About Jeff & Crystal

We are Jeff and Crystal, a Baby Boomer couple who love exploring this big blue marble we all call home. After spending the first portion of our lives together raising a family, the empty-nest syndrome finally caught up with us. This has given us the opportunity to spend more time traveling, and seeking out new destinations. We developed this travel blog with the goal of showing how we “Visit Like A Local”. Our itineraries are designed to get us off the interstates, and into the heart of the places we visit. We believe this will allow our readers to choose a cultural experience, and eventually head home with a real flavor of the places they visit. We hope you are enjoying our website and will consider sharing it with your friends. Please come back often, as we post new articles three times per week.
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Artful Travel – Josyln Art Museum

Living in Kansas City means that we are in day-trip distance from a myriad of interesting destinations. When we are looking for another big city experience, one of our favorite haunts is Omaha, Nebraska. Being a mere three hours away makes this a good option for about eight hours of exploring. Of course, with a bevy of lodging options, the "Big O" has plenty to occupy multiple days. Our most recent visit was designed to partake in a wide range of sites including some artful travel to the Josyln Art Museum. Artful Travel to Omaha Walking up to the museum is quite a [...]

By |2021-04-20T06:26:38-06:00April 20th, 2021|Midwest, Nebraska, Omaha|0 Comments
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Kearney Coffee Break – Paisley Perk

We are so hopeful that 2021 will see a return of travel that we decided to start our season with some day trips. It's fun planning and executing a one-day run that lands us in new territory. Kansas City is the perfect home base for a multitude of day trip options. An hour north of the city and we found ourselves in Kearney, Missouri. With a little time before our first official stop, we decided that some sustenance would be wise. Driving into the downtown, we spotted Paisley Perk, which would supply us a much-needed Kearney coffee break. In Short Order We loved [...]

By |2021-04-16T12:08:01-06:00April 16th, 2021|Kansas City Vicinity, Kearney Missouri|2 Comments
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Scary Good Eats – The Monster Club

Walking through The Old Market section of Omaha provides visitors with an eclectic mix of experiences. Locals and travelers alike will hit up this neighborhood for some lighthearted distractions. Whether you are in the mood for shopping, entertainment, or dining you are sure to find something to fit the bill. Walking along the brick-lined streets, we happened upon The Monster Club. This place certainly caught our eye and since we were hungry, we decided to pop in to sample their scary good eats. Familiar Faces If you plan to create a themed experience, there needs to be plenty of consistency to your delivery. [...]

By |2021-04-13T06:05:42-06:00April 13th, 2021|Midwest, Nebraska, Omaha|10 Comments
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Step Into History – Jesse James Farm

When you step into history, it can lead to just as many questions as it does answers. During a recent discussion, we pondered why people are so fascinated with the notorious desperados who grab the headlines. From gangsters to bandits, there is something fascinating about their stories. A trip to the outskirts of Kearney, Missouri landed us at The Jesse James Birthplace and Museum. Nestled in the rolling hills of northwest Missouri, this tranquil spot was home to one of the most notorious bandits in America. We've all heard of the escapades of this outlaw, but we were interested in what turned him [...]

By |2021-04-16T12:07:36-06:00April 9th, 2021|Kansas City Vicinity, Kearney Missouri|0 Comments
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Spring Forward With An Outdoor Art Walk

For decades, people around the globe have struggled with the 'Spring Forward' that occurs each year. While we understand the reasoning behind this daylight saving practice, it doesn't make the frustration of losing an hour anymore pleasant. Just as we begin to see the dawn appear at a decent hour, we are plunged back into darkness as we make our way to work. Who would expect that a one-hour loss could turn us into sleep-deprived zombies?  To help us deal with this annual annoyance, we decided to spring forward with an outdoor art walk. A Kemper St"art" A brunch-time event made perfect sense [...]

By |2021-04-06T06:12:49-06:00April 6th, 2021|KC Fun, Kid Friendly, Out & About|18 Comments
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How To Sample Atchison, Kansas In One Day

It's easy to find the statistics for just about any city or town, but they will not tell the whole story. To get a true taste of any destination requires experiencing it firsthand. Over the years, we have discovered a formula that helps us make the most of our time. This has been used for large and small destinations and we always leave with a sense of accomplishment. A recent itinerary we created was designed to show you how to sample Atchison, Kansas in one day. This city of 11,000 people has some unique flavors that make for a great day trip. Meet [...]

By |2021-03-30T06:20:43-06:00March 30th, 2021|Atchison, Daytrips, Kansas City Vicinity|10 Comments
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Losing Their Voice – Kemper Museum Of Contemporary Art

Kansas City is filled with so many entertainment options that we struggle trying to cover them all. When our daughter suggested a brunch outing, I decided to look for something out of the ordinary. Since we are all lovers of art, a visit to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art was a perfect fit. This free attraction offers amazing rotating galleries, as well as an exceptional indoor eatery. At the time of our visit, the list of exhibits included one focused on the Native Indians losing their voice in the modern world. This intrigued us, since we are fans of North American history [...]

By |2021-03-26T06:40:01-06:00March 26th, 2021|Kansas City, KC Fun, Kid Friendly|6 Comments
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Rising To The Challenge – Atchison History

The city of Atchison, Kansas has a long history of rising to the challenge. Squatting along the banks of the Missouri River, the town was founded just a decade before the start of the Civil War. This Midwestern city of around 11,000 has seen its own struggles. Their delay in constructing a bridge to span the Missouri River would give nearby cities a leg up in the future. While Atchison would be destined to lose much of its manufacturing power, this city on the bluffs would find its niche in today's world. Atchison History We took a short excursion from our hometown to [...]

By |2021-03-24T05:48:20-06:00March 23rd, 2021|Kansas City Vicinity|0 Comments
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Fan Favorites – Sushi Karma

It's hard to remember how many times we have been floored at the idea of businesses launching at the height of the pandemic. We understand that once a ball gets rolling, you just have to see it through. Still, the idea of beginning during such an unstable market has to be frightening. When we spotted activity at an old haunt, we were anxious to see what would transpire. Low and behold, the old Chinese buffet was replaced with a shiny new eatery that is serving up some fan favorites. We were anxious to sample the menu at Sushi Karma. Clean Lines The new [...]

By |2021-03-19T06:05:06-06:00March 19th, 2021|Asian, Kansas City, KC Dining|2 Comments
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The Search For Amelia

On a high bluff overlooking the Missouri River, Amelia Earhart came into the world. While the small town she grew up in may seem quiet, the urge for adventure stirred deep in her heart. The two-story cottage stands as a reminder of the amazing flying feats performed by this aviation pioneer. The world knows her for the many aviation records she set, but there was so much more to this girl from Atchison, Kansas. We embarked on our own search for Amelia with a visit to the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. Humble Home From our home in Kansas City, it is only about [...]

By |2021-03-16T06:17:23-06:00March 16th, 2021|Atchison, Kansas City Vicinity|12 Comments
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