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

Carlsbad Caverns: Hiking 750 Feet into the Earth

Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico contains the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. The 8.2 acre Big Room is filled with huge calcite formations, as well as more stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies and other smaller formations than you can imagine.

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Midwest Wanderer

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

Midwest Wanderer

4 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

6 days 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

1 week 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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Midwest Wanderer

1 week ago

Fort Hays, established in 1865 and used until 1889, protected settlers and railroads and served as a military supply depot for other forts. Of the 7600 acres of military reservation land, 65 of those acres were used for the fort’s 45 buildings.Today only four of the original buildings stand: Two officers’ quarters, the guardhouse, and the blockhouse. All of these buildings, with many informational exhibits, are open to tour.I thought the officers’ quarters were quite spacious and mentioned I wouldn't mind living in one, if it had modern kitchen appliances and indoor plumbing. But then I found out these two homes were partial duplexes, meaning they were shared by two families. Each family had one parlor and one bedroom. They shared the kitchen and dining room. The guardhouse is where the jail was held. Today, there are a few jail cells in it, plus other exhibits that detail life at the fort.The blockhouse was intended as barracks for soldiers. Instead, it was used as the commanding officer’s headquarters.If you follow the path through the grounds, you’ll notice the outline of many building foundations, buildings that no longer exist. Near each of them is a metal figure and an informational sign indicating what the building was.Across the street from the fort, a bison herd grazes in Frontier Park. There are two white bison in the herd, but unfortunately, we didn’t see them when we were there.Fort Hays State Historic Site Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau #gunsmoketrail #ToTheStarsKS ... See MoreSee Less

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