Kansas – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

March 18, 2019

50 GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS: THE BEST BACK ROAD BY STATE

We hope spring makes you want to get on the road! To help you decide where to go, we have a treasure trove of backroads information for you. Just where are the best back roads, by state? You already know we take back roads on every trip we take. Check out our blog post, “Take Backroads to Explore America” at: http://thetravelingseniors.com/back-roads-forever/ In that post, we share some of our favorite backroads. As our friend, Scott of the blog, Take Back Roads, says, “America is home to countless back roads, side roads, and country roads… scenic routes, historic routes, and tourist routes… National Byways and Historic Highways…. and more road trip possibilities than…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Blog, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Road Trips, Tennesse, Texas, Travel, Trip Planning, Utah

October 8, 2018

THE SHAWNEE INDIAN MISSION IN FAIRWAY, KANSAS

The Shawnee Indian Mission in Fairway, Kansas served as a manual training school for children from the Shawnee, Delaware and other Native nations between 1839-1854 and continued as a school without manual training until 1862. The Shawnee Mission also served as a supply point on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. THE SHAWNEE NATION The Missouri Shawnee were the first Native Americans removed to Kansas Territory, which was then set apart for emigrant tribes by the treaties of June 1825, with the Kanza and Osage. By a treaty made at St. Louis, Missouri on November 7, 1825, the United States granted… “to the Shawnee tribe of Indians within the…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Travel

October 1, 2018

EVER HEARD OF THE GEESE POLICE?

EVER HEARD OF THE GEESE POLICE? While in Kansas City for our 50th high school reunion, Stu and I headed to Shawnee Mission Park for nature photography. While photographing Canada Geese at the lake, we met the Geese Police! As we sat on the beach taking photos, a man with a kayak “put in” near where we sat. He headed straight for the geese at a quick clip. When he reached the geese, he shook a plastic jug filled with what sounded like rocks and the geese took flight. We were thrilled because Stu wanted some photos of geese taking flight and landing. But what was going on? THE…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Meeting People, Travel

September 17, 2018

PICKER’S PARADISE: WALNUT VALLEY FESTIVAL & NATIONAL FLAT PICK GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP IN WINFIELD, KS

The Walnut Valley Festival and National Flat Pick Guitar Championship is always the third weekend of September in Winfield, Kansas. Winfield is unique among festivals because it is as down home as it gets! As always, the music is world-class and the foot stompin’ non-stop. 2018 marks the 47th year for the Walnut Valley Festival and fans are gathered from all over the world. The purpose of the festival is to host the National Guitar Flat-Picking Championships and among aficionados is now referred to simply as “Winfield.” The Festival has evolved from the original 2 days in 1972 to 5 days and has four stages performing simultaneously; a quality…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas

August 2, 2018

HISTORIC EISLER BROTHERS STORE ON KANSAS Route 66

Visit the historic Eisler Brothers Store on Kansas Route 66! (eislerbros.com) You’ll find this historic gem on the shortest section of Route 66 in the United States. This segment in Kansas is only 13 miles long but is jam packed with historic treasures! When we reached Kansas Route 66, our first stop was the Eisler Brothers Store in Riverton, Kansas. See our post on this section of Route 66 here. The store was originally built by Leo Williams in 1925, the year before Route 66 was designated. It has continuously been serving as a deli, grocery store and souvenir shop ever since. The…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Video

July 26, 2018

TAKE A NOSTALGIC BACKROADS TRIP: ROUTE 66 IN KANSAS

Take a nostalgic backroads trip on Route 66 in Kansas! U.S. Route 66 is also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America and the Mother Road (so dubbed by John Steinbeck in his 1939 book, “The Grapes of Wrath”) and is a visual and historic treat! Route 66 is one of the original highways of the U. S. Highway System and was established on November 11, 1926. Route 66 is the most famous highway in the United States and originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California. The original Route 66 covered a total of…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Road Trips, Video

May 30, 2018

TAKE BACK ROADS TO EXPLORE AMERICA!

Take Back Roads to Explore America! The Traveling Seniors ALWAYS travel back roads. Why? Exploring America and her inspiring people is most rewarding along back roads and scenic byways! Backroads vacations are so easy in retirement travel! The pavement is smooth, traffic is sparse and the scenery is breathtaking. We can drive at our own pace. We can pull off the road to take photos or a break at almost any time. Backroads adventures are just waiting for you! HOW TO FIND BACKROADS One way to find byways is to visit scenicbyways.info. On that site, search by state or follow the dots on the map provided….

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Road Trips, South Carolina, Tennesse, Texas, Travel, Trip Planning, Utah

May 28, 2018

THE OLD WEST: FORT SCOTT, KANSAS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Park Rangers are so cool! Meet one of our favorite Rangers and take a backroads trip to the Fort Scott, Kansas National Historic Site. You will learn about frontier fort life. Named for General Winfield Scott, who never even stepped foot in the state, Fort Scott is located on the border of what was a pro-slavery state and a free state as well as settled America and what was known as “Indian territory.” Mention of dragoons can set imaginations on fire. So, naturally, we had to visit! The site preserves 20 historic structures, eleven of which are original buildings. Fort Scott is furnished to the 1840s era but the history here…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Travel, Video