Hey Friends, Nebraska is one of those states that people dramatically underestimate until they actually start road-tripping through it. It can seem boring if you don't know to stop at giant fossil beds, ride through Sandhills, or walk through giant weird art installations in the prairie. I will fully admit that I still have SO much more of western Nebraska I want to explore. There is a lot out there and unfortunately, I have only been to a few spots. But the places we have visited, along the...
11 days ago • 4 min read
Hey Friends, Last time I shared Crawford County, I told you it was one of those underrated Kansas destinations that deserves an entire weekend. Well, we went back. And this time, we tested it as a day trip from Kansas City. And yep, it works as a day trip too! But here's how to do it: Instead of trying to squeeze everything in, we focused on Frontenac, Pittsburg, and Crawford State Park, including several places that were completely new to us. Our Day Trip to Crawford County: ☕ Downtown...
25 days ago • 3 min read
Hey Friends, Does anyone else have a love hate relationship with back-to-school? We spent the last few weeks doing something I call "adventure cramming," which is where you try to fit in as many adventures as possible in hopes that then you'll start to crave routine and normalcy. Let me tell you, it worked. I am feeling ready for school to start, a schedule, and a dedicated time to catch up on everything I have put off the last three months. But I am also feeling bummed the summer flexibility...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey Adventure Buddies, I think Iowa might be one of the most misunderstood Midwest states. If you just drive through, you could easily assume it's just cornfields. But if you know where to look you'll find yourself hiking through sandstone canyons, looking for geodes, wandering through a Dutch-inspired town, or reenacting one of the most famous paintings in American history. So, if you are looking for some fun and unexpected Midwest adventures, here are some Iowa spots worth adding to your...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hey Friends, When they hear Illinois, I think a lot of people picture Chicago and cornfields and that is kind of it. Once you start road-tripping around Illinois, you realize the state is full of weird roadside attractions, beautiful outdoor spots, quirky small towns, giant random objects, and other hidden gems. So, if you are looking for fun family road trip ideas, here are some weird and wonderful Illinois spots worth adding to your list. Weird & Fun Places to Visit in Illinois Casey,...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Friends, Nothing feels more Midwest summer to me than a state fair. There is just something about the rides, the lemonade smell of fried food, and the giant barns full of animals that screams "MIDWEST" to me. It is one of the most classic Midwest experiences there is. And then of course… there is the butter cow. It always cracks me up because apparently Midwesterners looked at butter and thought: “What if I sculpted that into a cow?” Check out the Midwest State Fairs below and make plans...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Summer isn't over yet... Usually when the weather starts getting crazy hot, I have a tendency to fantasize about fall and lock myself indoors with air conditioning. AND to make things worse, it is usually this point in the summer when my kids and I start getting restless with our lack of routine, I am running out of energy, and I am tempted to let my kids watch Crunchlabs on Netflix for longer than they probably should... However, we still have another 2 months of warmer temps and another...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Friends, In the last few weeks, we have visited Texas and Colorado. I can confidently say, I do not recommend Texas in July other than for the fact that it will make the heat here feel comparatively manageable. But Breckenridge, Colorado? It was sunshine and 70 degree days. Coming back to Midwestern heat and humidity was a challenge. Even if escaping the heat wasn’t reason enough to go to Breckenridge (it is), I was really impressed by all the family fun Breckenridge offered. I could hike...
2 months ago • 5 min read
Hey Friends, I think Missouri might secretly be one of the best states for weird family road trips. There are caves you can ride through, giant piles of elephant-shaped rocks, old mills hidden in the woods, mountain-style swimming holes, giant turtle playgrounds, and...an entire roadside attraction built around Uranus jokes. So if you are looking for fun and unique summer road trip ideas, here are some Missouri spots worth adding to your list. Ha Ha Tonka State Park Weird & Fun Places to...
3 months ago • 4 min read