Leaving Leavenworth

We have finally, sadly, excitedly moved on from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas!!
Saying goodbye to the area and base housing wasn't very difficult, although we didn't really have any serious issues living there. Saying goodbye to our friends was painful. One of our friends and I keep saying that we're still deceiving ourselves into thinking it's just a short separation. Hubs and I are social, of course, but we didn't expect to make such lasting bonds with people (let alone Army people haha) and friendships. We heard people say that the Command and General Staff College year would be the best year of our lives, and as far as the community we built around us, it definitely was the best. The military really gave us an opportunity to connect with like-minded families and for Baby A to become the social little man he is today and we will always be grateful.

While I'm on the subject of Leavenworth, I figured I'd make a list of things we really enjoyed this year that might be worth a try if you're ever in the area!

1. Meriwether's
Everyone in Leavenworth will tell you that Meriwether's is the place to go for coffee and donuts. It's a lovely little place to meet with friends or get some quick work done in town. There is also a little kids area so that if you bring your little with you, they can be entertained with a few toys and games. 

Baby A with his BFF and neighbor when we met and just before we moved in Meriwether's

2. SLAM
If you're a mom or mom-to-be in Leavenworth, you should definitely hit up a Stroller Strong Moms class or two! You'll be hooked on the boot-camp-like atmosphere that is very encouraging and you'll certainly find a friend there. I decided we needed to get out of the house more in the winter and finally agreed to go to a SLAM (sweat like a mother) class with a friend. Little did I know how many more friends that I (and Baby A) would make there, and I felt much better for the day since I got out and got moving. 

Getting use of our jogging stroller because of SSM and having fun with friends (a Dad is a SLAD)!

3. Omaha
Somehow it took us until the end of our time there to make it to Omaha, but it's definitely a fun overnight trip. We started with the zoo, which could easily take up your whole day if it's crowded. We also went to Omaha's downtown area, which is very walkable and touristy, as well as ordered food from a yummy place called Jams through Uber Eats. This was another good Airbnb opportunity and we stayed at the Loomis House, a small historic mansion. Lastly, if you want to drive a little further, you could also go see the Bridges of Madison County on your way back through Iowa. We also walked along a bridge that connects Nebraska and Iowa with a symbolic line you could stand on for a photo!

Standing on the border of Nebraska and Iowa!

Zoo fun with our neighbors in Omaha!

4. St Louis
Only a 4 hour drive away, St Louis is a really cool city with a lot to see and do. We typically do an AirBnB (check out the Urban Roost, we have stayed at their properties 3 or 4 times now and are never disappointed). Obviously, you should check out the Gateway Arch, for which the city is known. The park around the Arch is beautiful and along the river, and you can even go up inside the Arch! But then you should definitely check for the food there (soul food is plentiful) and the Tower Grove Park area. The evening sunlight streaming through the trees in that park is so evocative of my childhood memories in the best ways.

 5. Green Dirt Farm
If you're looking for something closer and a quick but delicious bite to eat, Green Dirt Farm is what you want. It's a small storefront where you can eat inside or outside, try some Terravox local wine, grab some local honey, and enjoy the beauty of the land just over the Kansas-Missouri border. If you're very into the sheep cheeses, you can even schedule a tour of their actual farm. It's also only a few minutes away from downtown Weston, Missouri, which is worth a little walk down their main street or a beer at the brewery. 

 6. West Bottoms, Kansas City 
West Bottoms is a fun little part of KCMO in the old industrial area of the city. There is shopping and food to be had, and even a place where you can throw axes for fun! Definitely worth an exploratory jaunt.

7. Johnson County History Museum
This museum in Overland Park is a good way to spend a few hours in Kansas. It includes an actual model home from the 1950s that was meant to show the "all-electric" modern touches one could get in their home back then...which I loved! But there is also a big room with tons of things for kids to touch and see called Kidscape which is included with the museum admission.

8. Chicken N Pickle
This restaurant (and game place?) was a lot of fun and I wish I'd known about it earlier because it was perfect to take the kids to and still have a beer. The games are simple, like pickleball, oversized Jenga and Connect Four, hula hoops, and corn hole, so little ones like our toddlers were able to have fun. Most of the place is outside so they can't make too much mess or get into anything, and the food is delicious but also kid-friendly. Chicken N Pickle is on the north side of the city, as well, so it's not that bad of a drive; major plus with a toddler in tow.

9. River Market
Anyone will tell you the farmer's market in KCMO is worth an early morning drive. There are a lot of vintage wares to be had, fresh produce and meat, and flowers. It's a large market and you'll be hungry/in need of coffee, but there is plenty in the square on offer as well as the surrounding blocks. Definitely check out The Farmhouse for breakfast one day to start you off!

10. Deanna Rose
Deanna Rose is a preserved farmstead complete with little shops like a Blacksmith and gift shop as well as a baby goat feeding area (that my son did NOT enjoy but everyone else seemed fine). Kids love it even if all they do is ride around in the complementary wagons, and it has a lot of animals on display that make it almost zoo-like. 

11. Urban Table
We ate here a few times; Open Table reservation recommended on holiday weekends for brunch but it was SO yummy and definitely worth driving to Overland Park to eat here. We went for Easter and they had a special brunch menu, but they change their specials often and everything we ate was great.

12. WWI Museum
We did things a little backward and went to the National WWII museum in New Orleans first, but we finally made it to the National WWI museum in KCMO and really learned so much. The visit coincided with hubs' lessons at school so he was very interested and it wasn't so large or overwhelming that we couldn't get through it with a toddler in tow.

13. Union Station
My son loves trains. LOVES TRAINS. So we had to go here because all the way in the back is a large collection of model trains and landscapes that kept him (and his father) entertained for a long time! Union Station has a lot going on all the time, including Science City (which was a little over my little guy's head as a 1 year old), eateries, and rotating museum exhibits.
     

14. The Depot
Leavenworth definitely is small but The Depot is worth it for a yummy local breakfast. They have interesting decor from when the place was the train depot and serve a big ole cinnamon roll!

15. Truman Library 
If you have an open weekend day, a trip to Independence, MO is only a little further than most of your drives from Leavenworth and you can see President Truman's library, which is beautiful and elucidating. After your tour the library, you can zip over to view the Truman's residence in town, too. 

If you find yourself in Kansas or the surrounding areas, I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did. Fair winds and following seas, Leavenworth!

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