Midwest - Flint Hills (KS) GTG - September 19-22

[VickieP]

Abilene is less than 2 hours away if anyone is interested in the Eisenhower Museum.

Anita, you had me scratching my head on this one....until I realized there is an Abilene in Kansas in addition to the one in Texas!

[cnq50b]

Gosh, this thing has taken on a life of its own!
Anita, I think you'll definitely win the longest distance award - coming via Alaska! Maybe we should add up all the miles that are traveled to/from this little ol' GTG & see if it is the most out of the way GTG ever?

Sarah, I saw your post in MC this morning. I will gladly let you have my site closer to the action. Sadie & I can definitely use some exercise. Although... if Vickie was able to talk them into letting her reserve a 'walk-in' site, I would think anyone who begs for quarters for laundry from strangers could probably do the same for the other walk-in site (41a). Give it a shot. They're really nice people. Although I'm starting to think being a little further away might have an advantage (I won't be caught up in the midnight police raids, etc).

Thanks for doing distance checks on possible side trips, Anita & Mitch. If folks are traveling this far, they should take advantage of seeing other sights & even trying Kansas City barbeque. We'll just all watch out for hotrod Sue though as she hits the speed of light traveling down those country roads.

[chalet05]

Sue, I'll be in the Manhattan arae visiting family plus doing the doctor and dentist thing.

Here are some ideas if anyone wants to explore more of the state.

Hutchinson, Kansas has the Cosmosphere
http://www.cosmo.org/

and the underground salt museum
http://underkansas.org/

Kansas City has the Arabia steamboat museum - recovered and preserved items from a sunken boat - a favorite of mine
http://1856.com/

The Kansas Museum in Topeka
http://www.kshs.org/museum

Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka
http://www.nps.gov/brvb/planyourvisit/brochures.htm

I have been to all of the above - some more than once.

The Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan has only been open a couple of years - haven't been there yet but daughter and grandkids enjoy it
http://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/

I can always show you where I was born, too!!

[BirdbyBird]

Sue, I promise that I've never managed to get bored at a gtg yet. I just can't see driving to Kansas and and not enjoying the lovely campground. And then there are the people to meet. The longer you park the more chances you have to catch up with folks you already know and sit and get to know friends you haven't met yet.... add on the possibilities of kayaking, hiking and visiting tourist places a week may not be enough!

[Colliemom]

I hope the bail fund is up to date. It might need to be loaded for this one,

Catherine, I know that I would be out of the midnight party raids if I book down where I'm looking at right now. Since I want to be on the water, I'm looking at some sites down near 14-18 right now.

Seems to me that there is a GTG Banner floating around out there someplace. Or do we need a new one cause the other one was getting full of signatures.

Vickie, I was thinking about 50 miles an hour (not speed) of driving. It seems that's about what I do when I go places, hence the couple of hours to get to Larned. But depends on roads etc. I've spent so much time on the roads during my life that I look at that 175 miles and say piece of cake. But this is MI not KS.

Oh, you gals will see my dust coming way before I get there,

Anyplace to rent Kayaks?

[mitch5252]

Maybe if Mitch promised to get a picture of you pole dancing he might change his mind

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Lori, you want a pole dancing pic?
I can "take" one for you...
..

[mitch5252]

..

Being that I don't have a life, especially in the morning before places open,
I put together this location map of the aforementioned activities.



..

[Colliemom]

What about the Tallgrass Prairie Mitch and I think there are some Byways not too far from there as well.

[gingerK]

My friend and I were planning on Branson at the same time as the gtg, but I had a thought: we could make it to the gtg for a couple of nights then head off to Branson on our way back home (IL). We have no real itinerary for Branson so if we spend fewer days there it would be ok with us. What do ya'll think of this plan? I'd love to meet ya'll!

[mitch5252]

What do ya'll think of this plan? I'd love to meet ya'll!

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Hey, the more, the merrier, well, except for Vickie, of course. Then it's "RUN FOR THE HILLS"...
Sounds like a good plan!
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[gingerK]

OK, we're in, site 28 from 9/19 to9/21! See you girls in Kansas!

[VickieP]

OK, we're in, site 28 from 9/19 to9/21! See you girls in Kansas!

We get to meet Ginger & friend! Besides, we're much more entertaining than Branson.

[mitch5252]

...Besides, we're much more entertaining than Branson.

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The others are.
You're just a pest.
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[cnq50b]

I just smile when I see all this craziness!!!!

Who woulda thought!

I might have to ask off for more vacation days. Or heck, maybe I should just skip driving out to Cali this year & save all that time off for staying in KS!

[BirdbyBird]

Before you know it Catherine, your kids will be wanting to check us out just like Sheila's family did......we could be axe murderers.... Luckily I think both my kids are probably relieved to know that I am out and about and not parked visiting them.... They have busy, busy lives....