Exploring the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail

Connie Attractions & Events, History, Kansas, Road Trips May 24, 2024June 24, 2024Kansas Gunsmoke Trail, Old West 0 Comment

Midwest Wanderer Explores… Latest Issue

When the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail launched last year, we couldn’t wait to experience it. The trail is made up of four Kansas cities that were mentioned often in the old radio and television Gunsmoke series— Wichita, Dodge City, Hays, and Abilene—and includes lots of Old West-related attractions.

Our latest Midwest Wanderer Explores e-zine issue, “Kansas Gunsmoke Trail,” includes twelve articles about our experiences on the trail, plus links to related blog posts we’ve published in the past.

Discover Dodge City’s Wild West legacy through immersive exhibits at the Boot Hill Museum…
Trace the footsteps of frontier defenders at Historic Fort Hays…
Ride the oldest operating C.W. Parker carousel and see Wild Bill Hickok’s gun at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Museum in Abilene…
Sip a cold sarsaparilla in the saloon while watching showgirls dance at Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita…

…and so much more.

Family-Friendly Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast

Connie Alabama, Attractions & Events, Destinations, Mississippi January 13, 2024January 27, 2024Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras Parade 0 Comment

Experience the fun of Mardi Gras parades without the raucous crowds of New Orleans. Here are our family-friendly Mardi Gras experiences on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in the Mobile, Alabama, area. (Video or read the transcript)

Meet ‘A Christmas Story’ Cast in Hammond, IN December 16-17

Connie Attractions & Events, Indiana December 6, 2023December 6, 2023A Christmas Story, Hammond Indiana, Indiana Welcome Center, Ralphie & the Gang Come Come 0 Comment

Meet ‘A Christmas Story’ cast December 16-17, 2023, as they reunite at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond, Indiana. The movie marks its 40^th anniversary this year. To celebrate, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority is hosting “Ralphie & the Gang Come Home.” Eight cast members are scheduled to be there, including Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in the movie.

Touring the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

Connie Alabama, Attractions & Events, History November 5, 2023April 15, 2024Things to do near Mobile AL, USS Alabama 0 Comment

The USS Alabama almost went to scrappers. For fifteen years following decommissioning, the battleship sat at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Then, in the early 1960s, the federal government announced plans to scrap its aging World War II battleships, including the USS Alabama. The people of Alabama wouldn’t have it. The children alone raised $100,000 toward the $800,000 it would cost to move its namesake battleship to Alabama. In 1965, the USS Alabama opened in Mobile as a memorial and museum. Today the submarine USS Drum and a plethora of military aircraft and vehicles join the battleship on the 155-acre USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.

Ride the Mule-Pulled Illinois and Michigan Canal Boat

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois September 27, 2023September 28, 2023I and M Canal Boat, I&M Canal Boat, I&M Canal Boat Ride, LaSalle IL things to do, Things to do near Starved Rock 6 Comments

Step back in time, to around 1850, and experience a ride on the Illinois and Michigan Canal Boat. Located in LaSalle, Illinois, a mule powers the boat. Yes, a mule, that walks along a towpath alongside the I&M canal.

Greyhound Hall of Fame Highlights Greyhound Racing Industry

Connie Attractions & Events, Kansas August 22, 2023February 2, 2024Abilene Kansas museums, Greyhound Hall of Fame, National Greyhound Hall of Fame, Things to do in Abilene KS 2 Comments

We used to enjoy an occasional afternoon at a greyhound racetrack. Over a nice lunch in the climate-controlled clubhouse, we’d place our two-dollar bets on the races. We each used our own “scientific method” of determining the winning dogs. Our methods rarely worked, but we had fun. So, when we saw that Abilene, Kansas, is home to the Greyhound Hall of Fame museum, we had to visit. The Hall of Fame highlights the history of the greyhound racing industry and pays tribute to both humans and dogs who impacted the industry.