Kansas Blog

Our family visited Liberal a few weeks ago. We decided to skip the continental breakfast at our hotel and venture out into the community to see what we could find. I was fully aware of the famous International Pancake Day Race that takes place there annually on Shrove Tuesday, so I wasn't surprised to find that one of the main roads in town is called Pancake Boulevard. But I was surprised to find a wonderful little breakfast spot on the side of that road - The Pancake House. 

Beef production in Kansas is big - cattle represented almost half of the agricultural cash receipts in 2010 and Kansas ranks third in the nation with 6.1 million cattle on ranches and feedyards. That's more than twice our state's human population! Our family saw a good many of these bovine beauties on a recent trip to western Kansas, where we sampled some Kansas beef at Plank's Barbecue in Garden City.

Our trip to Chanute on a recent Saturday afternoon included a snowy scenic drive along K-39. As we drove over a bridge into the downtown area, the sight of the snow-frosted roofs of the historic buildings (including the old Santa Fe train depot) reminded me of a Christmas card. The community has created a welcoming setting for visitors-charming storefronts, restored historic buildings, and a friendly atmosphere that includes music playing from speakers mounted on light posts. 

My dad used to dabble in backyard barbecue and I consider him the family expert on the subject. I knew I wanted to take him along when making my first-ever visit to Oklahoma Joe's in Roeland Park. Friends raved about this Zagat #1-rated barbecue joint and encouraged us to dine at the original location, housed in a gas station at 47th & Mission. That, and how the place got its name, are a whole other story worth checking out on the restaurant's website. Just know that these folks are pros (two words-American Royal).

Like many others driving across northwest Kansas on Interstate 70, I’ve often grabbed fast food at a drive-through and continued on my way with hamburger in hand. Sadly, dining on the road became a quick stop necessity in my hurry to get where I was going rather than the experience it should be for travelers. I realized how much I was missing when I stopped in Goodland for lunch at On The Bricks Café, a quaint restaurant with delicious food, a calming atmosphere and friendly staff providing quick service. 

Exiting my car parked in front of Roy’s Hickory Pit BBQ in Hutchinson, I got a whiff of the tantalizing aroma of meat slowly smoking over ...

Ahh! Romance is in the air! On the top floor of what was built as an elaborate hotel over 80 years ago, Hubby and I celebrated our anniversary in the comfort of old world ...

The flight plan to the restaurant that was my destination landed me around 10 miles from the heart of Garden City at its airport. Here, Napoli’s at the Flight Deck Restaurant is flying high with a ...

If you’re like me and can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen…even if it means not satisfying a craving for homemade pie in this hot weather. Thankfully, there’s a place right here in Kansas ...

With a grin on his face, a gigantic green pickle dressed in a vest, bow tie, and red shoes peers from the window of The Chubby Pickle in Phillipsburg, lifting the spirits of those who are in a pickle ...