Brace yourself, dear reader! In the coming weeks, you’ll be inundated with blog posts about my most recent travels. Dear Husband and I just got back from an amazing trip, and the first stop, oddly enough, was Lawrence, Kansas.
I only say “oddly enough” because it would never have occurred to me to go to this town were it not for the fact that one of my oldest, dearest friends (Hi Jen!) lives there. We hadn’t seen each other face to face in 43 years, so it was high time I made the effort. We flew into Kansas City Airport, which isn’t far away at all.
I knew I’d enjoy our visit with my friend, of course, but I wasn’t expecting to be so charmed by Lawrence. Unless you are a Jayhawks fan or have friends in the area, it’s not one of those cities that would be on the average person’s bucket list, but perhaps it should be. It’s a college town, full of history and some neighborhoods with gorgeous houses complete with gingerbread embellishments. The historic district has quite a few quirky shops and restaurants, too.
In particular, I recommend J. Wilson’s for dinner. It had me at “farm to table”, and it didn’t disappoint. (I’ve yet to eat at a restaurant of this type that did disappoint.)
We were really hoping to have breakfast at the Ladybird Diner the next day, because I’ve long been charmed by the things they post on Facebook. Not only does their food look tantalizing, but their overall philosophy is right up my alley. They really care about their community. Alas, they were full of customers who had descended upon the town for a football home game, so it wasn’t to be. If my friend weren’t already an adequate reason to come back, this diner would be. Instead, we ate at WheatFields, an artisan bakery and café, which should by no means be considered a consolation prize. We had delicious breakfast bowls and then couldn’t resist leaving with some fresh olive bread.
Proof positive that I’m a nerd: I really wanted to visit Lawrence’s amazing public library. Its staff is very creative in coming up with ways to serve the public. They even offer SAD lights in the wintertime! Their facility is amazing. We also popped in to the local Unitarian Universalist Church and met some very nice people there, and then we went to the Baker Wetlands, which were such a treat that it’s a story for another post.
Of course, I paid special attention to all the art I encountered while visiting this town. Check out our pictures, below. (And yes, in this case, I do think bread is an art form!
If you’re ever in their neck of the prairie, I encourage you to check out Lawrence, Kansas. It’s a nice little town. It’s a pity so many people just fly over it. They are missing out.
Travel vicariously through this blog. And while you’re at it, check out my book! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5
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