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Travel

Lawana Esch

2012-10-03 10:06:17

Q- We are planning to do some traveling on and off over the next 6 months. Not having done any real travel before, can you give us some advice on avoiding problems at the airport?

A- We all have heard the horror stories of 6 hour delays on the tarmac or unexpected layovers and think that those are the exception in travel, or such things could never happen to us. While the horror stories you hear on the news really are the exception to the rule, travel does often involve some unexpected problems. First, one of the best ways to avoid any issues at the airport is being prepared. Know the lay out of the airport, have your tickets ready, and know the carry on luggage policy. Also, know what you can or cannot take in your luggage to avoid added time in searches. Next, read the airline's contract of carriage. This is the list of ticket rules found on the airline's website, which you as a traveler are obliged to follow. It also contains valuable information on what the airline will or will not provide under certain circumstances. While it seems like a waste of time reading a litany of rules, not knowing these rules can wreck havoc on your travel plans. One of the biggest mistakes passengers make is in assuming the airline's responsibility to them. For example, if weather causes an unexpected layover, many people believe that the airline is obliged to provide food or lodging, or provide full refunds. Neither of these things may be true for your airline of choice. In fact, many passengers are surprised to find out that if there is a long delay on the tarmac that extends the trip by hours and into mealtime, the airline may not be obliged to provide a meal on the flight. Others are astonished to know the reasons a person can be kicked off a flight, or policies regarding alternative transportation. It pays to read the fine print. While most of the time you will experience very little hassle, it is important to know the airline's rules and regulations before you board should you encounter anything you find unreasonable or unfair. Many times dealing with the problem in the moment results in a better resolution than waiting until you return home. Traveling can be stressful. However, the best way to get to your destination with the fewest number of delays and unexpected problems is by being prepared.

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Travel

Lawana Esch

2012-08-30 07:57:48

Q- I am planning an event that I had intended to hold in my home until the list of expected guests reached 100. Now I have to consider alternate plans, such as having the event outside. Can you offer some suggestions that will keep costs down and planning simple?

A- One of the best options would be to hold the event in a hotel venue. Many people dismiss this option before even investigating thinking it would be way out of their budget. Not only is renting a hotel venue affordable, it can end up saving you time, money, and frustration. Here is why: Hotel venues have flexible meeting spaces that can grow if your event grows, eliminating the need to find another venue at the last moment. Hotels are already equipped for meetings and usually have audio/visual and internet environments. This eliminates the need to buy extra equipment or try to manage without the necessary tools that make any event run smoothly. Renting a hotel venue also helps you avoid additional planning details such as reserving and transporting chair and table rentals, linens, and other supplies. This can also be a substantial savings. Large groups come with needs that are difficult to meet in most other situations. For example, moving an event outdoors may be an option if there is enough space. However, that option may present other problems such as not having suitable restroom facilities. Hotel venues are already equipped to handle large groups. Catering services provide another advantage. Even if a hotel does not have a kitchen, they have relationships with area restaurants that have a record of accomplishment of providing quality service. Even if the event is small, a having access to hotel event coordinator is a huge advantage in saving time and avoiding problems. Unless you plan events on a regular basis, chances are good that something will crop up that you did not expect. Event coordinators can help assure that the event runs as smoothly as possible, and save you time in planning. If attendees are traveling, the hotel is a ready option for them to stay while they are in town. Finally, the clean up is all theirs so you can get back to life. My advice: Call around and find out what local hotels have to offer. Ask if they have money saving features or discounts. Once you compare the bottom line, I think you will find that a hotel venue is the most cost effective option.

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Travel

Lawana Esch

2012-08-02 11:23:22

Q- My husband and I have 4 small kids and planning our first real family vacation. Can you give me some tips on hotel stays for kids?

A- Gladly! A family vacation is an exciting time, but it can also be filled with stresses for the parents and kids alike. While the children may be anticipating all of the fun, they may also be anxious about sleeping in an unfamiliar place and afraid of unfamiliar noises. Here are some tips to make your hotel stay fun for the kids and equally important, manageable for you. 1. Be sure to bring some of their comfort items like stuffed animals and blankets. Being away from their own bed may cause stress getting to sleep, so items that make that transition to sleep are important to have handy. 2. Get a room on the first floor. You need a lot of extra equipment traveling with children and lugging all of that around while holding on to children is no piece of cake. 3. Find out if the hotel has recreation areas and plan on a strategic use of them. An evening swim in the pool can make children so sleepy that when it is time for bed, there is little argument! 4. Bring items for personal entertainment for you and the kids. You may not all want to watch the same thing on television so electronic devises can be a real sanity saver. 5. If your kids are particularly sensitive to outside noises or the sounds you might typically hear in a hotel situation, play soft music at night to muffle the sound. 6. Put extra time into packing well. Since kids need help getting ready, make the job easy on yourself and consider packing what you need according to days. One trick of the trade is to pack an entire outfit neatly into a gallon ziplock baggie so you can grab a bag and know that you have all that you need ready. The bags always come in handy later for storing vacation treasures, dirty or wet items, or even trash. 7. Buy souvenirs ahead of time. Every parent knows how a trip can be plagued with rapid-fire requests for vacation trinkets. It is enough to make any parent want to go to their hotel room and hide for the entire trip! You can save on the stress (and expense) if you buy souvenirs ahead of time online. I hope these tips help you have a wonderful vacation.

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Travel

Lawana Esch

2012-06-21 09:15:39

Q: I realize this may sound weird, but I travel a lot and have frequent hotel stays. The problem is that I can never get to sleep, no matter where I stay and it is starting to affect job performance. Please tell me how I can get better sleep while away from home.

A: Sleep does not always come easy and being away from the home environment sometimes makes it even more difficult. However, there are things you can do to help overcome those issues and finally get the rest you need. First, start with the things you would do to get rest at home. The same will apply to getting sleep in a hotel room. Make sure that you do the things conducive to sleeping such as staying away from caffeine or providing a time to unwind before you get in bed. If reading helps make you sleepy, read as long as you can until your body is ready to rest. Avoid eating late as digestion sometimes interferes with getting proper rest. Next, consider bringing your own pillow. Many people do not realize just how much using a different pillow can disturb their sleep or how many times they partially wake to adjust a pillow to which they are unaccustomed. Request a room away from stairs, elevators, and pools, as well as away from vending machines, to cut down on the noise. If noise is still a problem, consider using a white noise machine that will electronically drown out background noise. If the light is a problem, find a hotel that uses back-out shades. I hope these tips set you on course for comfortable slumber and work success!

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Travel

Lawana Esch

2012-06-01 11:00:59

Q: This summer our family is staying close to home so I thought I would make it an adventure and see all of the local things everyone takes for granted. What sights and attractions would you recommend?

A: What a great idea! SEK will not disappoint you. The area is filled with fun, educational, and exciting things to do and you should have no trouble keeping your family entertained. Naturally, you will want to check out the many attractions based on agriculture, like the Barnhart’s Honey-Berry Farm where you can pick your own berries and buy awesome skin care products. Bauman’s Cedar Valley Farms is another great place where you can learn about organic farming and enjoy pony drawn wagon rides. If you love nature, don’t miss Schermerhorn Park in Galena. Open year round, this 50-square-foot park is one of the best places to see Mississippian limestone. For history buffs, there is a treasure on every corner. You will not want to miss out on the several historical societies and museums in the area, including Crawford County, Allen County, Anderson County, and Coffee County. There are also many historic tours, sights and attractions well worth your time. In Baxter Springs, the Civil War Tour is a visitor favorite and takes you to 12 points of interest related to the attack on Ft. Blair and the battle at Baxter Springs. Another attraction popular with all ages is Galena Mining and Historical Museum. SEK is also rich in arts and culture. You do not have to look long or hard to find great choices like the Bowlus Fine Arts and Cultural Center in Iola, home to a performing arts center and art galleries. In Independence, check out William Inge Center for the Arts, one of the leading rural arts organizations in the nation. Little House on the Prairie fans should make time to visit the actual location of the books. Visitors can see a replica of the home (built in 1977) and other notable landmarks. After visiting the site, head over to Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence where Dr. George Tann (tended them when they had “fever and ague.” If your family loves the water, be sure to stop in at Aquatic Center in Pittsburg. It has something for everyone including water slides, lazy river, and a toddler pool. You also do not have to go far to cast your line and enjoy some fishing fun. There are many superb places to go fishing locally, such as Bone Creek and Lake Crawford. It is impossible to cover all of the worthwhile attractions and sites and there are many, many more, but this should spark your spirit of adventure.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2004-07-01 10:52:00

Question: Kansas is celebrating the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. How did Kansas play a part in their adventure?

ANSWER:  The Lewis and Clark Expedition, one of America's greatest adventure stories, has inspired many to follow their famous trail. Kansas plays host to several Lewis and Clark sites along the trail and the historic cities and towns along the Missouri River in the extreme northeast corner of the state.The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Kaw Point on June 26, 1804. Kaw Point is where the Kansas River enters the Missouri River. Due to changes in the rivers' flow, the point of land in 1804 was about a quarter mile up the Missouri River from its current location. Lewis and Clark halted at the mouth of the Kansas River for three days.It is noted in their journals that Lewis and Clark camped on the banks of the Missouri River, where Fort Leavenworth is now located, on July 2, 1804. They noted seeing evidence of a former Kanza village just north of Fort Leavenworth. They also saw the remains of Fort de Cavignial, about a mile behind the village, as they traveled north. Leavenworth also was the location of the last botanical specimen, a wild grape leaf, collected during their journey back in 1806.The Frontier Army Museum, located in Ft. Leavenworth, tells the story of Fort Leavenworth, 1827-present and the history of the United States Regular Army on the frontier from 1804, the arrival of Lewis and Clark, army history through 1917, to the conclusion of the Punitive expedition into Mexico. On July 4, 1804, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through what is today the Atchison area. They celebrated Independence Day by firing the keelboat's swivel gun at dawn and dusk, naming two local streams - Fourth of July 1804 Creek and Independence Creek - and enjoying extra rations of whiskey in the evening. The Daughters of the American Revolution placed a commemorative marker on the banks of what is believed to be the remnants of Fourth of July 1804 Creek. A covered footbridge over the creek was dedicated as "The Bridge Over Fourth of July 1804 Creek" on July 4, 1996. The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near Independence Creek in the vicinity where the town of Doniphan was established 50 years later. The camp was near an uninhabited village of the Kanza Indians. While journeying up the river past what is now Doniphan County, several of the men became sick with headaches and boils and were treated by Captain Lewis. On July 10, 1804, they made camp across the river from what is now White Cloud, their final stop in Kansas, until they returned in September 1806. They departed the area on July 11, 1804, and proceeded on in their quest to reach the Pacific Ocean.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2004-06-01 12:04:00

Question: Got another idea for a Kansas day trip?

ANSWER:  Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie? Where can you discover all of this and more? Where else but Kansas? Abilene Kansas has a proud and colorful history. It's reputation as the "wickedest & wildest town in the west" developed as hundreds of cowboys arrived in town along the historic Chisholm Trail during the late 1800's. The name Abilene means city of the plains and was selected from Luke 3:1 in the Bible by Eliza Hersey, the wife of Abilene's founder, Timothy Hersey. Their home was the first to be built in Abilene, along the banks of Mud Creek (the Hersey's home is preserved in the basement of the Lebold Mansion). Hersey established Abilene as a small dugout and log cabin hamlet and stagecoach stop in 1857. It was a crude little frontier village of about 300 when it was "discovered" by Joseph G. McCoy and the cattle traders as the railroad was pushing west. It grew almost overnight into a booming city of 3,000 with the largest stockyards west of Kansas City, more than a dozen saloons, gaudy night clubs, gambling houses, thriving mercantile businesses, and hotels. Over 3 million head of Texas Longhorn cattle arrived in Abilene between the years of 1867 and 1872 to be shipped east by rail. Tom Smith and Wild Bill Hickok became famous for their attempts to maintain law and order on Abilene's legendary Texas Street.As the official end of the Chisholm Trail, Abilene has grown from a small cowtown community to a thriving town of 6,500. Thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Abilene each year to tour museums, attractions and mansions in the hometown of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It offers many Antique Shops, and Bed and Breakfast's to add to its uniqueness and attractiveness. Abilene is located at the end of the junction of Interstate 70 and K-15 Highways. Looking for summer activities for the kids? Send them to Pioneer Camp at The Heritage Center of Dickinson County. The Heritage Center is a unique collection of two in-door museums that continue on out-the-back-door where you will find actual buildings from around the county, all depicting life on the Plains during the American pioneer movement and westward expansion periods. Children second through fifth grades can experience the ways of their ancestors in Heritage Center's cabin setting that involves participants in cooking, cleaning and other daily living activities required 100 years ago on the Kansas prairie. Skills include churning butter and baking the bread to spread it on. Visitors to the center can also enjoy activities during the two weeks of the camps, adding to the education process as well as the fun had by the 'campers'. Sessions are June 7-11 & 14-18. Reservations are required and there is a fee. For more information, call The Heritage Center of Dickinson County 785-263-2681

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2004-05-01 08:19:00

:  Where can we day trip in Kansas?

ANSWER:  Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie? Where can you discover all of this and more? Where else but Kansas? Sedan is the county seat of Chautauqua County and is located on business US 166 and K 99. On the edge of the breathtaking Flint Hills, Sedan is surrounded by beautiful wooded hills and an active downtown filled with Victorian stores. It is located on US 166 in an area that was recently designated as a scenic route, part of the unique Tallgrass Prairie region historically home to the Osage Indians and known as "Red Buffalo Country". It looks much as it did in the late 1800s when cowboys were driving millions of head of cattle up from Texas.Established in 1876, legend says Sedan was named for Sedan, France, due to the similarity in the wooded rolling hills. In the 1880s a building boom resulted in the construction of many brick, sandstone, and limestone buildings downtown where you can visit and experience the world's longest yellow brick road. 10,700 yellow bricks circle the entire downtown area. The yellow brick road bricks feature celebrity names, a special Veterans section, 28 foreign countries, and all of U.S. The Yellow Brick Road Festival is held annually. This year's date is May 29th, 2004 and will feature a parade, Wizard of Oz characters, contests, food, shopping, and entertainment.While visiting Sedan, stop in the Emmett Kelly Museum, which honors a native son, the famous clown Emmett Kelly and his sad-faced character "Willie". The museum is located in the 1896 Opera House and includes a collection of memorabilia of his circus career.Farming, ranching, and petroleum are all important parts of the local economy, but in recent years tourism has become more and more significant. Over 50,000 visitors come each year to enjoy the scenery and attractions of the area many call the "Kansas Ozarks". Behind the Sedan tourism push is Bill Kurtis, a native of nearby Independence, KS. Kurtis, best known for his talents in A&E's INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, AMERICAN JUSTICE, and COLD CASE FILES, (a sub-series of Investigative Reports), calls Sedan his second home. Although he travels around the world for his stories, his 8,000 acre, Red Buffalo Ranch near Sedan, is where he roams whenever possible. The ranch sits in a corner of the nation's largest remaining tract of Tallgrass Prairie, a conservation project for Kurtis, whose commitment to the environment and to land restoration is paramount. He is in the process of helping to renovate the town of Sedan, as well as the site of the "Little House on the Prairie," nearby, which is owned by his family.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2004-03-01 14:01:00

: Can you give me some daytrip suggestions?

Ron Galliher Question: Can you give me some daytrip suggestions?Answer:  Our neighboring state of Missouri, you'll find some of the richest baseball history ever at the Negro Leagues’ Baseball Museum.The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum opened in Kansas City, Missouri in January 1991, located in the Historic Lincoln Building (18th and Vine Historic District). It is now housed at 1616 E. 18th Street, in the Museums at 18th and Vine complex. The museum has been the subject of several television, radio, and print media feature stories.The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum features a 10,000 square-foot multi-media exhibit. It includes two film exhibits, two video exhibits, and 15 computer interactive stations. The gallery is arranged on a time line of African American and baseball history from the 1860s-1950s. The museum's centerpiece is the "Field of Legends" which features 12 life sized bronze cast sculptures of the most important players in Negro Leagues history. African-Americans began to play baseball during the Civil War. They eventually found their way to professional teams with white players. However, racism and "Jim Crow" laws would force them from white professional leagues by 1900. Thus, black players formed their own teams, "barnstorming" around the country to play anyone who would challenge them.In 1920, an organized league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew "Rube" Foster, a former player, manager, and owner for the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster convinced seven other midwestern team owners to join him forming the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in eastern and southern states, bringing the thrills and innovative play of black baseball to major urban centers in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Negro Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and became centerpieces for economic development in many African-American communities. In 1945, Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Negro League shortstop Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson would be recognized as the first African-American in the modern era to play on a white professional team. While this historic event was a key moment in baseball and civil rights history, it also marked the decline of the Negro Leagues. The best black players would soon be signing contracts with the Major Leagues, and black fans followed.The last Negro League teams folded in the early 1960s, but their legacy lives on through the surviving players and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2004-02-01 16:25:00

: Where can I day trip in Kansas?

Ron Galliher Question: Where can I day trip in Kansas?Answer: Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie? Where can you discover all of this and more? Where else but Kansas? Set out on a journey and discover Pawnee Rock...just an easy drive away.   Many stories have been told to explain how Pawnee Rock got its name. One tale relates that it was sacred ground for the Pawnee Indians who held tribal councils on its flat top. Another describes a great battle in which a small band of Pawnees was destroyed by a force of Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Indians. Both of these attribute the name to events in Pawnee lore that occurred near the Rock. A tradition among white plainsmen was that the Rock received its name in 1826 from an embarrassing mistake by Kit Carson. At seventeen, Carson was on his first trip into the West. The wagon train with which he was working camped for the night near the Rock. He was given guard duty. In the dark, he shot his own mule, thinking it was an attacking Pawnee. His unkind associates commemorated his unfortunate experience with the name, Pawnee Rock.  Whatever the source of its name, the Rock was important to both Indians and Whites. Many of the Plains tribes reportedly used it as an observation point from which they could track and swoop down upon buffalo herds and wagon trains. At times, travelers on the Santa Fe Trail regarded it as the most dangerous place they had to pass. However, it was also a welcome landmark for travelers, signaling that about half of their journey was now behind them. Hundreds stopped to write their names in the soft sandstone beside the ancient drawings that the Indians had engraved. In 1848, James Birch, a soldier on his way to the Mexican War, wrote: "Pawnee Rock was covered with names carved by the men who had passed it. It was so full that I could find no place for mine." Pawnee Rock Unfortunately, much of Pawnee Rock was destroyed in the 1870s by the railroad and by settlers who were in need of building stone. The Woman's Kansas Day Club acquired the remaining portion in1908. The next year it was turned over to the State of Kansas as a historic site. On May 24, 1912, a stone monument was dedicated with great celebration before a crowd of some eight thousand onlookers.  Just an easy drive… Catch HWY 56 at McPherson, head west to Lyons and Ellinwood and continue through Great Bend. Pawnee Rock is located between Great Bend and Larned on HWY 56 right on the Barton-Stafford county line.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2003-12-01 10:58:00

: Where can I day trip in Kansas?

ANSWER: Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie? Where can you discover all of this and more? Where else but Kansas?    Set out on a journey and discover Kansas... just an easy drive away. Kaw Mission-Council GroveVisit the historic stone mission where 30 Kaw (or Kansa) Indian boys lived and studied from 1851 - 1854. The U.S. Government removed the Kaws to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, in 1873. The Kaws, known as "The People of the South Wind," gave our state its name. You can view exhibits that feature the history and culture of the Kaws and the Santa Fe Trail that passed nearby.   When the Santa Fe Trail was the great highway between the Missouri border, then the western limit of American settlement, and the Spanish town of Santa Fe, Council Grove was an important waypoint on the route. Situated on the Neosho River, it was a natural stopping place, well watered with abundant grass and timber.    At this grove in 1825 the U.S. commissioners negotiated with the Osage for a passage across their lands. This right-of-way, surveyed by the government in 1825-1827, became the Santa Fe Trail as it is known today, and from this council with the Osage the town took its name.   In 1846 a treaty with the Kansa or Kaw Indians gave them a diminished reservation twenty miles square that included the site of present-day Council Grove. Traders and government agents soon followed the tribe to the new location. Seth M. Hays, the first white settler at Council Grove, established his home and trading post in 1847 just west of the Neosho River on the north side of the Santa Fe Trail.   The treaty of 1846 had provided that the government would make an annual payment of $1000 to advance the education of the Kaw Indians in their own country. In 1850 the Methodist Episcopal Church South, which had ministered to the tribe since 1830, entered into a contract with the government, and construction of the mission and school building which was completed by February 1851.   The building was of native stone, two stories high, with eight rooms, and was designed to accommodate fifty students as regular boarders, in addition to teachers, missionaries, and farmers. School began in May 1851 under the direction of Thomas Sears Huffaker, a twenty-four-year-old teacher who had served in the same capacity at the Shawnee Manual Labor School near present-day Kansas City. Classes for Indian children were held until 1854, when the school was closed because of the excessive cost, $50 a year, of maintaining each student. The Kaw Indians never responded well to the efforts of the missionaries and sent to the school only boys who were orphans or dependents of the tribe. Girls were not allowed to attend. Members of the tribe considered the ways of the white man degrading to the Indian character.   During this period the school averaged about thirty pupils a year. Instruction was given in spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. The Indian boys showed facility in learning the principles of agriculture, but they received no instruction in the trades.   A treaty with the Kaw Indians in 1859 provided that the reservation be further diminished to an area nine by fourteen miles. These lands were relinquished in the 1870s, and the tribe moved to a reservation in present-day Oklahoma.   The mission building and grounds were sold to Thomas Huffaker in 1865, and he continued in possession for fourteen years. Thereafter, several individuals owned the property until 1926 when Carl I. Huffaker, a son of Thomas, bought the part on which the mission building stands.   In 1951 the Kansas legislature authorized the purchase of the mission property from Mr. Huffaker, and the Kansas State Historical Society, as trustee for the state, now operates it as a museum.    Directions: Just an easy drive on the Kansas Turnpike (I-35) North toward El Dorado/Kansas City.  Take the US-56 exit #147 toward Council Grove/Osage City.  Take a left on road 340, and continue on US-56.  This is approximately a 2 hour drive but the scenery and rolling hills are very enjoyable!

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2003-10-01 11:56:00

: Where can I day trip in Kansas?

ANSWER: Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie?  Set out on a journey and discover Kansas.   Take a drive to Dodge City for Octoberfest at Boot Hill, Saturday, October 4th.  Enjoy a day of German art and dancing at this accredited western-history village museum located on the original site of Boot Hill cemetery, complete with historic and reconstructed buildings. Life in the 19th century is interpreted through audio-visual programs, exhibits, a reconstruction of Dodge City in 1876 and old west restorations. The one-block reconstruction of Front Street, is the business district of Old Dodge City that was destroyed by fire in 1885. Carefully researched through historic photographs, the historic buildings include an 1879 cattleman's home and the jail from Fort Dodge. Exhibits, interpretive programs, and theatrical performances provide a glimpse into the town's early history when it was a buffalo hunters' trade center and, later, a cattle town. The Museum is currently in the planning stages to develop a new entrance, theater, exhibit gallery, store, and Old West Saloon and Steakhouse. Summer entertainment includes living history displays; stagecoach rides through downtown, gunfight re-enactments, and a Long Branch Saloon Variety Show. The Long Branch Variety Show and dinner are available year round for groups by reservation.    Just an easy drive on US Highways 50 and 56, pass directly through the city. US 54 passes just 30 miles south of Dodge City with access via US 400. I-70 access via US 83 from the West or US 283 from the East.

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-10-01 11:56:00

: My husband and I are very interested in wildlife. Where can we go to combine a vacation and wildlife?

ANSWER: There are many places to combine a great vacation and observing wildlife. Do you know what type of location you are looking for? Once you select a location, you can research what type of wildlife you may see there. You can also do this in reverse, if you know what animals you want to see, then plan your trip around where and when you can see them. It will be helpful to know the migration habits of the animal you are interested in, so you may have to do a lot of research.    The one place with the most choices for natural wildlife is Alaska. The Alaska season is pretty short, from mid May - mid September. You can see everything from different types of whales to sea lions, elk, moose, dall sheep, and more in a very short time. Another great place for ocean wildlife is Hawaii. The whale season in Maui is at it peak Jan.- March. Other times of year you can see hundreds of birds, sea turtles, and dolphins. Gray whales can be seen off the coast of Southern California Jan. - March on their way to the warm waters of the Baja area of Mexico. A great “land wildlife” continent is Africa with lions, water buffalo, zebras and more.    During summer and fall months, whales and sea lions are generally in cooler waters, so think Northern Pacific and Northern Atlantic coast lines - Nova Scotia, Victoria Canada or the Puget Sound of Washington State are all good places. In the winter months, when the ocean is icy, these mammals move south. They will migrate to warmer waters like Hawaii or Mexico. There, they will have their babies. So if you’re lucky, you will see a calf or two.    There are many tours to help you get close up views of any wildlife you’re looking for. These companies have a high interest in both the animals safety and yours. I would suggest you take only an escorted land tour in Africa or Alaska to get the most for your time an money.

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Travel

Ron Galliher

2003-09-01 10:08:00

: Where can I day trip in Kansas?  

ANSWER: Where can you find proof that the dinosaur roamed, see and sample elderberry wine, locate the perfect fishing hole, and see bison grazing on an open prairie? Where can you discover all of this and more? Where else but Kansas?   Set out on a journey and discover Kansas...just an easy drive away.     Fort Hays was an important U.S. Army post that was active from 1865 until 1889. Originally designated Fort Fletcher (after Governor Thomas C. Fletcher of Missouri), it was located five miles south of present-day Walker, Kansas, and became operational on October 11, 1865. Troops stationed at Fort Fletcher were to protect the stage and freight wagons of the Butterfield Overland Dispatch (BOD) traveling along the Smoky Hill Trail to Denver. Despite the presence of the soldiers, Southern Cheyenne and Southern Arapaho Indians continued to attack traffic along the trail. David Butterfield, owner of the BOD, went bankrupt as a result of these attacks, and the line was abandoned. Since the Smoky Hill Trail was no longer in use, Fort Fletcher was closed on May 5, 1866.  On October 11, 1866, Fort Fletcher was reopened approximately 1/4th mile north of its previous location, at the confluence of Big Creek and the North Fork of Big Creek. The Union Pacific Railway, Eastern Division, was being constructed westward roughly paralleling the Smoky Hill Trail and the construction workers needed the protection of the U.S. Army. In December 1866 Fort Fletcher was renamed Fort Hays in honor of Brigadier General Alexander Hays, who was killed during the Civil War. As the railroad approached Fort Hays, it became apparent that it would pass approximately five miles to the north of the post.   The army wanted the fort to be used as a supply depot for other forts in the area and therefore needed it to be located close to the railroad line. In the spring of 1867 a flood nearly wiped out Fort Hays killing nine soldiers and civilians. Two weeks later, on June 23, the new Fort Hays near the railroad right-of-way was occupied. With the arrival of the railway a few months later, the goal of a large supply depot to service forts to the south and west was realized.   In addition to its supply role, Fort Hays was a base for troops defending the railroad and white settlements in the area. Nearly six hundred troops were stationed here in the early years. Some of the famous figures associated with the fort included Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, General Nelson Miles, General Philip Sheridan, and Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. It was also the home of several well-known Indian wars regiments such as the Seventh U.S. Cavalry, the Fifth U.S. Infantry, and the Tenth U.S. Cavalry, whose black troopers were better known as buffalo soldiers. After twenty-five years of service, Fort Hays was abandoned on Nov. 8, 1889.   Today four original buildings survive: the blockhouse (completed as the post headquarters in 1868), guardhouse, and two officers' quarters. A modern visitor's center also helps interpret the significance of Fort Hays to the forty thousand visitors that the site draws each year. The museum was opened in 1967 and is administered by the Kansas State Historical Society.   Just an easy drive…Take Highway 135 North to Highway 70 West at Salina, to Hays. Or take your time and enjoy the scenic route, which will treat you to vast fields of sunflowers, wheat fields, through the town of Hutchinson (home of the Kansas State Fair) where you will take Highway 96 through Great Bend to Rush Center. There, you will head north on Highway 183, cross the Smoky Hill River to Old Fort Hays. Towns are sparse, and the hours of business can be short. September in Kansas can still bring temperatures in the 100's, so make sure that your car's air-conditioning is in proper working order.

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-09-01 10:08:00

:  I want to take my family on a cruise. Are there any family-friendly cruises? Can we go ashore without kids? Is childcare on the ships expensive?  

ANSWER: The right cruise is a great idea for family reunions and vacations. Cruises offer so much for everyone. Kids can have pizza or chicken nuggets while you dine on lobster in the dining room. Kids’ activities as well as family and adult entertainment, sandy beaches and unlimited food are included.    There are a number of cruise lines with children's programs on them. Your decision on cruise line and ship will depending on the age and number of children you are taking. Since most of today's cruise lines have many ships, I would recommend a travel consultant to help you decide.   For example, Carnival Cruise Line has 17 ships in service right now. Royal Caribbean has another 17 ships. Disney Cruise Line has 2 ships. Norwegian and Celebrity also have good family ships. With almost 50 ships between these cruise lines, you may have to narrow your search by itinerary, length of stay, or budget. All have great children's programs, but each ship and cruise line is different.   Many ships have huge children's areas, complete with video game rooms and computers. A staff with degrees in education operate all the children's programs. The programs are spilt into different age levels, so 3-year-olds are not underfoot of the 12-year-olds. Disney is the only cruise line that offers a program for infants under 3 years old. All other cruise lines’ programs start at 2 years old and children must be potty-trained. Royal Caribbean has some ships that offer inline skating, ice skating, miniature golf and rock climbing walls. Keep in mind only five of the ships in the whole fleet have all of these attractions on board. The skates, putters, and supervision for the rock-climbing wall are provided free of charge. Carnival Cruise Line is popular for it’s huge slides into the main pool, great fun for kids of all ages.   The ship you choose can make a big difference because of the cabin size. Carnival has the largest standard cabins afloat, and will allow up to 5 passengers in most of the cabins. The extra bed, a roll away, is free of charge and can be arranged easily. Disney and Royal Caribbean do not offer roll aways on their ships. If you are traveling with 3 kids on these cruise lines, you may need another cabin or a suite. Prices for a cruise will vary according to ship and cabin type. Ask your travel consultant for help on deciding. Don't decide on price alone! You get what you pay for, even on cruise ships.   The children's programs are free of an additional charge from 8 am - 10 pm on the ships. There is a small charge for after hours, but usually only $5-8 dollars an hour. I know I am not the night owl I use to be, so it doesn't add up to be much extra. During the day, kids will play board games, have organized scavenger hunts, play pool games, and have pizza parties. Parents need to sign younger children (under 12) in and out. Teens are free to "hang out" in the Teen Club and they can come and go as they like. There is always an adult around in the Teen Club too. You can go off the ship without the kids in most ports without an extra charge on some cruise lines. The best part of a family  vacation is creating memories together. Start planning a family cruise today by calling a travel consultant!

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-08-01 11:02:00

: My husband and I would like to travel abroad, but are afraid to because of recent events. What are the risks of traveling while the threat of terrorism is still so high? Are some countries safer than others?  

Trish DeDamos    Question: My husband and I would like to travel abroad, but are afraid to because of recent events. What are the risks of traveling while the threat of terrorism is still so high? Are some countries safer than others?   Answer: I understand your concern, and I have heard this before. I can't help but feel you are being misled by the media hype about travel safety. Personally my family and I have traveled on a dozen trips within the last two years. We are still safe and sound. My teenage children have even flown by themselves to visit their grandmother. The "threat of terrorism" is no higher than it was three years ago; it is just in the forefront of the news. In fact, I read in a recent report there were only 199 terrorist attacks reported worldwide in 2002. This is the lowest number of incidences in 30 years. The average American has a greater chance of being killed in a car accident or having a heart attack, than being seriously hurt while traveling. With the increased security in the last two years, for the most part, it is even safer to travel today than it was three years ago. In 2002, not one American tourist was killed while traveling aboard a U.S. airline carrier, in the U.S. or in a foreign country. I suggest you call a travel consultant. They will be able to do the research to suggest hotels and tour guides that will be American-friendly. Travel consultants are very aware of safety issues and there are many destinations to choose from. I know of many people who really love to travel, and are still doing just that.    You can certainly protect yourself with a few extra precautions. Trip and travel protection is available to protect your vacation investment. This type of protection covers things like terrorism, cancellation fees due to illness, bankruptcy of travel companies and even lost or stolen luggage. Trip protection companies also provide you with 24-hour emergency help. Check with the U.S. State Department for warnings for U.S. travelers at http://www.travel.state.gov/. There are only 4 or 5 warnings worldwide on the web site currently. There are many counties that you can travel to that love Americans. Most are familiar with and speak English well so you will feel comfortable. Countries like Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Australia, England, and Scotland to name a few. There are only a few countries you should be very careful of, such as Philippines, Iraq, and Iran. There are other things you can do to insure a safe trip:

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-07-01 16:09:00

:  I want to take my family to Disney World and Florida, what do I need to know?

ANSWER: Disney World Florida is a very complex resort and theme park Mecca. Plan your Disney vacation in advance, as it is a very popular destination.  During certain times of the year, the choice accommodations are booked up. Peak periods for Florida are Christmas-New Years', Thanksgiving, spring break (March), and the summer months. For maximum convenience and savings, package vacations are available.   A typical package includes round-trip airfare, accommodations at a wide variety of hotels, rental car and admission to the theme parks. If you choose to stay off-site, the best values are the multi-day 'Disney Park Hopper Plus' passes. If you stay on-site, you can purchase 'Length of Stay' passes, called "Dream Maker Packages", available only if you are staying at one of Disney's 20 different resort properties.  These passes offer early park admissions on certain days. Convenient transportation is provided from your hotel by ferry, monorail, or bus to all the Disney parks. Many of Disney World's hotels could be viewed as attractions themselves with elaborate themes carried out in Disney fashion down to the smallest detail. Families with small children will appreciate the benefits of a convenient mid-day "nap break" so that little ones won't miss the spectacular evening fireworks or laser light show. Hotel prices range from modest to deluxe, both outside and inside the parks - you can even stay in a log cabin or camp out wilderness style inside the Disney Park.    There is a cost savings by staying outside the park. Comfortable and affordable accommodations are available for those in the know. Many of the hotels close to Disney offer shuttle transportation too. A good travel consultant can help you sort through the entire list of hotels, condos and rental home options available to you.    Disney World consists of 4 main parks. Visit the Magic Kingdom to enjoy Cinderella's Castle, Space Mountain, Spectro Magic Parade and other exciting adventures. Take a trip into the future at Epcot; visit Test Track, Honey I Shrunk the Audience or a trip around the world in Epcot's World Showcase, where you can visit 11 different countries in a day. Disney-MGM Studios features movie-based thrill rides like, The Rock n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Twilight Zone's Tower of Terror, and Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3-D, plus amazing stunt shows. Disney's Animal Kingdom is the newest major park. Visit Dinoland, Kali River Rapids, and Tarzan Rocks. Be sure to visit the Kilimanjaro Jungle Safari and the other animal exhibits early in the morning. Animal Kingdom is more than a zoo.    Other Disney entertainment located in the area is called Downtown Disney. Restaurants include Rainforest Cafe, and Wolfgang Puck's. Pleasure Island is mainly for adults and older teens. There is a cover charge after 7 pm. If you love high-tech video games try Disney Quest with seven stories of pure fun. Disney also offers Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach; water parks for a little wet fun if the days get too hot. For Dad, 6 golf courses, multiple lakes and other sporting options are available in Disney World as well.   Don't forget about the rest of central Florida: Universal Studios, Sea World, Discovery Cove, Kennedy Space Center, and cruise options. The attractions are many, and most are just a short drive. You will want some help to sort through all there is to see and do. Disney offers a detailed course to travel agents called "The College of Disney Knowledge". Look for an agent that has passed the course and has visited the parks.   Your Disney/Orlando vacation can be anything you want it to be - educational, thrilling, or relaxing family fun. Remember, you need to plan ahead to enjoy all the most popular attractions. Start planning your Disney dream vacation today!

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-06-01 16:04:00

:  Are there any cruises where you get to see much of the “mainland” of Alaska? When is the best time to visit Alaska?

ANSWER: The best way to start to answer this is with a little geography coarse. Alaska is the largest US State; it is one-fifth the size of the lower 48 States combined. Fairbanks to Anchorage is roughly 360 miles, about a 6-hour drive one way. Seward, the port where the cruise ships dock, is 130 miles from Anchorage. There are over 12 National Parks and Wildlife Refuges in Alaska alone. Misty Fjords National Monument is 2.3 million acres in size. Seventeen of North America’s 20 tallest mountains are in Alaska. There are 75,000 glaciers in Alaska. Thirteen spectacular glaciers flow into the waters of Glacier Bay National Park. As you can tell, plenty to see and experience!One of the best ways to see the most of Alaska is a cruise-tour; a combination of a 7-day cruise along with a land tour. You can choose tours that vary in length between 3-6 nights. Each cruise-tour has different stops and transportation included, so it is best to consult a travel agency familiar with these types of trips. Ships can only sail along the coast, so the best way to see “mainland” Alaska would be with a cruise-tour.    An average 7-day cruise will sail the bays and Inside Passage but will also stop at places like Ketchikan, Juneau, Valdez, and Sitka. You can see those port cities and neighboring areas while stopped for the day. Escorted shore tours can take you to places where you can walk on Glaciers or take a Jeep Safari in to the deep back country to view wildlife. Maybe for the more adventurous, kayaking sounds like fun. You can do that too while in port. To see Anchorage, Fairbanks or Denali National Park you need to add extra nights to your cruise. Since you’ve already traveled all that way, staying the extra nights is well worth it.    The best time to visit Alaska can vary depending on your desire and length of stay. Prices vary by season, ship, cabin type and advance booking sales. The best weather is normally July, but the rates are usually higher then. May and September are much cooler and are a better bargain. Since Alaska’s cruise season in very short, May - September, it is very important to book in advance. Contact your local travel agent to reserve an Alaskan trip that fits well with your individual requirements.

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Travel

Trish DeDamos

2003-05-01 11:49:00

:  I am looking for a vacation and have no idea where to go.  Where do I start?

ANSWER:  A great vacation starts with great planning. Your choices are many, the right travel consultant can help you narrow down your choices. Researching your trip online is fun, but it can take you hours. When it comes to small details of your all-important vacation, the advantages of working with a travel consultant are numerous. Travel consultants can offer you the benefit of their globetrotting experiences; the scoop about the weather you can expect; package deals including air and a range of itinerary options; one-stop shopping for air, car, attractions and hotel reservations; and, last but not least, peace of mind. They are your saviors and advocates when travel plans go awry. Not every travel consultant is great. Some destinations may not be their specialty. Here are some points to help you find the travel consultant of your dreams, your “soul mate agent” if you like.     Good consultants are patient, ask lots of questions, maintain rigorous quality standards, are forthright about a destination's drawbacks, and have a genuine interest in clients' feedback. Good consultants will entertain your dreams with an open mind and present a range of options. Good consultants have many repeat clients. Seek out someone who feels like a kindred spirit; their opinion will jive more closely with your likes and dislikes. After all it is your hard earned money, right?     -Start planning well in advance. I recommend 9-6 months depending on destinations. If your travel dates are around a major holiday start 10 months in advance.     - Consider length of stay, weather, budget, the dates you will travel, number of people taking the trip and type of room you want. Is an ocean view or balcony very important? Can you stay a week or 3 nights?     - Gather basic information about your possible choices. Talk to friends, relatives, visitor's bureaus, or visit web sites. Keep in mind destinations and resorts change.      - Think you have it narrowed down? Call a travel agency to get general prices and more details. You may call a travel agency about your budget. You may have a $3000 budget, but your “dream trip” will cost a lot more. A good travel consultant can tell you where you may be able to go with your budget.     - When shopping around, look for service NOT price. If you called 3 times and your calls are not returned find better service.      -Does the agency have convenient hours for you?      -When shopping compare “Apples to Apples“; A 6 star resort on the beach with great airline connections is not the same as a 3 star across the street from the beach with poor airline connections.     - Most travel agencies can match any price with in reason. Of course the “Apples to Apples” rule applies.      - Don’t forget to make a deposit. A small deposit will hold your space and price from increases. Availability and prices are subject to change until the deposit is paid. Sales end and you don’t want to miss them.  Some of the media has suggested no one is traveling but that is not the case.      -Ask your travel consultant about cancellation fees. ALL tour companies and travel agencies will charge you a small cancellation fee, if you need to cancel your vacation. It is rare for any package made with a travel agency to be 100% non-refundable. The exception: reservations made within 14 days of departure.      - Make sure you have proper proof of citizenship for your travel plans. Passports can take up to 6 weeks. You need an original birth certificate for a passport to be issued. Your travel consultant will help you get these documents if required, but is your responsibility to bring the required proof of citizenship to the airport when you travel.Remember, a good travel agency and great travel consultants will help you with all of this and more. Have a great trip!

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Travel

Arlin Hill

2001-05-01 17:43:00

Question:  What can you tell me about Puerto Vallarta? I  have a neighbor that returned last month and had a great week.

Answer:  Puerto Vallarta is the largest town in the immense Bahia de Banderas resort area on the Pacific Coast. It is situated on the Bahia de Banderos Bay, which is the largest natural bay in Mexico. Until the 1960’s, only a small number of fishermen and vacationers visited regularly. Puerto Vallarta came to the worlds attention when John Huston filmed Tennessee Williams classic "The Night of the Iguana". It was actually filmed in the deserted cove of Mismaloya, which is a short boat ride from Vallarta.  I saw a documentary on 'American Movie Classics" showing Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and the cast being shuttled back and forth by boat each day during filming. Burton and Taylor built houses across the street from each other. Since the publicity created by the movie, and Burton and Taylor having houses in Vallarta, it was transformed from a quaint fishing village into a full-fledged resort city. It has dozens of large luxury resorts, fancy restaurants and trendy boutiques. It is still has the quaint flavor of the bygone days with its cobblestone streets, red-tile roofs. palm-covered mountains, and deep blue bay.Question:  What is there to do?Answer:  There are many sandy beaches and facilities for parasailing, shooting, scuba diving, sailboarding, fishing (the fishing is fabulous), golf and tennis. After relaxing on the beach, the lights and sights of the city begin to call. There are a surprising number of art galleries, with many interesting original works. You can take a tour of  the homes in Gringo Gulch, which is where vacationers from the U.S. were building homes in the 60's.  Your guide will  point out the houses that Dick and Liz built.  Take a day boat trip to Yelepa, Polynesian-style village which cannot be visited in any other way.You can take the cruise to the Marietta Islands... one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world.  In addition to the great bird-watching, the snorkeling is incredible because of the great variety of fish.  There are horseback riding tours.  One travels through river beds and unpaved roads that includes a variety of natural wonders, from quiet rain forests and towering mountains to crystal clear river streams.Question:  What about the shopping and food ?Answer:  Crafts from all over Mexico are available, in addition to the local crafts made from sea shells, paintings, blown glass, pottery and some Huichol Indian embroidery. The seafood is fantastic (shrimp is king).  You will find it all, with everything from Italian and Japanese to Polynesian.Question:  Is it safe?Answer.  As with any destination it is not safe to walk alone at night on the beach or any secluded area. I would do your sightseeing with an escorted tour group.  While the hotels have security and the Puerto Vallarta police patrol regularly, prudence will always be your best guide.Question:  How are the flight schedules and when is the best time to visit?Answer:  There are connecting flights via Dallas or  Houston, or Non-stop charter flights from Kansas City and Dallas.Puerto Vallarta is most popular from November through June with the average high temperature in the low 80's and not much precipitation.