US Highway 71

[Hadvin]

I travel US-71 about every six weeks from Kansas City down to my favorite fishing spot of Roaring River State Park outside of Cassville, MO. That stretch is a well-maintained route and is a quick, straight, shot. From the highway you'll see lovely farmland, run through a couple of pig farms (prepare your nose), but otherwise it can be pretty uneventful if you don't leave the highway.

If you're able you'll be near some neat places like Eureka Springs, AR, the Mark Twain National Forest will only be a couple of hours east of Joplin, MO, which has a nationally recognized scenic drive.

You'll run through Lamar, MO which was a stop-over for Wyatt Earp when he was a US Marshal before he headed to Dodge City and points further west in Arizona. Also along the route up you'll find historical marker signs along the highway for places like Harry S. Truman's birthplace, some civil war historical sites, and a few others. Watch the signs for cool stuff.

As you approach Kansas City you'll have some pretty unique picture opportunities in Peculiar, MO (which is the town I actually went to high school in), and while that town used to have a great historic mid-20th century feel, it's become subject to the "strip mall America" that seems to be cropping up all over. There are still some great antique stores there.

Heading up 71 highway into Kansas City can be a confusing trip. The highway turns into the Bruce Watkins Parkway after you pass through a confusing patch of interchanges called the Grandview Triangle in Grandview, MO, a town completely surrounded by Kansas City, MO. There is actually a point on 71 highway where, due to construction, you will exit the highway into one of the more dangerous areas of downtown Kansas City, drive about four blocks, and then get back on the highway (at least this was the case as of about six months ago). But this will take you through the heart of my hometown.

Kansas City is considered the mecca for all things barbeque. FoodTV will suggest places like Arthur Bryant's BBQ, Gates & Sons, or KC Masterpiece. KC locals usually know the best BBQ is found in the suburbs at Jack Stack BBQ with branches in Martin City, MO and Overland Park, KS, Holy Smoke BBQ in Lee's Summit, MO, and Smokehouse BBQ in Gladstone, MO.

If you've got a chance to stop in KC, there are a ton of things to do, almost too many to list here. I suggest the River Market area where just feet from the Missouri River you can often find live music, a great French bistro, and one of the region's most robust farmer's markets on weekends. If you drive by a Hy-Vee grocery store stop in just to try the Shatto milk which is produced at a local dairy farm. It will knock your socks off.

If you have specific questions about Kansas City I'd love to answer them. I've lived here all my life and know a lot of local spots, places to see, things to avoid, and hidden gems.

[Mark Sedenquist]

... I've lived here all my life and know a lot of local spots, places to see, things to avoid, and hidden gems.

It is great to have you join us as a resource here. I am sure more questions will arise.

[On the other post, I don't think Del has stopped by yet -- but he has been bugged about it three times thus far...]

Mark

[lhuff]

Thanks for all of the tips. It'll take me awhile to process all the information and work on my travel plans, but I will definitely be bugging you some more.

You know - Kansas City is one of those places that holds odd memories for me. I was somehow granted admission into the National Honor Orchestra even though I purposefully turned in the most God-awful audition tape my teacher would let me get by with. I just really didn't want to go for some dumb reason or other that I've now forgotten. It was held in KC. They wound up putting all of us orchestra geeks in a hotel with a bunch of railroad workers that looked like they wished they possessed guns or tasers to get rid of us with.

It was a fun experience, but I spent 8 plus hours a day in rehearsal and saw none of the city. I think I'll definitely have to rectify that situation.

Laura

[lhuff]

Here's a rough estimate of the trip so far. I'm leaving on Wednesday July 4th.

Days 1-3 - drive Highway 71 to Minnesota. I may not need all three days, but I'd rather have an extra day in there than not. There will be stops at two Laura Ingalls Wilder sights in Missourri and Minnesota. I'll probably poke around Kansas City and just kind of amble along the highway and see what interests me.

Days 4-7 - South Dakota - take Highway 14 - see yet another LIW sight in DeSmet, SD. Visit Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Bad Lands National Park, the Wind Cave and the Jewel Cave.

Days 8-10 - make my way back to Louisiana and work on that Saturday night. I'm still trying to decide On how to return home. Do I head down through Nebraska and Kansas and Oklahoma or cut back over to Iowa or Missouri and come down. I'm thinking the Nebraska route just so that I can see some new states. I'm completely open to suggestions here, although I'd like to explore some of West Nebraska after reading Arizona Bobs description of the area.

Hadvin - if you can think of any cool museums or historical sights in Kansas City that you think are worth exploring please let me know. Or any knitting shops - I always have to return home with yarn.

Laura

[Hadvin]

Off the top of my head the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the big draw in Kansas City and is free. It's a beautiful, big, museum with a wide variety of paintings, sculpture, and more. It's truly a world-class museum with paintings by Monet, Japanese collections, and tons more.

The Nelson-Atkins is located about a half a block from one of KC's cultural hubs, the Country Club Plaza where there's fancy restaurants, shopping, and good people-watching. It's the only place I've ever seen a tricked out chrome-clad $100,000 Mercedez Benz parked next to a muddied Dodge pick-up truck straight from the farm. Only in KC.

If you're into contemporary art, check out the galleries at Grand Arts in downtown KC. I've not been there yet, but the exhibition currently there looks pretty interesting.

One of my favorite things growing up was Missouri Town 1855. This "living" historical museum is definitely worth a day trip if you're at all into 19th century history. The staff, in period attire no less, is a wealth of information about Kansas City, the plains, the Midwest, and more.

And while you're in Lee's Summit, MO stop by Holy Smoke BBQ. They're just off highway 50 and have some of the best brisket, sausage, and ribs in Kansas City, which is saying a lot. You can learn the most about a place by experiencing their cuisine!

I'll see what else I can think of in the weeks before your trip.

[AZBuck]

In keeping with your LIW theme (pioneers and all that), you might want to consider a drive along the Platte River in western Nebraska. This is the route of the old Oregon Trail, and it's easy to imagine the pioneers trekking westward as they pass the various landmarks such as Chimney Rock, Courthouse & Jail Rock, and Scotts Bluff. And then there's Fort Kearny of cavalry fame and the pony express station at Rock Creek Station.

AZBuck

[Hadvin]

How could I forget that for many of those heading onto the Oregon Trail started not in St. Louis, MO but in Independence, MO. In Independence you can visit the Frontier Trails Museum, one of those places KC area students all go in elementary school as a kid and forget all about when we grow up.

[lhuff]

Thanks for all the info AZ and Hadvin. I'll keep looking around and try to narrow down my visit a little more. I think I've now got more stops than I've got days. Whoops!

Laura

[lhuff]

Look who just got wireless internet on her old computer. Now I can connect wirelessly and my ancient computer also has an old dial up aol account. I feel connected to the world. HeeHee

Now I can bore you all to tears with my ramblings while travelling this summer.

Laura

[Mark Sedenquist]

Now I can bore you all to tears with my ramblings while travelling this summer.

Laura, that is a good thing right?

Mark