Almost in Wyoming!

Kansas City, Missouri is a city that I’ve visited in the past and looked forward to visiting again.  I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.  KC, known as the City of Fountains, is also known for jazz and barbecue.  This visit, we chose to try an Austrian restaurant instead of barbecue for dinner and it was an excellent choice.  John had the marinated venison shoulder and I the Weiner Schnitzel; apricot crumble with sour cream ice cream was dessert and who knew that sour cream could taste so good?   Next time that we’re in KC, we promise to try the barbecue.

Among the sights we saw in Kansas City was the Western Auto building’s illuminated sign which is pretty impressive and held our interest as we watched it slowly illuminate, go dark and then illuminate fully again.  What can I say, we’re easily entertained!

Union Station with its beautiful illuminated fountain in front and grand interior had an Auschwitz exhibit inside and an Auschwitz railway wagon outside.  The exhibit was closed but we did get to see some of the artifacts in the station ‘s main hall and an Auschwitz Railway Wagon outside.  To say that the exhibits and the Auschwitz railway wagon were sobering is an understatement.  The words of Auschwitz Survivor Primo Levi are well worth heeding.

Our next to last stop before our final destination of Buffalo, Wyoming was Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The walls in the hotel lobby and behind the front desk were made of interior and exterior wood from the Lake Lorraine Barn which was built after the Great Depression and had been located nearby.  The great grandfather of one of the front desk staff used to play in the historic barn and now she, his great granddaughter works in front of the beautiful wood that used to adorn the barn that was his playground.

There is a serious drought out west and one of the many things that has been changed as a result, is that the waterfalls in Falls Park are almost a trickle now.  One of the residents told us that the waterfalls are usually tremendously powerful and remind some of the majesty of Niagara Falls in New York. 

Our last overnight stay before arriving in Buffalo was Rapid City, South Dakota and on our way there we drove through the Great Plains.  The Great Plains are a high plateau of semiarid grassland and have an altitude up to 6,000 feet.  Driving through the Great Plains we encountered strong winds that made keeping our car in its lane on the highway a bit of a challenge.  When we got to our hotel and mentioned the wind, a staff member said that they get hurricane force winds in the winter season.

As we were passing by the Badlands National Park we stopped for a visit and drove the loop road through the park.  Last year the temperature was 108 degrees when we visited and we were happy that the temperature only reached a high of 78 degrees on this visit! 

Bison and Bighorn sheep still roam the Badlands and in the past this area was home to ancient horses and rhinos.  Fossil beds abound here.  Driving through the Badlands had me thinking, just for a moment, that we might be on the moon or Mars as the land is so stark.

Well, our destination of Buffalo, Wyoming is almost in sight so stay tuned for our adventures in the Cowboy and Equality State.

NOTE – If you like what you’ve read of our travels so far and would like assistance in planning a similar trip for yourself, please contact me on our website’s “Let’s Connect” page or at jttripsnpics@gmail.com.  I offer travel consultations through Trips & Pics, LLC and would be happy to assist you in planning the trip of your dreams!

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