On our way home from Branson, my wife and I carved out a single day to explore a little bit of Kansas City. Why not? It’s on the way. And even in that short window, the city delivered plenty!
Our first stop was Union Station, the kind of building that makes you slow down whether you planned to or not. Soaring ceilings, massive stone arches, and a lobby that feels like it was built to impress travelers from every era.
It’s part museum, part event space and part living piece of history. The building is still one of the most photogenic spots in the city.
The model trains were especially amusing and captivating as they chugged along their intricate tracks, weaving through beautifully crafted landscapes and miniature towns that sparked the imagination.
From there, we hopped onto the RideKC Streetcar, which is free (a rare and beautiful word in travel) and glides through the heart of downtown. It’s an easy way to get a quick sense of the city without dealing with parking or traffic. We rode it up to the City Market, one of the oldest public markets in the Midwest.
I’ve actually been to KC before but it was my first time seeing the Union Station inside and riding the streetcar. Great visit! Until next time!
A quick dash to Branson, MO has its own kind of charm, especially when winding out of Bentonville on that roller‑coaster stretch of Ozark highway. That alone was quite an experience!
With only a single day to spare, we made a beeline for Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, one of the crown jewels of the Branson area. We drove a golf cart to sight-see.
Perched high above Table Rock Lake, it’s part nature preserve and part museum complex. Everything is polished, scenic, and designed to make you stop and stare. Between the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, the sweeping views, and the cave‑filled golf cart trail, it’s basically a highlight reel of the region’s natural beauty and deep history.
Oh, I should mention driving through a cave. They have a cocktail bar inside! I thought that was a hoot!
After soaking in the views, we headed into town for a totally different vibe at Branson Landing. This waterfront shopping and entertainment district sits along Lake Taneycomo and feels like Branson’s modern, lively side. There are restaurants, shops, and a boardwalk that’s perfect for strolling.
Branson may be famous for its shows and family attractions (which we unfortunately didn’t have time for) but even a quick trip delivers plenty of scenery, history, and fun.
My wife and I attended a wedding in Bentonville, Arkansas a few days ago. And since I have not been on this side of the world, I thought it would be great to sight-see a little bit as well. We had three days to spend, so here are some places we visited…
Walking from where we parked to the Bentonville Square, I couldn’t help but notice these two things… a building decked with butterflies. How cool! And then there’s this vintage Airstream food truck that provides free meals to the community.
Okay, first stop… the Walmart Museum on the Bentonville Square. Sam Walton’s original five‑and‑dime store still sits, frozen in time like a retail time capsule. It is Americana and part of American history.
I’m kicking myself for not taking more photos of the museum and the square. Oh well…
Next up was the Peel Museum & Botanical Garden. A Victorian‑era mansion turned museum, surrounded by peaceful gardens that make you forget you’re in the middle of town. It’s the kind of place where you wander slowly, admire the architecture and step into the 1800s… with air conditioning.
I am utterly captivated by old technology and the exquisite artistry that went into their design. These are just a couple things I saw inside the mansion. Again, kicking myself for not taking more photos.
Then we headed to The Momentary. This contemporary art space was built inside a former cheese factory. Right now it’s featuring National Geographic artists, which means the galleries are full of jaw‑dropping photography and immersive visuals.
The next day, we walked through Compton Gardens & Arboretum. It’s a shady, peaceful trail system honoring Dr. Neil Compton, the conservationist who helped save the Buffalo River. Lots of trees, sculptures, and the kind of quiet that resets your brain.
Then came the Museum of Native American History. This place is a gem! Free to enter and packed with artifacts spanning thousands of years. Arrowheads, tools, clothing, pottery… it’s a deep, respectful look at the cultures that shaped the region long before Bentonville was Bentonville.
On our last day in Bentonville, it was time soak in the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. I’ve been excited about this one since before we began our trip. If Bentonville has a crown jewel, this is it. The building itself is a piece of art! It’s tucked into the woods like it grew there.
Inside, you get everything from colonial portraits to modern installations.
Of interesting note is this painting of GW from 1797 titled “George Washington (The Constable Hamilton Portrait).” It once belonged to Alexander Hamilton (yes, that one!) and reflects the friendship among the nation’s leading citizens.
Wait… does this image look familiar? Pull out a one-dollar bill and look at the photo. This painting helped establish an image of the first president as a powerful leader.
And then outside there are trails and sculptures. They make it feel like a nature walk with bonus masterpieces.
And finally, the Bachman‑Wilson House. A fully reconstructed Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home, moved piece‑by‑piece from New Jersey to Arkansas. Minimalist, geometric, and somehow both futuristic and retro at the same time.
At the end of it all, we’d walked miles, seen centuries of history, and confirmed that Bentonville is way more than a corporate hometown. It’s a full‑blown cultural hub, one that sneaks up on you in the best way.
Hey, I’m running a little late, okay? Got caught in traffic. Yes, yes, bison. They’re everywhere! On the road, in the fields, you name it! It’s like someone shook a bag of buffalo chips and dumped them out everywhere. People are half hanging out their windows with phones and cameras like they’re on safari.
And since it was a parking lot anyway, I just got out of the car myself for a quick snapshot of the view. Unreal! I’ll show you when I get there.
Oh man! Cars are lined up in both directions, but no one’s honking because, well, nobody wants to be the person who explains ‘airbag deployment by angry bison’ to their insurance company.
Every few minutes the herd shuffles forward three feet and all of us dutifully move our cars three feet, as if that’s going to make a difference. So funny! At this rate, the bison will evolve into a new species before I hit the next light.
Listen, the big ones are strolling down like they own the flippin’ road! Calves trotting along, totally oblivious that I have somewhere to be. Just a minute ago, I was getting visibly annoyed when one massive dude stopped in front of my hood and stared at me as if saying this is my last day on Earth!
So I reciprocated with an apprehensive smile, muttering behind the windshield… ‘All good, buddy. All good. Take your time.’
Whew! So anyway, if anyone asks why I’m late, just tell them it’s nothing major, just good ol’ Wyoming traffic.
Somewhere on Mark Chapter Six (Urban Edition) is a cool story. Check it out!
Five thousand needy individuals had unwittingly halted some entitled Christians’ plan to enjoy some well-deserved nap time. After all, they’d put in a hard day’s work that day.
Great! Perfect timing, they thought.
Not wanting to forgo their hard-earned timeout, they grumbled to Jesus, “Yo buddy, it’s late and we’re hungry! Can you please tell ’em to go away? Pretty please? With a cherry on top?
Hey, we can even tell they’re hungry, too. Look, there’s a Taco Bell on Via Dolorosa & 2nd Ave. They can buy a Cheesy Gordita there, y’know? Cheap eats!
But Jesus turned around and shot back like a stoic Terminator, “Nice try, homies! I say you share your dinner with them instead. Capish?”
They retorted, “Wait, what? Duuude! Sooo unfair, man! Should we spend our own money on this much food and give it all to strangers?” I mean, some of these folks could be, y’know, undeserving bad apples. Maybe even the worst of the worst! ((wink wink))
But Jesus didn’t budge. And they eventually gave in to his demand. After all, he’s the King of Kings!
Now there is a miracle that culminated in the end. But we’ll only experience it ourselves if we as well dare to follow Jesus’ command… Help people. Feed people. Even at our expense. No excuses.
It’s been pretty tense around the world lately so I thought I’d lighten up the mood a bit. So, what’s on my mind today? Well… Rush, actually. The rock band, that is!
Rush is one of my all-time favorite bands and I’ve seen them 5 times. They’re going back on tour this summer with a new drummer and I’m sad I’ll miss it as ticket prices have gone out the lunch! Though as much as I’m a fan of them, or any group for that matter, I was never a fanatic. I appreciate music from a distance, and that gives me a lot of freedom.
I remember the second time I saw Rush. It was the summer of 1990 at Irvine Meadows in CA (first time was in ‘88). Another band I really admired, Mr. Big, opened for them. Alex and Geddy even came out to do backing vocals with them on their song, Addicted to that Rush. So cool!
But the interesting part was this… a friend of mine won backstage pre-show passes to this gig from a radio show and decided to tag me along. So we went and were there 3 hours before the show started. Backstage! It was a party and you get to hang with the entire crew for a few hours. This was before smartphones so people actually interacted instead of taking selfies. I saw my friend chatting with Alex Lifeson from a distance. But me? Well, I was busy helping myself to some fancy vittles on the buffet. Then, I remember some dude with long blond hair approaching me as I dropped a hunk of rib eye on my plate. And since I’m a nice guy, lol, I decided to put my plate down for a sec to shake his hand. Then, he introduced himself… I’m Pat Torpey. Nice guy. He probably won passes too, I thought.
It was the last day of my whirlwind Texas road trip and Fort Worth was the last stop. So the choice was obvious. The Stockyards. Walking through its brick-paved streets felt like stepping back in time. Once the hub of cattle drives and livestock trading in the late 1800s, the Stockyards became the beating heart of the Texas cattle industry. By the early 20th century, it was one of the largest livestock markets in the world, shaping Fort Worth’s identity as “Cowtown.”
Today, the history lingers in every detail: the longhorn cattle drive down Exchange Avenue, the old pens turned into shops and restaurants, and the aroma of barbecue drifting through the air. I wandered past saloons and rustic storefronts, imagining the bustle of cowhands and traders who once filled these streets.
Though my visit was brief, the Stockyards offered a vivid snapshot of Texas heritage—equal parts living museum and lively entertainment district. One day was enough to feel the grit, charm, and enduring spirit of Fort Worth.
I spent a day in Dallas exploring some of its most historic and thought‑provoking spots. My first stop was the Dallas County Courthouse, a striking red sandstone building known as the “Old Red.” Its castle‑like towers made it feel more like a landmark than just a courthouse, and it set the tone for the day.
From there, I walked over to the JFK Memorial Plaza, a simple yet powerful monument. The stark concrete walls created a quiet space for reflection, honoring President Kennedy’s legacy in a way that felt both solemn and timeless.
Nearby was Dealey Plaza, the site forever tied to history. Standing there, surrounded by the familiar landmarks, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the events that unfolded in 1963. Just steps away, the Grassy Knoll offered another perspective—one of those places you’ve heard about countless times, but seeing it in person makes the story more real.
I did not go inside the Sixth Floor Museum as time didn’t permit. It is housed in the former Texas School Book Depository. It was deeply sobering and emotional even to just view it from the ground.
To balance the heaviness of the day, I headed to the Reunion Tower, one of Dallas’s most recognizable landmarks. From its observation deck, the city stretched out in every direction, a reminder of Dallas’s modern energy alongside its historic past.
I wrapped up the trip by hopping on a tour bus through downtown, a quick but fun way to take in the city’s highlights. Skyscrapers, bustling streets, and pockets of art and culture rolled by, giving me a snapshot of Dallas in motion.
It was a short trip, but each stop added a layer of understanding. Dallas offered not just sights, but stories, reminders of how places can hold memory and meaning long after the moment has passed.
It was the summer of ‘88 at the Palace theater in Hollywood, I saw Ace Frehley (his band Frehley’s Comet, actually) in concert. I was front and center! Yes!! Resting my elbows on the stage platform, I could smell the smoke coming out from his guitar. It was surreal for a kid who grew up on all things KISS.
Surprisingly, for the encore, he brought out Peter Criss to play drums on Deuce. Anton Fig graciously got up his throne to make way for him. He even offered his sticks but he declined. Peter motioned that he was going to use his own.
At the end of the song, Peter, the rock star that he is, catapulted his sticks towards the audience… classic! They eventually reach their destination, but not before hitting a couple stage lights along the way. Whizzzzz!!! Bang!!! Bang!!! Buzz!!!! Buzz!!! Lights out! Ace looks back at him smiling like the proud brother that he is.
Meanwhile, us in the front of the SRO ballroom all took cover lest shards of glass from the bulbs landed on our heads. Good thing it was all clear. Whew!
Now, what goes up must come down. And the sticks promptly fell back down to Earth (see what I did there? Wink wink!). Lucky me, I caught one of them like a falling meteor (sorry!).
Looking back now, the Ace of Space could have tossed his smoking Les Paul instead. That would’ve been much more appreciated and… outta this world (oopsie!)!
