Local travel planners share their insights for planning great trips in the Grand Central States.
Kansas
I work in Wamego, which is home to the Oz Museum as well as the Columbian Theatre, which has some rare paintings from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. We also have the OzWinery and Toto’s Tacos. You will have to stroll along our yellow brick road to the Friendship House for some wonderful baked goods.
In the area there are lots of things that we love to visit. There are a couple of retired missile bases that have been converted into homes. Subterra Castle in Dover, is one of them. It is pretty easy to schedule a tour.
Cathy Stauffer
Bank of the Flint Hills
Arkansas
Often times we forget what is in our own backyards. Recently, our groups have loved traveling to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. It seems like every day we get a call for a student group or church group wanting to visit the incredible exhibits Crystal Bridges has on display. It is something completely unexpected, but definitely a must-see!
Haleigh Harrell
Little Rock Tours
Missouri
Our group spent the day just outside of St. Louis at the historic Faust Village, where we had a step-on guide who brought the rich history alive. Right next door we enjoyed an afternoon visiting the Sophia Sachs Butterfly house, and our group enjoyed feeling young again with two rides on the 1920 St. Louis World’s Fair Carousel.
A trip our group always reminisces about is our travels by way of Amtrak to Kansas City to visit the Hunt Midwest Underground. We talk about the amazing Sea Life Aquarium, Hallmark Visitor Center and so many other venues. The one that took our breath away was the National World War I Memorial and Museum.
Annette Isgriggs
Bank of Sullivan
Missouri
We have a couple of trips that our travelers enjoy. One is the town of Versailles. I offered this a couple of years ago on a monthly dine-around for my clients, and they requested we visit this town again. It has interesting businesses and a Mennonite lady who works as a step-on guide to introduce them to the interesting shops and culture in that area. And we cannot forget the great food at the Mennonite restaurant.
The second location is Warm Springs Ranch. We usually try to visit in the spring when there are baby Clydesdales that have been born over the winter and early spring. The clients are just fascinated with the size of the animals.
Louise Yoder
Mid-American Coaches, Inc.
Oklahoma
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a must-see for nature enthusiasts who enjoy seeing deer, turkeys, bison, prairie dogs and other animals in their natural habitats, uncaged and unbothered. Visits to Historic Medicine Park and Fort Sill are great destinations for all ages, too.
Tammie Ferguson
Love in Action Travel
