Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

Driving through the Wild Animal Safari

Driving through the Wild Animal Safari park near Springfield, Missouri, I never expected the animals to run right up to the car, but that’s exactly what they did.

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Midwest Wanderer

The Midwest Wanderer blog focuses on travel and tourism attractions and events throughout the Midwes

Midwest Wanderer

2 days ago

The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, had been on my bucket list for years. We finally made it there in the fall of 2019. Although today this is the world’s only corn palace, it wasn’t the first. The first was in Sioux City, Iowa, which opened in 1887. It was so popular that over the next half-century at least 34 grain palaces were built across Midwest towns. However, the only one that lasted into the 21st century is the one in Mitchell, and it’s a-maize-ing to see.Each year the World's Only Corn Palace is redecorated, using at least a dozen natural colors of corn, plus other grains and natural grasses. Travel South Dakota Visit Mitchell! #cornpalace ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

6 days ago

We’re always excited when we come across a Muffler Man we didn’t know existed. That happened twice on our recent Kansas trip. Skip noticed the first one as we passed Brown's Tire in Wichita. Appropriately, the giant is holding a small tire in one hand.Then, as we were exploring the Dodge City Trail of Fame we came across another one: LaSalsa Man. According to an informational sign near the fiberglass statue, LaSalsa Man was a soda jerk carrying a hamburger before being transformed by artist Bob “Daddy O” Wade. Wade used the hamburger bun top for the sombrero and the bun bottom for the tray.The late actor Dennis Hopper once owned LaSalsa Man. After Hopper’s passing, the 26-foot tall statue was donated to Dodge City, Hopper’s home town. Visit Wichita Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau Kansas Tourism #ksmediaevent23 #MufflerMan #ToTheStarsKS ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

1 week ago

As we drove through the small town of Wilson, Kansas, we stumbled across the World's Largest Czech Egg. So fun to find these unexpected treasures!Kansas Tourism #worldslargest #ToTheStarsKS ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

1 week ago

We strolled through Botanica, Wichita's gardens, for several hours, oohing and aahing at the gorgeous flowers, fountains, and more. But my favorite part? The Monster Woods in the children's section. So cool!Visit Wichita Kansas Tourism #ToTheStarsKS #botanicgarden ... See MoreSee Less

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Midwest Wanderer

2 weeks ago

Our last stop on the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail was Abilene. We were in Abilene last year and had visited Old Abilene Town and the Dickinson County Heritage Center, attended the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo, and photographed the big spur, lots of cowboy boots, and murals. So, we planned just one full day (plus the evening before and early morning after) in Abilene, with the only intention of photographing the new World’s Largest Belt Buckle. We got that photo on our first evening, which gave us a full day to explore Abilene beyond the Gunsmoke Trail.We were thrilled to find out that the Eisenhower Boyhood Home was open. Last year, we had spent several hours in the Eisenhower Presidential Museum, but the boyhood home was closed for renovation. So, first thing on our full day in town, we toured the home and watched the film of President Eisenhower’s life in the visitor center (which was also closed last year).Afterwards, we strolled through the Eisenhower Rose Garden, rich with blooms not only of roses but of many other flowers, as well.For lunch, we remembered the delicious fried chicken we had last year at the Brookville Hotel at Abilene, and went for a repeat meal. Only when we were served did we remember how big this family-style served meal is, beginning with relish dishes of cottage cheese, coleslaw, canned peaches, fried apples, and sweet pickles. Then comes the hot foods: chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, creamed corn, biscuits, and jam. It’s all followed by a big dish of vanilla ice cream. Fortunately, they allowed us to take home our leftovers, enough for another full meal.Later in the day, we made a trip to the Russell Stover Candies outlet store, where we scored a box of my favorite dark-chocolate covered marshmallow eggs at half-price and couldn’t resist buying two three-pound boxes of Bloopers at a buy-one-get-one-free bargain. (Hint: the bargains are at the back of the store.) We managed to get it all back home without it melting in the heat and now have enough chocolate to last us well into 2024.One last stop, Wilkens Acres, where we stocked up on made-in-Kansas goodies, including Hoffman Grist Mill pancake mix and Grandma Hoerner's berry bacon jam.Our final morning in Abilene we were hooking up our travel trailer, getting ready to head home, when the distinctive whistle of a steam locomotive echoed through the air. Abandoning the trailer (temporarily), we drove over to the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, where the train was preparing for its last rides before the steam engine is taken out of service for its fifteen-year restoration. We had ridden the train last year, but it’s still always fun to see a steam locomotive and take more photos of it.Visit Abilene Kansas Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum Kansas Tourism #gunsmoketrail #ToTheStarsKS ... See MoreSee Less

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