Other states didn't have the same restrictions as Michigan. This was the only time we could leave and not miss anything here. The play was supposed to be the same weekend, and it was cancelled, so my family wasn't visiting. Why wouldn't we go to visit them?
The boys and I drove the 11.5 hours to Olathe, Kansas to visit my sister and her family! I don't mind driving, as long as the boys aren't miserable. We learned how to download movies from Amazon Prime onto their phones, so they watched two movies on the way there. For kids who rarely see movies, this makes car trips a breeze. I listened to podcasts and an audiobook. We stopped three times, twice for gas and once for the bathroom. I kind of consider driving to be a race, and the faster you get there, the faster you're doing something fun.
Olathe was fully in the throes of spring. Trees were flowering, flowers were blooming, and it was warm!
National World War I Museum & Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri
It was kind of rainy, and it was closed due to COVID-19, so we were the only people visiting. My niece Caroline said we were overlooking where she had attended the Kansas Chiefs victory parade. We stood together looking over the city, and we didn't see one other single person.
The monument was huge, it was artistic, and the setting was beautiful. I didn't know what it meant that the sphinx were covering their faces, but when I looked it up it said, "Two Assyrian Sphinxes guard the south entrance of the Liberty Memorial. 'Memory' faces east toward the battlefields of France, shielding its eyes from the horrors of war. 'Future' faces west, shielding its eyes from an unknown future." Then I liked them.
I bet it's even more impressive when it's open.
Lake Olathe, Olathe, Kansas
Not only was this a beautiful lake with lovely trails, but it also had an entire musical instrument sculpture park! It was so well designed and beautiful. We spent a lot of time here. We threw rocks in the water, walked on the trails, and played all the musical instruments. My sister has gone kayaking here, and my niece has even gone cliff jumping.
Mitch Park, Edmond, OK
After Kansas, we went to Oklahoma (a mere 4.5 hour drive) to visit my brother and his family. We took our seven collective children to beautiful Mitch Park. They have five miles of paved trails, so our kids had a blast with their Rip Stiks and scooters. It was a pretty popular place - tons of people doing the same.
Oklahoma Bombing Memorial, Oklahoma City, OK
I visited here years ago when it was open, but my children had never seen it.
We told our kids all about it before we went, and we had to look up a lot of information. I forgot how much it was tied into Waco, so we covered that with history them, too.
The memorial is designed so thoughtfully. It's solemn. The arches, the water, the chairs representing the people killed ... it's all so sad. They also have a memorial wall full of tributes, and the kids had never seen one like that. I couldn't read the tributes on it without crying.
I also loved seeing the Survivor Tree, (the tree right next to the bombing site, featured on most Oklahoma bombing memorials), which looked even better than the last time I saw it.
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK
This was new to me, and it was so impressive! It wasn't even open, and it was still worth it.
The Crystal Bridge Conservatory was such a pretty accent to the water, flowers, and Devon Tower, the tallest building in Oklahoma. We also had so many animals to see - turtles, koi fish, ducks, and more. There were also lots of fountains that the kids loved touching, and labeled plants that we all loved to see.
There was a super cool playground that even the older kids wanted to go into, but it was police taped off, so we didn't go inside.
You should definitely stop here when you're in Oklahoma City.
We also drove by Bricktown, which is a cool restaurant and bars area, where we've been before. We totally would have eaten here if it were open.
In Oklahoma it was also warm enough to swim in Gage's pool. fish in his in-law's pond, and go for long runs by their red dirt. It was enough to get me through waiting for warmer weather here.
I've visited KS and OK numerous times, and other sites I'd suggest include:
The Plaza, Kansas City, MO - forget the fact that I got involved in a street fight here two years ago - it's usually really nice. Also, Missouri and Kansas spill into each other. You're going between the states all the time.
The Arabia Steamboat Museum - A man found a shipwreck and it had all the goods still in it, preserved. I loved this place.
Eating BBQ - it's something you are supposed to do when you're in Kansas City. Go for it!
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Also fun. How many times are you going to hit a cowboy museum?!
Frontier City Theme Park - I haven't been here, but my brother and his family go all the time, and this is where my kids would most like to go. Any thrill ride, they're in. Maybe next time!
We drove home the 15.5 hours and had to stop in Dwight, Illinois (home of a nuclear power plant, apparently) to sleep. Apparently my limit is driving 11.5 hours. So now I'm going to make a map and draw a circle to see where I can drive 11.5 hours next time ...
I hope your pandemic is going as well as it can. Every day the headlines announce more and more states are opening up. Not Michigan though, so ... lots of places to go!
The monument was huge, it was artistic, and the setting was beautiful. I didn't know what it meant that the sphinx were covering their faces, but when I looked it up it said, "Two Assyrian Sphinxes guard the south entrance of the Liberty Memorial. 'Memory' faces east toward the battlefields of France, shielding its eyes from the horrors of war. 'Future' faces west, shielding its eyes from an unknown future." Then I liked them.
I bet it's even more impressive when it's open.
Lake Olathe, Olathe, Kansas
Not only was this a beautiful lake with lovely trails, but it also had an entire musical instrument sculpture park! It was so well designed and beautiful. We spent a lot of time here. We threw rocks in the water, walked on the trails, and played all the musical instruments. My sister has gone kayaking here, and my niece has even gone cliff jumping.
Mitch Park, Edmond, OK
After Kansas, we went to Oklahoma (a mere 4.5 hour drive) to visit my brother and his family. We took our seven collective children to beautiful Mitch Park. They have five miles of paved trails, so our kids had a blast with their Rip Stiks and scooters. It was a pretty popular place - tons of people doing the same.
Oklahoma Bombing Memorial, Oklahoma City, OK
I visited here years ago when it was open, but my children had never seen it.
We told our kids all about it before we went, and we had to look up a lot of information. I forgot how much it was tied into Waco, so we covered that with history them, too.
The memorial is designed so thoughtfully. It's solemn. The arches, the water, the chairs representing the people killed ... it's all so sad. They also have a memorial wall full of tributes, and the kids had never seen one like that. I couldn't read the tributes on it without crying.
I also loved seeing the Survivor Tree, (the tree right next to the bombing site, featured on most Oklahoma bombing memorials), which looked even better than the last time I saw it.
Myriad Botanical Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK
This was new to me, and it was so impressive! It wasn't even open, and it was still worth it.
The Crystal Bridge Conservatory was such a pretty accent to the water, flowers, and Devon Tower, the tallest building in Oklahoma. We also had so many animals to see - turtles, koi fish, ducks, and more. There were also lots of fountains that the kids loved touching, and labeled plants that we all loved to see.
There was a super cool playground that even the older kids wanted to go into, but it was police taped off, so we didn't go inside.
You should definitely stop here when you're in Oklahoma City.
We also drove by Bricktown, which is a cool restaurant and bars area, where we've been before. We totally would have eaten here if it were open.
In Oklahoma it was also warm enough to swim in Gage's pool. fish in his in-law's pond, and go for long runs by their red dirt. It was enough to get me through waiting for warmer weather here.
I've visited KS and OK numerous times, and other sites I'd suggest include:
The Plaza, Kansas City, MO - forget the fact that I got involved in a street fight here two years ago - it's usually really nice. Also, Missouri and Kansas spill into each other. You're going between the states all the time.
The Arabia Steamboat Museum - A man found a shipwreck and it had all the goods still in it, preserved. I loved this place.
Eating BBQ - it's something you are supposed to do when you're in Kansas City. Go for it!
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - Also fun. How many times are you going to hit a cowboy museum?!
Frontier City Theme Park - I haven't been here, but my brother and his family go all the time, and this is where my kids would most like to go. Any thrill ride, they're in. Maybe next time!
We drove home the 15.5 hours and had to stop in Dwight, Illinois (home of a nuclear power plant, apparently) to sleep. Apparently my limit is driving 11.5 hours. So now I'm going to make a map and draw a circle to see where I can drive 11.5 hours next time ...
I hope your pandemic is going as well as it can. Every day the headlines announce more and more states are opening up. Not Michigan though, so ... lots of places to go!
