Big Kansas Road Trip Day 1

A mom friend and I were recently chatting about vacations. Traveling to exotic places - white sand beaches on the coast, anyone? - are great, but require substantial planning and financial commitment. Traveling with little bitties adds another amazing, but challenging component to all the moving parts. In the end, they’re often happiest with the simplest of experiences. Is there another way to travel locally that’s easier on the pocketbook but still offers some awesome experiences for families and individuals alike? The Big Kansas Road Trip may be one answer!

I love small towns. I love to explore small towns. I’m even a product of a small town. However, like many, I’m guilty of buzzing through them on my way to another somewhere. Often its a timing problem and not a lack of interest issue. One area of Kansas I’ve been wanting to see up close for a long time is the extreme northwest corner of Kansas. I pass through the area for harvest, but its usually early in the morning or after hours in the evening. When I saw it was on the Big Kansas Road Trip Route this spring, I knew I had no excuses. It was time to hit the trail.

So what sets the Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT) apart from just your normal weekend away? Well, the coordinators take most of the planning work out of the equation. That’s a win for me! Agendas and lists of participating locations are prepared well in advance for tourists to review. They spent many months helping local businesses and attractions prepare to roll out the red carpet to their visitors, and sometimes, there are even places available that aren’t normally open to the public! Many of the locations are free or open for a nominal fee or donation. That’s a small price to pay for a fun weekend away, if you ask me! It was SO easy for our family to attend and our we had a great time, on a low key trip, seeing the sights of our great state!

Considering the BKRT to northeast Kansas in 2020? Here are my tips to to a successful Big Kansas Road Trip!

1. Allow more time than you think you’ll need. Chances are you’ll become immersed in something you weren’t expecting!

2. Get to know the people. Really. Have a conversation. Keep an open mind because its ok to visit with others different than you. There’s so much to learn from locals and fellow tourists alike! It creates understanding and we could all use a little more grace, am I right?

3. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Even if its not the thing that interests you the most, live a little and embrace a new opportunity for what it is - a chance for a life experience!

4. Have a schedule, but don’t be so rigid that you can’t bend when new and exciting opportunities pop up on the trail.

5. Create excitement ahead of time. Involve your children or other participants in the planning. That way, when the big day comes there is plenty of anticipation, excitement and everyone will recognize the places you had fun researching!

Below are some highlights from day one of BKRT from Spring 2019!

We got our trip kicked off with photo ops in front of the giant Vincent van Gogh painting in Goodland, Kansas! What’s not to like about art under the sky?

The National Weather Service in Goodland had a great tour and we spent a little more time than we expected learning about all things weather. This is why tip number one, above, came about!

Arikaree Breaks, badlands in northwest Kansas. Pictures don’t do the beauty justice!

Did you know the voice of the Jolly Green Giant, Len Dresslar, was from St. Francis? I didn’t either, but now I do! They can also claim an astronaut!

St. Francis Motorcycle Museum was an unexpected gem! I’m not a motorcycle history buff, but I could appreciate the amazing collection of historic motorcycles and the beautiful and informative exhibits. You could tell the friendly staff really take pride in their museum, and they should!

Even local businesses got in the spirit. The local car dealership in St. Francis offered popcorn to the tourists!

No trip is complete along Highway 27 without a stop at the giant grasshopper and palm tree!

While our first day was finished, our experience was FAR from complete as we didn’t have enough time to see all the area attractions. That is my only regret from the day. But, when a trip leaves you wanting more, I say that’s a success!

Lessons from a Bumble Bee

I was in my parent’s yard the other morning when this bumble bee caught my eye. It was one of the first cool mornings of the season, and this little bee was moving awfully slow. The sun was playing peek-a-boo through the clouds, and the winds were exceptionally gusty, so it wasn’t warming as quickly as we’ve been accustomed. Nevertheless, the bee clung to its Russian sage as it whipped in the breeze all the while trying to do the job it was called to do. I admired its persistence and beauty but had to be a little persistent myself to capture the fuzzy creature in the windy conditions. It wasn’t until I got home and got the pictures up on a larger screen that I noticed the poor bee had a battle scar. It was missing part of its right antenna.

How often do we feel like that little bee? We’ve put in countless hours doing our life work whether by calling or out of necessity. Sometimes we feel we’re moving a little slow from our struggles and while we may not be missing an actual piece of antenna, we feel broken under the strains of life. More often than not, our efforts seemingly go unnoticed and we wonder if it even matters. How do we fit into the big picture?

I’m here to remind you that it does matter and so do you. Sometimes our rewards won’t be seen in this life but the next and that too requires grit and persistence. We might not know how a seemingly small, ordinary action made all the difference to someone who crossed paths with us at the exact moment it was needed. Keep on keeping on, just like that bee and thanks for making this world a better place. You matter.

Burdett, Kansas: Rediscover Pluto Mini Golf - HWY 156

At certain times of the year, I’m on the road a lot. And I mean “a lot-a lot”! As a result, I’m always looking for a safe, fun place, preferably with clean bathrooms, to let the active passengers in the back burn off some energy. One of our favorite little stops is the park of the little western Kansas town of Burdett. If you weren’t aware, and I wasn’t either for many years of my life, it is the boyhood home of Dr. Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto. To honor his great find, Burdett has a Pluto-themed mini golf course in its city park complete with many fun space facts. Now stop. I don’t care which side of the “Pluto is or is not a planet” argument you’re on. In my humble opinion, if someone discovered that tiny dot without the help of our modern technology back in 1930, they deserve a sign and a mini golf course either way!

Onto the park. If you are a connoisseur of carefully manicured greens like those you see at the Masters, this course may not be your thing. But, if you’re a connoisseur of good, clean family fun and can appreciate the effort this little town has made to create a space for locals and travelers alike to enjoy, this is definitely for you! The park is free as are clubs and balls, though you may want to pack a few extra balls just in case you need some spares. Don’t forget to return the equipment to the shed by the bathrooms when you’re through! Speaking of bathrooms, I have found them to be clean when I have stopped. If mini golf isn’t your thing, check out the playground with a wide array of modern and vintage equipment. There are picnic tables under the shelter so you can enjoy a snack in the shade as you watch the kids happily play.

Thanks, Burdett, for giving our family something to look forward to when we travel through the area!

The sign by Highway 156 honoring Dr. Tombaugh for his discovery of Pluto.

Rediscover Pluto Mini Golf!

A quaint little course!

Little factoids add a nice touch to the course.

The picnic shelter is on the left and the bathrooms are in the shade to the right.

A wide array of playground equipment to choose from!