Eat, play, stay

Our recommendations for where to eat, drink, sleep, and play (off trail) throughout Kansas.

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Celebrate International Waffle Day on March 22 in Lindsborg

March 25 is known as Våffeldagen (aka Waffle Day) in Sweden, so of course, you can celebrate it in Lindsborg, aka “Little Sweden.”

The history of Waffle Day in Sweden dates back hundreds of years. Visit Sweden gives some details about how this delicious day started: “According to the Christian gospels, 25 March is the day when the archangel Gabriel came down to earth and told Mary that she would give birth to God’s son in nine months’ time. Originally, the day was celebrated as Our Lady Day (‘Vårfrudagen’), but in Swedish, it kind of sounds like ‘våffeldagen’. Over time, the tradition became more about waffles than about the virgin birth.”

And in Lindsborg, on March 22, you can expect fun and treats at downtown restaurants like Blacksmith Coffee and Roastery, the Crown and Rye, Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, Indigo Moo’d, and more. There’s also going to be kid’s activities at the library, and shops around town will be highlighting waffle gifts and samples.

Event founder Carla Wilson explained on the Visit Lindsborg blog, “In Sweden and most of Europe, people mark the day by eating waffles. In Lindsborg, we eat waffles plus we welcome waffle creativity — jokes, parody songs, hats, clothing, jewelry, visual references, and anything that is waffle-y.” Check out the Visit Lindsborg page for more details.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay for Waffle Day, we recommend the Drom Sott Inn. It’s right in downtown, and it’s a delightful boutique hotel with comfy rooms and Swedish decor.

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Hotel review: Lindsborg’s Dröm Sött Inn lives up to its name

Lindsborg is known as Little Sweden U.S.A. because of how it celebrates its Swedish heritage with festivals, shopping, food, and more. It can be a great place for a day trip, but we have to say, it’s even better if you make a weekend (or more) of your visit since there’s so much to do. The Välkommen Trail runs through town, and nearby Coronado Heights has some fun hiking and biking.

If you are going to make your visit to Lindsborg a longer one, we highly recommend staying at the Dröm Sött Inn. The bed and breakfast gets its name from the Swedish phrase for “Sweet Dreams,” and it’s been designed to do just that — give guests sweet dreams.

*Disclaimer: We did get a hosted night at the Dröm Sött Inn; however, our opinions are our own and weren’t subject to review by the hotel.

The 18-room, two-story hotel has six different accommodation options, ranging from queen rooms with one bed and space for two guests up to the VIP Suite with room for six guests, complete with kitchenette, large bathroom, two queen beds, and a pull-out sleeper sofa. All the rooms are pleasantly light and welcoming with a mix of Scandinavian and Kansas themed décor. Most importantly for a hotel called “Sweet Dreams Inn,” the beds are very comfortable.

The check in desk is on the first floor, which also has a cozy seating area complete with a chess set — you can play as Russia or as Sweden.  There’s also a small gift shop with things like a specialty coffee blend made by the local Blacksmith Coffee Shop & Roastery, spa sundries, postcards, and more. In the basement is a the “Wine Cellar” (which doubles as a storm shelter). It has a small bar area with complimentary snacks and drinks, a few bar tables, and a big screen TV.

When you check in, you get to choose your breakfast option for the next morning. Choose between a traditional Swedish plate, which comes with cheese, Swedish meatballs, hard-boiled egg, and a couple of pickled options. Or there’s the American plate with things like fruit, yogurt, and granola. 

They have thoughtful touches throughout, like the “suds sack” in the bathroom so you can take home the unused soap and Dala horse sugar cookies.

The Dröm Sött Inn is just the latest hotel in this building, which was originally constructed in 1920 and first used as the Lindsborg Seed & Implement Store. By the 1930s, it was the Hotel Carlton, complete with a coffee shop and barbershop. After that, it was a men’s dormitory for Bethany College, then it became the Swedish Country Inn. Then in 2018, Mark and Marty, its current owners took over and turned into the boutique destination hotel that it is today.   

It’s half a block off Main Street near downtown, putting it in walking distance of many of the city’s attractions, including a number of its Dala Horses. The inn even has their own Dala — the “Lullaby Dala” decorated with stars and the moon.

Room rates start from $170

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Best barbecue in Kansas City

What better way to refuel after a day on the trails than with some tasty Kansas City barbecue?

We know that Kansas City exists in both Kansas and Missouri, but as the Kansas Trail Guide, we’re going to stick on the Kansas side. Even by narrowing Kansas City barbecue options down to just the Kansas side of the city, there’s no way to pick just one. So here are three of our favorite Kansas City barbecue restaurants that all got their start on the barbecue competition circuit. Are these in your top three? What are your favorite Kansas City barbecue places? Let us know in the comments!

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que

Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque has its roots in barbecue competitions – the team of Slaughterhouse Five went on to win award after award at competitions across the nation before they opened their barbecue restaurant in a gas station at 47th Avenue and Mission Road — it used to be Oklahoma Joe’s but they updated the name to Joe’s Kansas City BBQ in 2014. While you can still go to that original gas station location, they have restaurants in Olathe and Leawood.

Anthony Bourdain named Joe’s Kansas City BBQ as one of his 13 restaurants to visit before you die in Men’s Health in 2011, and we don’t disagree. The Z-Man Sandwich is popular, it’s slow-smoked beef brisket, smoked provolone cheese, topped with two crispy onion rings, on a toasted Kaiser roll. The ribs are outstanding, and of their sides, it’s a tie for us between their mac and cheese and dirty rice. If you’re lucky, there will be some burnt ends available, but you really can’t go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu.

There might be a line, but it usually moves pretty quickly and you can always order online and get it to go if you’re in more of a hurry. And if you’re not in the area, you can even put in an order to be shipped, and your award-winning meat will show up at your house in a cooler. 

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm. Closed Sunday
Locations: Original gas station location: 3002 West 47th Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66103, 913-722-3366
11950 South Strang Line Road, Olathe, KS 66062, 913-782-6858
11723 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66211, 913-338-5151

Q39

Q39 is another barbecue restaurant that got its start in the competition world. Chef Rob Magee was classically trained, and he competed with the Munchin’ Hogs team to take home multiple trophies before opening Q39 in 2014 in Midtown. In 2017, they opened another one in Overland Park, so that fits our Kansas barbecue requirement.

At both locations, you definitely want to make a reservation if you want to avoid a wait, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays — you can make one online. You can also order it online and get it to go.

Their mac and cheese is outstanding, the ribs are fall off the bone delicious, and their pork belly appetizer comes with Mexican street corn and a chipotle BBQ sauce. They’ve got some unexpected items from a barbecue restaurant on their menu, like the smoked beef brisket poutine, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and wood-fired grilled smoked salmon salad. I’ve heard the apple crumble with ice cream is tasty, but I’ve never saved enough room for dessert. Maybe next time. 

Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 9pm, Friday to Saturday: 11am to 9:30m
Locations: 11051 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 66210, 913-951-4500

Slap’s BBQ

Slap’s BBQ got its name from founding brothers Mike and Joe Pearce’s Squeal Like A Pig bbq competition team. They tend to sell out, particularly of their ribs and burnt ends, so maybe pick this one for lunch if you have your heart set on something specific. There’s also likely to be a line, but you can order online to pick up if you’re in a rush. They’ve got a tender, thick-cut brisket, they put bacon in their mac & cheese (which is always a win for me), and their sausage game is on point, particularly the jalapeno cheddar sausage. They’ve also got daily specials — burnt end street tacos on Tuesdays, smoked chicken wings on Wednesdays,  and spicy fried chicken sandwich on Thursdays.

They do catering, and though I’ve never tried that option, it seems like it would be definite crowd pleaser. And then even offer classes on how to get into the bbq competition scene. 

Hours: Sunday to Saturday: 11am to 7pm or until they sell out.
Location: 533 Central Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101, 913-213-3736

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Experience The Lofts in Iola is the ideal spot to explore Lehigh Portland State Park

If there’s something better after hours on the trail than a giant jacuzzi tub, I’ve yet to find it.

Since we finished the research for the first edition of the Kansas Trail Guide: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Riding in the Sunflower State back in 2014, Kansas has added an impressive amount of new trails, which is the reason we’re putting in the legwork to get you the latest details on Kansas’ new trails for a second edition. And so far in our research, one definite standout set of trails are the ones right outside of Iola in southeast Kansas. Clearly we weren’t the only ones impressed by what’s going on there; the state of Kansas made Lehigh Portland State Park into Kansas’ newest state park.

It’s under a 2-hour drive from Kansas City and about 2 hours from Wichita, though whichever direction you’re coming from, the drive is going to be worth it. The drive or the bike ride — Iola is also a main trailhead two rail trails — the Prairie Spirit Trail that runs for 52 miles north to Ottawa and the Southwind Rail Trail that takes you south 6.5 miles to Humboldt — I mean, there’s a reason that Iola was voted Kansas Trail Guide town of the year in 2017.

If you’re planning a visit to check out the 14+ miles of trails just south of Iola, I’d highly recommend making a weekend of it. You could see a lot of cool stuff there in a day, but staying overnight gives you a chance to get out on the trails early as well as check out the area and get a chance to relax. At some point when the state park infrastructure is built up, there will be camping at Lehigh Portland State Park.

But until then, and even then, for those who prefer their overnights in a comfy bed with all the amenities of home, I’d highly recommend a stay at Experience The Lofts. *Full disclosure, my visit there was hosted, but that in no way impacts how awesome I found this place!*

Experience The Lofts is right on Iola Square — the largest courthouse square in America — in a renovated historic building, less than a 10-minute drive and about a 15-minute bike ride from the state park trails.  They have 11 different loft suites to choose from, named after major players in Iola’s history, and they all have full kitchens, Roku TV, free WiFi, and BONUS! free snacks.

The beds are comfy, the bathroom is stocked with all necessary toiletries, and the full kitchen means it’s easy to feel at home. It’s contactless check-in; you’ll get key codes as the way to get into the doors from the street and then the door to your loft / suite. And if you need anything, help is just a text away. As an FYI: it is a somewhat steep flight of stairs to get up to the lofts, so keep that in mind.

You basically have your own personal apartment at Experience The Lofts, and there are options for pretty much every group size, whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with a group. I got a chance to stay in The Beck Suite with its two bedrooms complete with king size beds, full size kitchen, living room with picture windows overlooking the square, walk-in shower, and a jacuzzi tub — the perfect way to relax after spending time at the state park.

If you’re out for multiple days on the trail, you don’t even have to pack extra clothes if you don’t want to — there’s laundry right on-site.

Staying at Experience The Lofts feels like being a part of the revitalization of Iola. Plus, it’s super convenient to check out Lehigh Portland State Park’s fantastic trail system. 

If you go:
From $120/night
1 E Madison Avenue
Iola, KS 66749
tel: 620-365-1785, email: tcsparks106@gmail.com

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Big Kansas Road Trip – going on now! Barber, Comanche and Kiowa counties

The Kansas Sampler Festival had its last run in 2017, but to replace it is the Big Kansas Road Trip.

From May 3 to May 6 2018, in three counties: Barber, (Hardtner, Hazelton, Isabel, Kiowa, Medicine Lodge, Sharon and Sun City); Comanche (Coldwater, Protection and Wilmore) and Kiowa (Greensburg, Haviland and Mullinville), the red carpet is rolled out for visitors with events and deals at local restaurants and stores.

From the website with details on the event: WHAT IF…

…people who have never been to your towns and countryside before fall in love with what rural communities offer?

…the charm of the unexpected inspires people to get hooked on exploring all over the state?

…they are a thoughtful audience, spend money, and tell everyone about their experience?

It could all be a really good thing.
All communities have to do is be the best
they can be at being themselves.
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New at the 2017 Kansas State Fair

The state fair is in full swing, and this over 100-year-old celebration has some new things. Here are our recommendations.

Pronto Pup t-shirts

Don’t you dare call it a corn dog! The pronto pup is a fair classic and there are at least three spots around the fairgrounds to get one, but only next to the Lair White House and the arena can you get a shirt proclaiming your love of this fair food. $21 a shirt with kids and adult sizes and a few different colors.

Flippin‘ – Acrobat and aerialist show

Where last year ther was a dog show, this year there is an acrobat show. With family members starring, there is a combination of trapeze style work and impressive balance acts with a steampunk theme.

There are no nets or padded mats below the performers and it’s a great great show! Show up 20 minutes or so ahead of time to get a seat.

Free. Shows at Gottschalk Park at 11am, 1:30pm, 6:30pm

Food

There are a handful of new dishes serve up around the fairgrounds. We tried the ‘roni dog’ – a hot dog topped with macaroni and cheese and bacon bits from Carousel Cafe.

One of the best things about the dish is that it’s the right size for one person. If you have a hankering for turkey leg, for example, you had better have some people to share it with since they’re so big. But the roni dog is just right.

Lair White House

Each year there is a different display at the little fair museum, and this year it’s on the special food contests from Pillsbury Pie competitions to the (in)famous SPAM contest.

To toot our own horn a bit, a lot of the SPAM items on display come from the Kansas Trail Guide family.

Free.

Escape Room

For $25, you and up to 7 friends, you get half an hour to get out of a specially designed ‘escape room.’ With hidden clues and the promise of ice cream if you figure it out in the time limit, it’s a fun challenge.

Kids 10 and under free. In front of the Encampment Building. Open 9am to 9pm.

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Eat, Play, Stay: Topeka

Topeka, along the Kansas River, has a number of great trails (including near Cedar Crest, the Governor’s Mansion), interesting history, and an active arts scene. Check out our recommendations of where to eat, what to see, and where to stay while you’re in the capital city.

Eat

Hanover Pancake House (1034 S. Kansas Ave. Open 6:30am to 3pm Sundays, 6:30am to 2:30pm Monday through Saturday).

In business since 1969, this mainstay diner style restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and it was voted Topeka’s Best Place for Breakfast in 2016.

Order up! The Burger Stand

Burger Stand (1601 SW Lane Street, College Hill. Open 11am to 10pm Sunday and 11am to 2am Monday through Saturday).

It’s impossible to pick one best burger here, but I’m a fan of the Smoke (Applewood smoked bacon, gouda cheese & chipotle-cocoa ketchup) and Black & Blue (Blue cheese & granny smith apple chutney).

The restaurant has a couple of dining areas, and they’ve got a pool table, foosball table, and pinball machines. The service was quick, and the food delicious.

Hazel Hill Chocolate (724 S. Kansas Avenue. Open 10am to 7pm. Closed Mondays).

Handmade in small batches on-site, the chocolate treats here are incredible. You can get just one, with truffles costing $2.25, or you can stock up and get them by the box.

Moburt’s (820 S. Kansas Avenue. Open 10am to 6pm. Closed Sundays).

For your own cooking, you can add the gourmet touch with an impressively large range of salts, sugars, and spices — espresso sugar, wild blueberry sugar, Hawaiian black sea salt, gingered Thai sea salt, ground Vietnamese cinnamon, pretty much anything you can think of and many you wouldn’t have thought of before. The staff are great at advising for the best pairings.

Play

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site (1515 SE Monroe Street. Open 9am to 5pm daily).

It’s a trailhead for the Landon Nature Trail, and it’s also the place to learn about the historic desegregation decision made in 1954 that helped change schools in America for the better with indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center (4400 SW 10th Ave. Closed Monday, open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, open 1pm to 5pm Sunday. Kids and adults $7.75, seniors $6.75, and under 12 months, free).

In the southwest corner of Gage Park, also home to the Topeka Zoo, is the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center filled with interactive exhibits. The outdoor classroom area has a zipline, music garden, treehouse and more. Inside, there is an art play space, puzzle garden, science gallery, and more with activities for babies, toddlers, and elementary school age kids.

NOTO Arts District (800 and 900 Block of North Kansas Avenue. Keep in mind that many of the shops are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays).

The best time to visit is for the First Friday Artwalk, but if you can’t make it then, there’s still plenty to see. A mix of artist studios, antique stores, boutiques and a handful of cafes.

See that statue on top? You can climb practically all the way to it!

Capitol Dome Tour (300 SW 10th Street. Tours are free and run Monday through Friday: 9:15, 10:15, 11:15 a.m., 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15 p.m. Saturday: 10:15, and 11:15 am., 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 pm. Keep in mind, if it’s too hot, tours will be cancelled).

296 steps and you’ll be at the top of the nation’s only state capitol dome where you can walk outside. The tour starts with checking out some of the capitol building’s many murals, and then you head behind the scenes and up, up, up.

It’s a bit intense if you’re scared of heights, but there are protective railings and a tour guide to put you at ease. And the views from the top, especially on a clear day, are impressive You can also turn back at any point. Read more about it here.

Ted Ensley Gardens (3650 SE West Edge Rd. Open 6am to 11pm).

You can boat, fish, sail, and swim at Lake Shawnee, but there’s more to the area than water activities. Along the west side of the lake are the Ted Ensley Gardens. Trails through the arboretum, a meditation garden, and over a thousand types of flowers and trees, it’s a pleasant, pretty spot.

View from a Capitol Plaza Hotel room

Stay

Capitol Plaza Hotel (1717 SW Topeka Boulevard. Rooms from $109).

Next to the Kansas Expocentre, the Capitol Plaza Hotel is a great place to stay. It’s pet-friendly and non-smoking complete with an indoor pool, hot tub whirlpool, and exercise room.

You get free WiFi throughout the hotel, and there are two restaurants — the Falling Water Grille and Water’s Edge Lounge.

There’s plenty of parking, the beds are comfy, and I must admit that even as an adult, I’m always a fan of glass elevators — this one overlooks the garden atrium.

Part of the Great Mural Wall of Topeka near the Capitol Plaza Hotel in summer 2016

It’s also a few minutes walk from the Great Wall of Topeka-Mural along SW Western.

Ramada Inn Downtown (420 SE 6th Avenue. Rooms from $84).

If you want to easily access history, stay at the Ramada Inn Downtown as it has the in-house Holley Museum of Military History. Along with this unexpected amenity, the hotel has three restaurants: Madison Street Diner, Maddie’s Cocktail Lounge, and Uncle Bo’s Bar, which has live bands every Friday and Saturday night.

Along with the seasonal outdoor pool, there’s an indoor pool and hot tub. Each room has a microwave and mini-fridge, and they have a free hot and tasty breakfast. You get free WiFi, and in the fitness center, you can take a yoga class.

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Tour the Capitol Dome

Of the 50 states, Kansas is the only one with a capitol dome where visitors can climb all the way to the top and go outside, 10 feet or so beneath the bronze statue of a Kansa warrior that tops the 304 feet tall dome. Oh, and that 304 feet places it 16 feet taller than the United States Capitol dome.

It’s 296 steps all the way up, though this is broken into parts where you can turn around if it’s becoming a bit too much. For the first few stops, you’re headed along stairs hugging the wall. The last 100 or so steps take you up into the middle of the dome, up into the small cupola, and then out onto a circular walkway.

And yes, it’s a bit nerve wracking if you’re scared of heights (as I am!) as you head away from the wall and into the middle, but I made it through, so I’m sure you can.

Tip – If you go in fall, the changing colors of the trees will make the panoramic view even more stunning.

A Kansas State Historical Society volunteer will take you up and give you some information. You start out on the fifth floor and get info about the restored frescoes (one of the state’s first “selfies” can be found in them!). Then you head up to above the interior dome and get a view of the steps up into the unfinished part of the dome.

The dome itself was a part of a nearly $325 million revamp of the statehouse completed in 2014.

If you go:

Cost: Free!

When: Tours are run by the Kansas State Historical Society Monday through Friday: 9:15, 10:15, 11:15 a.m., 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15 p.m. If it’s too hot, they’ll cancel the tours as the dome itself isn’t air conditioned. Not sure if it’s cancelled if/when it’s too cold…

Where: 300 SW 10th St, Topeka, KS 66612. Visitor’s entrance is on the ground level, North Wing, on 8th Avenue. Parking information here.

More info: Kansas State Historical Society, 785-296-3966

The dome from the first floor
One of the restored frescoes
The inside dome
One of the restored frescoes (see the face in the painter’s canvas? That’s the frescoes artist)
Graffiti can be found throughout the dome – from its past when it was open to the public with no guides.
A bit of an intense final climb
View from the top
View from the top
View from the top
A glimpse of the warrior’s arrow – aimed at the stars. Ad Astra Per Aspera
View from the top
Stop by the gift shop to commemorate your journey

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Kansas Chocolate Festival in Topeka

A delicious day is coming your way in Topeka on September 24

kansaschocolatefestivallogo_rendered_3f539611-cee1-4104-8a90-f41be5bf4e9eStart the day at 8am with the 12th annual Winged Foot 5k/10k run and 4k walk. Once you’ve finished the race, you’ll get some chocolate treats to keep you going the rest of the day!

From 10am to 5pm, wander along Kansas Avenue to find food trucks (all of which will have at least one specialty item featuring chocolate), live music, and vendors. Watch demonstrations of taffy pulling, chocolate clay, and fudge.

On the main stage, presentations throughout the day will give information on where chocolate comes from, a history of chocolate, pairing chocolate with other foods and spices, and more.

On the Statehouse lawn in the evening, you can watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring the late Gene Wilder.

If you want to show off your cooking skills and get a chance to win $300 – enter the Kansas Chocolate Competition.

Get more details and information about the schedule of events here.

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Celebrate the National Parks 100th Birthday in Kansas

2016 is the centennial celebration of  America’s National Parks, and nationally recognized historic sites can be found throughout the state of Kansas. Our favorites are those with trails to explore, like the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City (keep an eye out for the bison herd!) and the Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site which is the start to the Landon Nature Trail.

Here are two places to join in the celebrations for the National Parks on the official parks birthday weekend (August 27 and 28).

Baseball game at Fort Scott, early 20th century. Don Miller. NPS website.

Baseball game at Fort Scott, early 20th century. Don Miller. NPS website.

August 27, 2016 at Fort Scott National Historic Site – Vintage baseball and picnic in the park

From the NPS website:

Bring your family and a picnic basket full of your favorite food.Eat on the grounds of a frontier 1840s fort while listening to period music.Music will be provided from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Then at 1:00 p.m., you are invited to watch a Civil War era baseball game that will be held on the grounds of the historic site. Two vintage teams will square off against each other;the Topeka Westerns will take on the Wichita Bull Stockings in a rousing game using 1860s rules, uniforms, and equipment.

August 27, 2016 at Fort Larned – Picnic in the park

A prairie dog show and talk starts the day at 10am at the visitor’s center, and throughout the day will be presentations on the history of the area along with a concert by the revived Fort Larned Post Band. Find out more details of the day here.

 

We’ll keep you updated on more centennial park events throughout the rest of the year.

Planning to go to one of these? Let us know in the comments!