kansas Christmas displays.

There is a house at 17th and Park Place in north central Wichita that is certainly worth a trip to see. I can%26#39;t remember how many lights are in the decorations but it is several thousand.

where are some of the good lighting displays in johson county?

This one: kansastravel.org/falmouthchristmasdisplay.htm and the two links at the top of page.

There are good but less impressive on 75th just east of Antioch amd Johnson drive a half mile west of I-35.

Also a house in south Overland Park where they broadcast Christmas music on lew power FM and the lights are linked to the music. Don%26#39;t have the address handy (I%26#39;m on vacation this weekend).

The other house with the display linked to the music is actually in Leawood, one block east of Roe Avenue on 132nd Street

A small sign will direct you to tune your radio to 96.9 FM.

There are some other good displays nearby including one up the street with large lighted lollipops.

I forgot to mention one of the neatest Kansas City area Chritsmas light displays: Paulie%26#39;s Penguin Playground. It is in Olathe and has around 150 inflated Christmas decorations. kansastravel.org/olathechristmaspenquins.htm

Any new leads for this Christmas season?

Thanks to everyone who has offered ideas so far! TopekaDucky, I am visiting Winter Wonderland tomorrow evening.

For folks looking in the KC area, here is my list of places worth visiting in Johnson County: kansastravel.org/kansascitychristmasdisplays…

Thanks for bringing this post to the top since it is once again appropriate!

If others see this, I hope they add to the list since we also like to see the lights this time of year..thanks!

TopekaDucky, my favorite was one that I am sure you are long awear of, Potwin Place. These are the ones that I liked best: kansastravel.org/topeka/topekachristmasdispl…

Oh....I grew up in the Potwin neighborhood, and I guess that is something I take for granted! LOL

I am so glad that the neighborhood (and Topeka) has worked hard to keep it authentic!!! We also have a nice area just kind of north of Washburn University called Westboro that is very nice.

Both neighborhoods also have great 4th of July Parades every year if you ever head this way for something different.

Hotel at Kansas City Airport

Can anyone tell me about the Comfort Inn at 1200 SR 92, Platte City, Missoui?

or

Can anyone suggest a good, decent but cheap hotel that allows up to 14 days of free parking in or around the airport area that also provides shuttle service?

Thanks,

Tammy

Hotel at Kansas City Airport

Platte City Super 8 has free shuttle service but I think they charge $2 a day for parking which is still much better than the airport. There aren%26#39;t many hotels near the airport. Platte City is just a couple of miles away though.

Hotel at Kansas City Airport

Try the Fairfield, Hampton Inn, and we just stayed at the Hyatt Place(used to be the Amerisuites), because I think they all offer park and fly as an option. They are around the Tiffany Springs or north of I-29 north of the airport.

I don%26#39;t know if the parking is free, but the room rate is quite reasonable at the Days Inn at 11120 NW Ambassador Dr. I have been satisfied with their rooms and service.

Thanks for the suggestions I will give these a look.

Looking for Best BBQ and Steak Restaurants in Kanas City

Who has the best BBQ in Kansas City?

Who has the best steak in Kansas City?

Thanks, I look forward to your replys.

Looking for Best BBQ and Steak Restaurants in Kanas City

Oh how I miss my KC BBQ!!! My personal favorite is Arthur Bryants -- the sause is to die for! However, if you are visiting, beware that this is a hole in the wall restaurant in a not so good area of town. If you want a nicer sit down restaurant, I would go to Jack Stack BBQ in Overland Park or Downtown KC...this is my second favorite.

Not for sure about the best steak...but most will say you can%26#39;t go wrong at Herford House.

Looking for Best BBQ and Steak Restaurants in Kanas City

Arthur Bryants also has a new location at Legends (near the Kansas Speedway)

After two or three visits to the Bryants location at the Legends, the food has never been as good as the orginal location.

Other good BBQ choices include Rosedale BBQ, Oklahoma Joe%26#39;s and RJ%26#39;s Bob-Be-Que Shack. But the next person to come along might recomend three other places. It depends a lot on what you are looking for and we know nothing of your tastes.

Do you like jazz? You might like the music, atmosphere and steak at the Majestic Steakhouse.

Bryants also has a location inside the Ameristar Casino in KC, MO. Guess we%26#39;ve been lucky since our food at all 3 locations has been good.

We%26#39;ve also been to Gates and Masterpiece, but I guess it just depends on the BBQ taste that people prefer since they are all made with different recipes.

BBQ: As many have stated it all depends on your tastes. I don%26#39;t like hot spicy BBQ so I can%26#39;t be of much help as I like it mild. But all those mentioned are popular. Also Haywards in south overland park, zarda, KC masterpiece

Steak: Hereford House is always good. I also like The Lone Star in Southern Overland Park and The Texas Roadhouse in Liberty, Mo. Both of the later carry the Baked Sweet Potatoes.....

Good Luck

best steak i had was at jess and jim%26#39;s in martin city. the best bbq was at either oklahoma joes or earl quicks. it was a flat out tie. both were excellent! i am sure there was more and perhaps better steak available, i just did not find it. good luck!

Arthur Bryant%26#39;s is my family%26#39;s favorite as well. However, I would agree with with the previous post that the only one to visit is the original location at 18th %26amp; Brooklyn. We%26#39;ve never had nearly as good of a meal at the other locations. We also like LCs on Blue Parkway. Yes, it looks like a bit of a dive and the area is not the greatest but the BBQ is the best!

I%26#39;m not a big steak person but have also heard great reviews about Jess and Jims in Martin City.

Best BBQ: Oklahoma Joes, The original location is in a gas station at 47th and Mission Rd. They have the best ribs and fries around!!http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/

Best Steak: Mama Mia';s in Leavenworth. Even though they are a Italian restraunt, they have the best KC Strip I have ever had and everyone I know that has eaten a steak there agree!

Wow, there seems to be a lot of great BBQ choices. I wish I had more than a day. I wish I could visit two in one evening, but not sure if I can eat that much. I wish we had places like this in Dayton. They look fantastic.

My persoanl favorite is Arthur Bryants, then Oklahoma Joe%26#39;s followed by Jack Stack. A hidden Gem is Woodyard in Meriam Kansas.

Best steak? Avoid Hereford House. Used to be good, but has gone downhill. My favorites are J. Gilberts and Plaza III.

foot cream

Urgent Tips! FFS (food, fun, shopping)

hi everyone...It%26#39;s my first time in New York and I%26#39;m looking for cheap and good food experiences...I am looking for REAL hidden gems!

Any tips?

Breakfast, lunch, dinner...anything that is special and worth going. I%26#39;ve got 5 days.

Cheap sushi, especially, good american breakfast (pancakes for instance), Dim Sum, good soul food....

I do want to do something special, and it doesn%26#39;t matter if it means waking up at 5am to go to Chinatown! :P

FUN:

I%26#39;m also looking for some places where you can go and eat and listen to Jazz or watch Comedy...hope they still exist!

I%26#39;ve heard the Upper East side it%26#39;s a good hang-out area...

Also, I%26#39;ve got another massive favour to ask! SHOPPING!

any tips on that? Which is the biggest shopping center(and not too expensive...not looking for Prada...something more..top-shop like, for the ones that know it!).

Helppp!

Ta,

Mary

Urgent Tips! FFS (food, fun, shopping)

I%26#39;m sorry Mary, but you have accidently posted to Manhattan, Kansas (The Little Apple) rather than Manhattan, New York.

I hope you have a good trip!

Urgent Tips! FFS (food, fun, shopping)

Actually, the Little Apple is quite exciting too! But probably not as much as the Big Apple! :-)

Heritage House on SW 6th

Just wondering if anyone knows what became of the Heritage House? I know it closed for a long time, are there any plans to reopen it as an inn or otherwise?

Heritage House on SW 6th

It has been converted into Dr%26#39;s offices or offices of some kind.

Heritage House on SW 6th

It has been renovated and is open for business. It is NOT office space.

It is still up for sale. Such a shame because the nicest couple ran a wonderful restaurant in the facility before it closed. Topekens just didn%26#39;t seem willing to spend a few dollars extra for quality dining. We miss it!

I will stop by sometime as I am in the area often.

They have painted it a green color but it always looks deserted.

I worked there as the P.R. Manager when Robin and Pat were running it. (the nice couple referred to).

I am curious as well as to what happened to it. Not only was it a great B and B but it is a Historic Site as it was the origional Menninnger Foundation site.

Perhaps it has been reverrted to its origional state. That would be very cool since no one can seem to keep it open as a B and B.

Welcome to the forum, mygeogiscrap!

I look forward to your comments on local restaurants and the like.

Thank you.

I have become a bit obsessed with this site lol.

Working from home on the computer allows me too much time to play.

I plan to add more reviews.

Thank you

Joely

Wow this is an old post (I had to reread it to make sure I was going to give correct info) LOL

I know the who owner is and also realtor, and the property has been for sale now for several years...if anyone is interstered in purchasing the property, send me a personal message.

The building was originally the office of Dr. Karl Menninger, and the land surrounding it was called the Menninger campus.

It was owned for awhile by a gentleman from CA then purchased by my neighbor%26#39;s daughter who ran it as a bed and breakfast for awhile. (or I may have their ownership reversed and she owned it before him)

I believe the guy from CA was the person who made it into a restaurant/reception facility since I went to several events and wedding receptions there. He had a chef who used to be on our local news program offering recipes and demonstrating how to make them for people in our community.

Soooooo maybe that%26#39;s way more than you wanted to know, and I am glad to provide more information if you would send your inquiries to me in a personal message :)

Yes that would be Patrick, my old boss.

I am actually the one who got him on the show.

(grin)

He also was on Sunflower Journeys with me, I was the one showing the interviewer around the property.

I miss doing that kind of work.

Patrick brought some wonderful ideas to HH and always was happy to try out the ideas I brought to his attention. However I feel that he and his wife were not really happy in Topeka and longed to be back home in Cali with their family. I believe and this is mostly an assumption that when Robin, his wife, became preg with their second child that they really wanted to be closer to family.

Patrick was an amazing chef, I so miss his parchment paper salmon and his amazing fried goat cheese lol

College visit

We will be coming to Pittsburg from Virginia on April 6 and staying through the 8th. We are visiting both La Roche College and Duquesne University. Anyone know anything about these Catholic schools such as are they in fairly safe areas, have good reputations etc.? My son is going for a business/criminology degree and hopes to work for the secret service one day. There are some great opportunities in Pittsburg for internships with the secret service during his college years so that is why we are looking at Pittsburg. Any advice /suggestions you could give us concerning these schools is greatly appreciated. Also where should we stay if we plan on visiting both schools? Looking for something large enough for a family of 5. Thanks so much.

College visit

You need to post this on the Pennsylvania forum,you have it on the one for Pittsburg, Kansas

Two restaurants that are a cut above

The listings for restaurants here are not new enough to reflect the two best places to eat in Leavenworth, KS. First--Baan Thai, a Thai place downtown that has some of the best Thai food in the US--an incredible find in Kansas! Ate here many, many times--got to know the owner, as I%26#39;ve lived in Thailand for a number of years. Good service, customizable orders (order less sweet if you want), and always tasty and fresh Thai food!

The other mention is Manny%26#39;s Tacos. They used to run a taco trailer on Ft Leavenworth, then moved into a shop downtown. Killer burritos, excellent BBQ chicken, tacos are excellent. Completely authentic and a wonderful addition to the small but reliable dining experience in Leavenworth. Visit both of these places, along with Pullman Place, for the best that Leavenworth has to offer.

Two restaurants that are a cut above

I ate at Baan Thai in August and was quite pleased with the meal.

Though I miss the great desserts at the restaurant that used to be in that space!

Keith

University of Kansas

Home of the Jayhawks

Their football team went to bowl games 2 consecutive years-first time in school history

Their football team WON 2 consecutive bowl games-first time in school history

Congrats to the team, coaches, families, and fans :)

University of Kansas

Roch Chalk Jayhawk-Go KU.

Will be there Sat. for the bball game.

University of Kansas

Have fun patrickh.

I will be there for games on the 19th and 31st.

Rock Chalk!!! I am SO proud of our football team and excited about our football program!

I agree with TopekaDucky, congrats to all!

How bout that big win over those Vols Sat, What a rockin building it was.

ugghhhh....ok I admit I am not very patient sometimes, but those twins make me crazy :(

And what about the 2008 NCAA Men%26#39;s Basketball Champions?? Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

I really miss watching the basketball games on TV (I moved to Mexico in 2003), but I listen to every game on KLZR with Bob Davis and Chris Piper.

Congratulations to the football team as well!

Cindi

Ah Bob and Chris...not quite the same as Bob and Max (glad he is enjoying retirement though), but since Chris is a Jayhawk, we%26#39;re glad he%26#39;s doing that job.

How neat you can keep up with the Hawks even in Mexico :)

Whoo Hoo KU!

Hi TopekaDucky,

Yes, I was very glad to find out that I could listen to the radio on the internet down here! And, I can read the Lawrence Journal-World online, so I keep up with all the KU/Lawrence news.

I miss Max, too, but I like Chris (or ';Pipe'; as people call him).

Are you a KU grad? Are you from Topeka originally?

What%26#39;s new in Topeka these days?

Take care!

Cindi

State tour with kids

Hi. Every year we take our kids to two new states and this year is Nebraska and Kansas. Our kids will be 6, 3, and 6 months when we visit.

We are looking for unique, historic or different things to do. We usually hit national historic sites or parks. I don%26#39;t know which ones are great for kids though.

We live near Philadelphia so we have plenty of access to children%26#39;s museums, zoos, etc. We%26#39;re pretty much focused on what makes Kansas great or different or how it affected history.

Also, we are free to tour the whole state...we don%26#39;t necessarily have to stay near the Nebraska border, etc.

If you have a suggestion of kid-friendly restaurants near the landmark, we would appreciate those too!

Thanks for your help!

State tour with kids

Being from Topeka, I invite you to stop by our State Capitol then swing by First Presbyterian Church at 8th and Harrison (we have Tiffany Windows and a tour of our sanctuary and chapel)

www.visittopeka.travel

I also am including links to our Wildlife and Parks and Tourism Depts.

www.kdwp.state.ks.us

www.travelks.com/s/index.cfm

We do still have buffalo in Kansas, and there is a farm just east of Topeka on I-70 that has an owner who lets his herd graze in a pasture on the south side of the road so tell the kids to look since you can see them most of the time.

Also if you head back home east on I-70, stop by the Kansas Speedway area called Legends with Cabela%26#39;s and Nebraska Furniture Mart as anchor stores, and there is also the Great Wolf Lodge if you want to spend the night at an inside water park...and a wide variety of restaurants!

State tour with kids

This is unique: Nicodemus National Historic Site http://www.nps.gov/nico/ About an hour away, you%26#39;ll find Hays, Kansas. www.haysusa.com/html/history___trivia.html Lots of history there, too. The Cosmosphere at Hutchinson is pretty interesting. Kansas%26#39; first territorial capital is near Junction City. Abilene has President Dwight D. Eisenhower%26#39;s childhood home as well as the Brookville Hotel, for the best fried chicken dinner you%26#39;ll ever have in a restaurant!

What dates or time of year are you looking at?

We%26#39;ll be there at the end of June. I don%26#39;t have set dates yet since we are driving and can be flexible. I just have to wait until the school year is over for my kindergartner.

Here%26#39;s some more helpful info;

www.travelks.com/s/index.cfm?aid=19

If you are interested in going further south Wichita is about 3 hours from either KC or Topeka. There are many things to do here. I don%26#39;t know how much time you are planning for your trip, but Dodge City is a easy drive from here too! It may appeal to the 6 year old if they like the cowboy theme. If you are lucky there may be a pow-wow going on at the Indian Center in Wichita; always fun to watch. Have a great trip and let me know if you need any other information!

Howdy elawson,

If you are around Western Nebraska towards the end of June, you might want to check out this.

http://www.nebraskalanddays.com/

Happy trails,

SandBilly

Something else of interest is the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum in Hutchinson.

www.cosmo.org.

There is also an underground salt museum in Hutchinson but they do not take children under 4 years of age.

http://www.cosmo.org

The new Official Kansas Visitors Guide just came out and you can order one online for FREE at http://www.travelks.com/s/VisitorGuideE.cfm. It will come with the new state map as well which will be helpful in your travels.

foot cream

Fort Riley

We are going to Fort Riley Kansas for 3-4 days the 2nd week of Fed. We%26#39;ll be driving straight through from the Black Hills of SD.

Google maps suggests the route of all interstates I90 east to I29 south to I80 west. We drive I90 across SD a few times a year and, depending on the weather, I%26#39;d like to take a different route either going to, coming back or both. We%26#39;re familiar with hwy 79 south from Rapid City to Chadron NE and google gave me a route that drops S to go west on I80, then south on hwy 81. That route is about 100 miles shorter than interstate, but through towns, so could be slower. Any other suggestions?

We won%26#39;t be staying on Fort Riley, I%26#39;ve checked for hotels, mostly chains? Any recommendations? Restaurants? Things to do in the area off Fort Riley?

Fort Riley

Highway 81 coming into Kansas is a good road and shouldn%26#39;t slow you down since it isn%26#39;t very popuated in that area.

I would check Manhattan and Junction City for lodging and restaurant ideas, and maybe you can check their specific cities for info here on TA.

I%26#39;ve traveled the state alot over the years, but I really haven%26#39;t stayed in the area but a couple times since it is close enough to Topeka that I would come home rather than stay overnight on the road.

This website may offer some additional information to you;

www.travelks.com

Fort Riley

Junction City has several good Korean restaurants. My favorite is Pusan Diner, but Korean Garden is also worth a visit.

There is enough to do on the fort to fill most of a day, but other interesting things include the Insect Zoo and the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan.

If you enjoy Grassroots art, the Kracht Castle which one man is building in his back yard is memorable, It was featured ib Rare Visions and Roadside Revalations. http://www.kansastravel.org/krachtcastle.htm

81 is a good highway. I can%26#39;t comment on the others.

Abilene is not too far away and has the Eisenhower museum and library. They also have a hotel that is famous for its fried chicken dinners. They moved the business to Abilene after something happend in the town it had been in for years. Forget the exact story, but it is set up like an old hotel that you would stop at on a train stop. All of the food is family style and you don%26#39;t have a choice in what you eat, but it is great food!

I wanted to say thank you for the help.

We had clear weather for the 2 day drive down and 2 back. We didn%26#39;t take much time for sight seeing, except for driving all over Ft. Riley. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Junction City. We really enjoyed our evening meal at 4 Olives Wine Bar in Manhattan. It was exactly what we were looking for. Much less enthused about lunch at Cracker Barrel.

Good hotel in Good Area

Trying to find a good hotel and a resonable price for a few days for just seeing what is in KC. if you know if a good area for a hotel please let me know. Im single and dont want to stay in a bad area of town.

Thanks from Oklahoma

Good hotel in Good Area

First a few questions.

Do want Kansas City Missouri, Kansas City Kansas or metro Kansas City? (I%26#39;m guessing one of the later 2)

Will you have a car?

What is your budget? (One person%26#39;s reasonable is another person%26#39;s expensive.)

Good hotel in Good Area

Im not sure where i want that is why i ask, not sure where is the safest.. LOL im a big chicken when im by myself.

Yes i will have a car.

Yes i will have a budget some where from 90 - 120 a night.

thanks for your responce,

OK. There are two ways you could decide to go.

Many people sightseeing in Kansas City stay in the Country Club Plaza/Westport area. They are where much of the street life is - with restaurants, bars and shopping within walking distance of each other.

But you may not feel as comfortable staying there. (I wouldn%26#39;t be uncomfortable)

Kansas City is an easy town to drive in. There are lots of limited access highways and only a couple of areas where you have to pay to park. Traffic is only bad during rush hour and compared to most cites, even the rush hour isn%26#39;t bad.

So I would recommend you staying suburban.

You could do that in several directions from the heart of town. Since you are coming from the southwest, there is no reason not to stay in the SW suburbs. Overland Park is the closest and largest, but Olathe or Lenexa could also work. With a few exceptions, that will put you a 20 minute drive or less from the places you are likely to visit.

It sounds like you are here to see attractions more than shop. The ones cool and unique to KC include the Steamboat Arabia Museum, National World War 1 Museum, and Negro Leagues/Jazz Museums. Trust me, the Steamboat Arabia is more interesting that it sounds, and it is in the City Market which is loaded with produce and plant sellers on weekend mornings and also has many small locally owned restaurants.

Other major attractions include the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art and Harry Truman%26#39;s home %26amp; Presidential Library/museum. The Truman things are in Independence and would be more like a 45 minute drive.

Crown Center is a pretty cool older mall near the downtown. It currently has a free Oz exhibit, has outdoor ice skating, shopping, free Hallmark Visitor%26#39;s Center (neat exhibits) and is attached by covered walkway to the old Union Station. It is near the WWI museum.

Kansas City, Kansas has the Legends Shopping Center, a new outdoor mall with more to do than just shop. http://www.kansastravel.org/kansaslegends.htm

Out in Overland Park you will find the largest museum of contemporary art in the region - the Nerman Museum. The Overland Park Arboretum is a wonderful place for a quiet walk. And Oak Park Mall is a large, nice shopping center where the right person could enjoy spending hours

There are more, but they depend on your interests. And many fine restaurants and places for entertainment.

travel wichita to Garden City

I plan to travel to Garden City via Wichita. I cannot find an Amtrak station or Greyhound bus that connects these cities. Is there any way other than renting a car to travel between Wichita and Garden city?

travel wichita to Garden City

Rental is yuor best bet.

Frontier Airlines offers extremely expensive flights between the two cities. Perhaps it would be more reasonable if the flight was combined with a flight into Wichita.

Border-to-Border Shuttle Service would be your other option 888-363-6500.

travel wichita to Garden City

What is border to border shuttle? I will check out Frontier .

thanks

Frontier airlines doesn%26#39;t list garden city as a location from Wichita. Unless it only flies on certain days.

Border-to-Border is pretty much a small taxi service specializing in long distance travel in Kansas.

Amtrak runs the Southwest Chief from Newton to Garden City. If you are flying into Wichita, I do not know about surface connections from the Wichita Airport, to Newton, which is about 25 miles north.

You would also depart Newton at about 3:30am, and arrive in Garden Cith at 6:45am, not the most convenient times in the world!

You can fly Frontier, Great Lakes Aviation, and United into Garden City from Wichita...the insanity is that you have to fly to Denver first! The costs are also incredible. Now if were flying into Denver...then Garden City...then Wichita...at least the times would be better.

I think you%26#39;re only logical option would be a rental car from Wichita. Sorry.

Thanks

I don%26#39;t have to go to wichita . It was a cheaper flight. Those little planes cost so much I was trying to bypass Denver. I guess there is no other way. Thanks anyway.

The drive to Garden from Wichita is about four hours.I have no idea how often there are flights from Denver to Garden but it may be almost as fast to drive from Wichita, and a few hundred dollars cheaper.

Check on car rental, my daughter has been renting Toyota Corollas for $20 a day including tax.

Thank you

What car rental place has your daughter been using. That might be a better option.

She has been going through Priceline and making what she thinks are ridiculously low bids on a compact. Several times when she is renting on a Thurs.or Friday although she has a compact reserved they are all taken so she gets upgraded to a larger car.

You did not say what time of the year you will be traveling but during college spring break there is a junior college basketball tournament and most cars will be taken. It is sometime in the middle of March.

Thank you that was so helpful.. i never thought of Priceline for a rental car. That was good to know about the tournament too. We haven%26#39;t yet set a date for travel.

mediterranean cruise

Hello everybody

I am going to mediterranean cruise in september 1st with Princess ship(Ruby) and port of call is Barcelona and the last destination is Venice,Italy

I was wondering if anyone is going on that cruise. you can email me and we can communicate. I really appreciate.

my email is s_saisan@yahoo.com

October Road Trip

We%26#39;re planning our biennial road trip through the heartland and need some lodging advice. Specifically, has anyone stayed at the Prairie Fire Motel/Spa in Strong City ?? And.. are there any recommendations for Arkansas City ?

October Road Trip

Haven%26#39;t stayed here, but drive right by it all the time. It%26#39;s a old motel right on U.S. Highway 50 in Strong City. I%26#39;m thinking that it has to be kind of noisy, with half the semi trucks in America driving past day and night. It looks to have been done over a bit, but I was more than a bit surprised to see ';spa'; surface in its name. It is run by a couple relocated from Chicago, who sound kind of interesting ... they show vintage movies on a bedsheet in the parking lot. If you%26#39;re in it for a funky stay, or for a massage, then it might be worth a shot. If not, you might want to try the Grand Central in Cottonwood Falls, the Clover Cliff Ranch B%26amp;B out near Elmdale ... either one would give you a quiet and relaxing stop, but pricier. For more of a bargain, you could just hit one of the chain joints on the west side of Emporia.

October Road Trip

I stayed at the Super Eight in Ark City in June. Nothing special, but clean. They didn%26#39;t have my reservation, but had rooms available and honored the terms.

I did like that rooms on the front of the hotel on the first floor at access both from a central hallway and individual outside doors. And the wifi worked well.

Thanks for the information about Prairie Fire and, especially, the Super 8. I was concerned about some reviews on the Best Western in Ark City, so this will help me make a choice. I love touring off the ';beaten path';.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt; I love touring off the ';beaten path';. %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

You%26#39;ll defiinitely want to stay in Strong City or Cottonwood Falls area, and not the Wal-Mart neighborhood of west Emporia. You%26#39;ll also want to get out of the car, if you%26#39;re able, or at least off the highway and on to some of the backroads in the Flint Hills. Ask your motel hosts, or stop in a local cafe%26#39; for route suggestions.

Thanks, NotDave... I%26#39;m actually from Fredonia, KS (as a youth) and make the heartland pilgrimage every 2 years, without exception. We%26#39;ve grown to like the route 160 scenery going west and thought we%26#39;d use Ark City instead of Winfield for a golf/lodging stop this year. Our next golf/lodging stop will be in Guymon, OK. On our way back home to northern Michigan, we%26#39;ll make a second stop at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve... we%26#39;ll most likely avoid the edges of Emporia and flip a coin between Prairie Fire/Strong City and the pricey choices in Cottonwood Falls and Council Grove. It%26#39;s all about avoiding the cookie cutter establishments off the freeways.

spbill, we have swapped lives. I grew up in Mackinaw City.

If you could arrange your travel to go through Yates Center around noon on a weekday, you could have a unique meal experience at Frannie%26#39;s.

Frannie prepares one meal each weekday, as well as sandwiches. The cost of the meal including beverage is $1. She also prepares over a dozen wonderful pies. A slice of pie is another dollar.

When you finish your meal, you leave your dishes by the sink. Then you go to the cash register and make your own change.

Frannie has been in business for 20 years. She was already a grandmother when she opened, so I don%26#39;t know how many more years the restaurant will continue.

http://kansastravel.org/frannies.htm

I know this is an old forum but we have stayed at the Prairie Fire several times when visiting my husband%26#39;s family. Since the new owners took over it is much better than it was in 2003. It is cheap around $45 for family of 4.(one double, one single, one rollaway) Beds are comfy and clean. Decor is country / western. Bathrooms are old. Not really disgusting but well used. They don%26#39;t provide any toiletries so bring your own or buy at the truck stop across the street. If you stay in winter ask that they turn the heat and hot water on before you get there.

I agree with NaNa about the value %26amp; condition of the Prairie Fire... but would add that the available massage there is top-of-the-line. On last year%26#39;s KS road trip, we stayed at the 1874 Stonehouse B%26amp;B in Cottonwood Falls and that place was fantastic... including the walking paths, friendly dogs and the fishing pond. Naturally, any trip to Chase County and The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve demands that you read, or at least try to read, William Least Heat Moon%26#39;s ';PrairyErth';... which is the best ever deep map into any US county%26#39;s history. This year we%26#39;ll explore Gove County and the scenic rock formations there and to the East.. much to the dismay of our travelling friends who demand more urban vistas. For us, there%26#39;s nothing like the 2-lane roads and small towns of real America.

spbill, I think your friends will lose their dismay when they see castle rock badlands.

Older Type Nice Hotel in Kansas? Advice Please

Several years back we stayed at the Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls. It was a great experience. A very nice hotel in an older community.

Are there any other renovated nice older hotels in Kansas?

Older Type Nice Hotel in Kansas? Advice Please

Wichita has the Hotel at Oldtown. As a way to rejuvinate the downtown area they have taken a lot of the old wharehouses and turned them into businesses. Don%26#39;t know where you are staying but this is an option.

Older Type Nice Hotel in Kansas? Advice Please

Try www.midland-hotel.com. It is located in Wilson,KS.just south of I-70 at exit 206 about halfway between Salina and Russell.

There is also one in Chanute,Ks. that I can not remember the name of.

The Senate Suites just west of our State Capitol was renovated several years ago, and some of our legislators stay there during the session. The Capitol is located at 10th and Topeka Blvd. The Senate is one block west of 9th and Topeka Blvd and a block from Topeka High School (it was the first million dollar high school built west of the Mississippi back in the 30%26#39;s)

Also First Presbyterian Church at 8th and Topeka has Tiffany Windows (the only ones?) in the sanctuary if you are interested in it. They are gearing up for their 150th Anniversary celebration sometime in the next year or so, I think.

We also now have the Brown National Historic Museum at 15th and Monroe St. that is also near the area.

Thanks so much for these responses! I%26#39;m going to look them up right now.

Please feel free to give any more Kansas type advice. We%26#39;re from NC and loved our visit to Kansas and want to come back.

Having only dined there, I recomended the Midland Hotel to someone last year. They tried it and said the trains passing a couple of hundred feet away in the night were a problem.

I am not sure if it fits your description of hotel you are looking for, but there are some bed a breakfast homes in Lindsborg and antique shops that are fun.

Anyone have experience staying at the Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence?

I never stayed there but had lunch there several times when I worked at KU, and it was a beautiful building...didn%26#39;t they do some renovations a couple years ago? If so, that is a great suggestion! Then an enjoyable stroll window shopping on Mass Street would add to the fun.

I would recommend the Swedish Country Inn in Lindsborg (18 miles south of Salina). Quite charming, and centrally located for many shops and restaurants. I%26#39;m not sure if one would catagorize it as a hotel, B%26amp;B, or both...but we enjoyed our two day/two night stay, and hope to return in the future.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g38856-d125608-…

The name of the hotel in Chanute is the Tioga Suites, it%26#39;s a National Historic Site.

foot cream

Clay Center Zoo

If you have visited the Clay Center Zoo, I would appreciate your feedback on http://www.kansastravel.org/claycenterzoo.htm

This morning, the Director of Utilities in Clay Center emailed that the ';evaluation of the Zoo was very inappropriate.';

I went to look at the review, fearing I had been in a foul mood the day I prepared that web page. But frankly, it is less harsh than it might be. It includes every positive point that I noticed, and doesn%26#39;t word the negatives as strongly as it could.

I would value hearing other opinions.

Clay Center Zoo

Well, I must admit I%26#39;m going to be a bit partial, since I%26#39;ve lived in Clay Center for nearly 30 years, now; but once I found the site about our zoo, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed.

We have taken our children, and now our grandchildren, to the zoo--many times over the years and I have NEVER seen the birds out in the open like you have pictured on the site! You must have caught an unusual situation. And, as for them visiting the neighborhood -- they don%26#39;t. They are content to stay put, and except for a few ducks who follow the little creek into the park a ways, the others all are within the fences of the zoo.

We love taking bread crumbs with us to the zoo, and the ducks and birds love to eat them. as well as the children have fun throwing the bread to them. There are also pellets one can buy and throw to them. And, every age has such fun with the talking birds near the monkey cage--you%26#39;ll hear ';hello,'; ';hi,'; and even a wolf whistle from one of them! And listen to them laugh or cry out like the peacocks (okay--I don%26#39;t care much for the peacock screech, I%26#39;ll admit; but it amazes me that the bird can do it!).

Our baby monkey is all the ';rage'; at the zoo, right now. Young and old visit often to see it. We actually have watched several baby monkeys over the years, and as the babies grew old enough to be sent on to another zoo, we missed them.

As for ';watching your children';--I would hope parents do that at ANY zoo they visit, but I have never thought that any of our children were in danger of getting hurt there, like your comment implied.

I would hope anyone in our area would have the time to visit the Clay Center Zoo! They won%26#39;t be sorry; and if you are there in the spring and early when the flowers are blooming at the zoo and park, you will find ';photo ops'; for those, too. In fact, there have been several small weddings, Senior Pictures and family gatherings and pictures--all at the Clay Center Zoo and Utility Park.

Clay Center Zoo

Thank you for the feedback. I will take it into account when I revisit Clay Center.

Hi.

First, I have enjoyed your webpage (KansasTravel.org) and used it to help plan my trips.

I know this post is old, but I am starting to work on my reviews and found this.

I have my own little project, http://www.zoopictures.net , and have visited just about every zoo in Kansas (as well as many other midwestern states).

We went to Clay Center on our last trip (Topeka, Salina, Manhattan, Garden City, Dodge City and Great Bend) and frankly we were expecting it to be bad... and it was every bit as bad as I expected, if not worse. You were NOT wrong on this one, you were (if anything) much kinder than I was.

You can see pictures of this horrible little zoo on my website, specifically here: http://zoopictures.zenfolio.com/p145688936

I made a point of taking pictures showing how awful the caging is. It is REALLY bad. There was a YOUNG kid there feeding a wolf through the bars! A WOLF.

I love zoos, and I love animals, and every other zoo we visited in Kansas is a GEM compared to the awful Clay Center facility (even tiny little Dodge City... at least they TRY).

Thanks again for your excellent website %26amp; best wishes.

Thanks for your comments, sabbath999.

When the zoo got the bear, there seemed to be more local interest and it looked like it might translate into some improvements. But based on your photos, that hasn%26#39;t happened.

When looking for another web page, I just discovered this blog that says the zoo is breeding animals and selling them for pets. That seems wrong on several levels. www.freewebs.com/singingdogs/alovestory.htm

I looked at your photos of several other Kansas zoos. Nice job.

Thank you for your kind words.

I agree, breeding for sale for personal use is mind boggling for a zoo... but then again this whole zoo is mind boggling to me.

If any of my photos are of any use to you at all for your website, feel free to use them. My site is strictly for personal enjoyment and educational purposes, and I really appreciate your site as it has helped me find several places in Kansas that I would have otherwise missed. It was looking at your pictures of Garden City that encouraged me to make the drive to pick up that zoo %26amp; Dodge City (which was one HECK of a weekend of driving from northeast Missouri where I live).

I still have several zoos to go to on your list, and will be adding to them from time to time.

Kansas is an unusual state as far as having LOTS of zoos goes. Most states have two or three, unless they are BIG states like Illinois. Illinois has about the same number as Kansas, but the best zoo in Illinois (Brookfield) isn%26#39;t as good as Wichita, and there are about 10 million more people in illinois. The only other state around with about as many zoos is Wisconsin, and it is also much bigger population wise than Kansas.

We may be visiting that nature center in Lawrence this weekend.

sabath999,

I would be most interested in any photos that you have of New Guinea Singing Dog%26#39;s and/or Dingo%26#39;s that you have taken during your zoo travels. I already spotted one at the Miller Park Il/Bloomington Zoo.

I am the webmaster and co-founder of that freewebs site that lighthouselovertoo refers to when speaking about Clay Center selling NGSD%26#39;s to the public. That story on our site is about the other co-founder of our organization. http://www.freewebs.com/singingdogs/

I don%26#39;t know much about Clay Center and looking at the photos I get the impression that the animals were well cared for but they lack enclosures that provide for enriched lived. Again however I have never been there.

What I do know about Clay Center is that they have played a big role in the conservation of the very rare Singing Dog. They kept perfect records on them and thus allowed a reintroduction of a far removed bloodline.

Regarding comments about zoo%26#39;s selling to the private sector. Any zoo can do this including AZA zoos. I personally am not opposed to this as long as the selling zoo takes the time to make sure that the buyer is educated in the care of and has adequate facilities for the animal. In many cases, an animal live a better life outside of the zoo. I can without any doubt tell you that the dogs that were purchased by my co-founder lived lives far better then they could possibly have at any zoo.

The official Kansas tourism website has a page dedicated to zoos, if you%26#39;re interested in learning more about zoos in Kansas... http://www.travelks.com/s/index.cfm?SSSID=27

Actually I think I have better info at http://www.kansastravel.org/kansaszoos.htm but I wasn%26#39;t just posting to promote it.