We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Toto.

Oh, yes we are!

Welcome to the Sunflower State!

Also known as the Jayhawk State, the Wheat State, and the Midway State. Kansas grows more wheat than any other state. Yum, I can smell the hot fresh baked bread now! Known as the Midway State because in Lebanon, Kansas in the middle of a hog field, there's a marker that marks the geographical center of the lower contiguous 48 states.

When I saw the words, "Quirky Kansas" I knew I had to check it out. And what did I find there but a couple of things that Claudia would love. Like the largest Giant Van Gogh replica! It's a replica of one of his sunflower paintings. It stands 24' x 32'! And, the world's largest ball of twine! I feel like we're in the movie Michael with John Travolta! The ball of twine has a 40' foot circumference and weighs about nine tons. Now that's big!



This September marks the 33rd Annual Huff-N-Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally on Lake Shawnee in Topeka. Topeka is the capital of Kansas. The Combat Air Museum looked like a place my boys would like to go! With 32 aircraft's dating back to WWI to present day.

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas and they have the 12th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival coming up July 18th & 19th. They'll have all the usual festival events with aerobatic performances and a fireworks show after dark. It looks like good ole home fun!

And when we're done there, we can head over to Dodge City to celebrate Dodge City Days. It's a ten day festival with everything cowboy. Rodeos, barbecue, gunfights and the Boots, Beer and Bikini's Beach Party.... okay, not all things cowboy... well, you're supposed to wear your boots! Well, anyway, we can pretend to be Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok and shoot up the OK corral!

Of course, we can always head over to Kansas City (not on the Missouri side) and have some of their famous barbecue! I think I'm still on the Kansas side but who knows! We can go and gobble up some ribs at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ- it sounds and looks delicious! Don't let the fact that it's in a gas station scare you... uhm.... I'm a little scared.



The last stop I have for you on our Kansas tour today is Wilson Lake. My maiden name is Wilson. So, when my mom went on her trip a couple of weeks ago, she got to pose by the sign where she is obviously claiming it as her own. Wilson Lake has everything to meet our camping, boating, fishing, hiking and hunting needs. It back to nature!

There's just a little taste from me. What's your favorite part of Kansas?

Fun facts for the State of Kansas are:
The state animal is the Bison.

The state flower is the wild native sunflower.

The state bird is the multi western meadow lark.

All Jayhawkers meet on the sunflower deck on Friday, June 27th to tell us what makes Kansas the Taste of USA!