travel

Old Cowtown

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

Old Cowtown is located in Wichita, Kansas.  They have relocated some of the old buildings that were built around Wichita to this museum.  It is located next to the Arkansas River on Museum Boulevard.  Across the street is the Botanical Gardens, which is worth a visit.

Settlers used to live in houses that were small, but it  suited their needs.

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They packed their wagons and move to Kansas.  I think they were trying to get out of the over grown city in the East and the mosquitoes in the South.

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Every town had a church. But, in the South every town seemed to have a Baptist Church, a Catholic Church, and a Methodist Church.  Which were usually across the street from each other.

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I made a friend while visiting Old Cowtown.

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At noon, there was a fight on the street of the town.  A couple was robbed.  The wife took the husband gun and shot the robber.  The wife went home, the robber was okay, and the husband went to the saloon.

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Outside to town, there was a farm.  They even had a lazy cow.  She was eating laying down.

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The Bead Tree

/ Sarah Collins / 2 Comments

This tree at the Hasting Museum, which they hid down in the “basement” had the most interesting ornaments of any of the other trees.  The ornaments were either decorated or made from beads.

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I do not need another craft, especially one that requires handling tiny beads and thin wires.  The Midwest Beaders should be proud of their beautiful work.

Pictures of Fall

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

Just a couple days before the first freeze the temperature was in the 80s.  When it snowed a couple of inches and the temperature dropped to 23 degrees over night, the trees goes “Yipes! We are suppose to be hibernating for the winter.”  So, the leaves on the trees start turning colors and dropping to the ground quickly.   Yes, Fall is here!

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Pops

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

It rained and rained, and heavily rained during all of my drive through Oklahoma. Sometimes, you just need to make a stop. I turned off the interstate and drove east about five miles and found Pops.

Guess what Pops sells besides gas and souvenirs. At Pops I purchased some Coke.

Okay, they are not all Coca-cola, but in the Southern United States all soft drinks are referred to as cokes.

I also learned while looking at the souvenirs that I was on Route 66. If it was later, I could have a lunch at their diner.

Toilet Humor

/ Sarah Collins / 1 Comment

This my be the best restroom in Nebraska. What make a good restroom? 1) Clean; 2) Individual rooms; 3)

Yes, heated toilet seats. To bad it was 80 degrees outside. 4) You can get drink, food and gas right outside the door.

Walking Grand Island – No. 1

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

My favorite location to walk in Grand Island, Nebraska is Hall County Park.  Why?  The trees!  It has trees, big trees, lots of trees.  The path around the park is about a mile, and there are two other trails: one around the Stuhr Museum property, and a second trail that takes you to the Walmart.

All trails are very peaceful.  If you feel adventurous, you can take one of the many trails into the woods.  If you need a rest, there are plenty of swings and picnic tables.  The restrooms in Hall County Park are some of the cleanest public facilities I have seen.  Yes, they are ranked right up there with Chick-fil-a for cleanliness.

A word of caution.  Watch out for motor vehicles, bicyclists, and wild turkeys.

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Walking Grand Island – No. 2

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

My second favorite place to go walking in Grand Island, NE is along the John Brownwell Trail.  It is best if you start the walk at Sucks Lake and go right.  Just go right.   If you walk around the lake, the ducks and geese will get out of the way.  However, their droppings do not move.  It is best just to head towards the Cemetery; again go right.

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I rarely walk to the cemetery, instead I select the path to College Park.  About 1.5 miles along the trail Sothmann Park will be just off the path.  There you will encounter more geese and their droppings.    You will also get to see one of the best trees in Grand Island.

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If you choose to walk the 4 miles to Hall County Park, you will pass the Stuhr Museum and will see more trees.  There is one problem with walking the 4 miles to Hall County Park; you will need to walk the 4 miles back to Suck Lake.

Walking Baton Rouge – No. 2

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

My second favor place to walk in Baton Rouge is the Highland Road Park.  It is located south of downtown, south of LSU, south of the Mall, but north of the Ascension Parish line.  The 2/3 mile walking trail is located on a hill.  Yes!  This area of Baton Rouge has hills.

But, don’t stay on the concrete walking path.  Go for an adventure.  Take the paths the cross country athletes use for training, or walk the area the disc golfer use.  It will take you into the trees, over bridges, to the tennis courts and splash pad.  Beware, their are two dangers here:  one rolling down a hill; and two to getting your shoes wet with dew if you are out early morning.

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Walking in Grand Island – No. 3

/ Sarah Collins / Leave a comment

My third favor place to walk in Grand Island, Nebraska is Eagle Scout Park.  There is a lake in the middle of the park with a 1.01 mile walking trailing.  One of the benefits to walking in Eagle Scout Park is you are able to go in circles with no one judging you.  Unless, you have gone around in circles many, many times, then people have started talking about you.  Or, they have finished their few trips around the park and left.

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During the walk around the park, you are able to look at the trees, the waves on the water, and watch the corn grow in the nearby field.  There is a couple of things you need to be cautious about while visiting the park: one Wascally Wabbits; the pole wielding, capped homo sapiens perched on the lake’s edge, who occasionally emerge from the grass carrying their catches; and the swing sets that temps you to bring out your inner child.

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Eagle Scout Park almost made it to second favor walking location; however since they are building a huge sport complex next door, I predict the traffic and noise level at the park to increase which will hamper the peaceful walk around the park.

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