Hilo, Hawaii is located on the eastern coast of the Island of Hawai’i. Hilo is a great place to base your Hawaiian travels because it is close to Volcanoes National Park. Visitors come to Hilo to get away from Kona which is the touristy side. Hilo has a more local vibe and was definitely more my pace.  I’m no expert when it comes to Hilo or Hawaii in general. I stayed in Hilo for nearly a week and explored the town and surrounding area pretty thoroughly. Interested in what to Do, See, and Eat in Hilo? Here are some of my recommendations and how we spent our time exploring the town of Hilo.  Traveling to Hilo Visitors can fly directly to Hilo International Airport, located just outside of town. Most flights to Hilo International will come from Honolulu but there are direct flight to Hilo from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  We flew from Haneda to Honolulu and then to Kona International Airport. Both Jill’s and my parents flew to Kona as well from different parts of the United States and we met in Kona. From Kona, it’s about a 1.5 hour drive along Saddle Road. What’s the Weather like in Hilo? Based on our experience while staying in Hilo, the most appropriate term for the weather in Hilo is “Wet.” In fact, Hilo is considered to be the United States wettest city. Hilo is on the windward side of the Big Island so moisture from the ocean gets trapped over Hilo because of the slopes of the nearby volcanoes.  It didn’t rain the entire time, but it showered off and on almost daily while we stayed in Hilo. Each time we drove the Saddle Road back into Hilo, we always got to a certain spot where we were hit by weather, at that point, we knew we were getting close to town.  What to Do, Eat, and See in Hilo Things to Do and See Around Hilo For being a small town there is plenty to do, eat, and see in Hilo. Hilo is a great place as a base to venture off to attractions and other beautiful areas. Hilo is close to Volcanoes National Park, but there is so much more to see in the general area. Below are some of the attractions and sites that we did while spending a week in Hilo.  Check out the Scenery at the Boiling Pots A little over 1.5 miles from Rainbow Falls is the Boiling Pots. Like Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots are part of the Wailuku River. This section of the river has several pools that were created by cooling lava. The name Boiling Pots was given to this area because after torrential downpours, the water races over the pools giving an illusion that the water is boiling.  This is a free attraction, there is a large parking spot right in front of the Boiling Pots, so visitors don’t have to trek to the lookout point. Word of caution, I’ve seen this everywhere, but the river below is very dangerous, be smart, don’t hop any fences and stick to the designated paths.  Enjoy the Black Sand at Hilo Bayfront Beach Park Within walking distance from downtown Hilo is the Hilo Bayfront Beach Park. This is a black sand beach. Black sand is a result of nearby volcanic activity and minerals in the area that eventually breaks down into fine sand. Looking at the water from this beach, it did not appear to be ideal for snorkeling as the water was murky. But swimming, kayaking, canoeing, or just strolling the beach are all acceptable! The day we visited  Hilo Bayfront Beach Park, there was a huge event going on. Explore Kaumana Caves In the same general area as the Boiling Pots and Rainbow falls is the Kaumana Caves. This is another free attraction, where visitors can actually enter the caves at their own risk. We parked across the road, walked down the steps and entered the first cave we saw. These lava tubes formed after a lava flow event from Mauna Loa in 1881. I’m not sure how far these caves go back. We managed to hike through one cave and entered a part of the cave where we had to crawl to the next chamber. From here we walked the lava tube for a bit, before there was another section to crawl through. At that point, we didn’t feel like getting any dirtier then we already were and decided to turn around.  There are no lights, trails, or any safety measures within the cave. My recommendation is to bring a head lamp and hiking gear. Don’t go in without a plan.  Go for a Swim at Carlsmith Beach Park Usually, when traveling, you always find the best places on the last day. Locals recommended visiting Carlsmith Beach Park to see turtles and enjoy beautiful ocean scenery. If we knew about this Carlsmith Beach Park earlier on, I guarantee we would have made daily stops in the morning, this park was that beautiful. It was tucked away in a cove away from the large waves crashing on rocks in the distance. The waters here were calm, clear, and perfect for swimming.  Look for Sea Turtles at Richardson Ocean Park One of our main goals while in Hilo was to visit a beach in hopes of spotting sea turtles. We asked locals and they confidently suggested Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park. With no luck with spotting turtles at Carlsmith Beach Park, we quickly moved on to Richardson Ocean Park. The beach was crowded with swimmers, so our hopes quickly diminished. We then found a large tidal pool toward the back of the park and stumbled upon not one but four Green Sea Turtles. Apparently, they come to this beach during high tide and sometimes get caught in the tidal pools at low tide. No worries though, there was plenty of water and protection where we found them. We kept our distance from them while they rested, but sat there for several minutes in awe. I mean it’s not every day you see giant sea turtles both swimming around the ocean and resting on the rocks.  Relax and Enjoy a Cold Brew and Hilo Brewing Company One of my favorite activities to do while exploring a new city is checking out the local brewery. Hilo just happened to have their own brewery, Hilo Brewing Company. They had eight beers on tap. I ordered a flight, which apparently included a tasting glass of each beer on tap, so 8 samples! Of the 8 beers I tried the Kanaloa Imperial IPA and the Tsunami IPA were my favorite.  Sample Fruit and other Delicious Treats at the Hilo Farmers Market One of my most recommended activities in Hilo is a trip to the Hilo Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is open from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm daily.  The Hilo Farmers Market is a big local market. One portion of the market is full of vendors selling jewelry, arts, crafts, souvenirs, and clothes. While the other half of the market which is personally more down my alley, is the food portion. The food part of the market was full of vendors selling local produce, fresh fruit, sweets, coffee, and many other wonderful treats.  We sampled banana fried lumpia, goat cheese brownies, and rambotan which is a tropical fruit with a red outer shell and white fruit inside. Everything we sampled was delicious!  Stroll through Hilo’s Downtown District Honestly, we didn’t spend to much time wandering downtown Hilo. It seemed most the activities around Hilo were nature related. But after browsing the market, and while waiting for restaurants in the evening we did walk around the main part of town. There were a few cute shops worth stopping in. For the most part I would recommend coming here in the evening for dining and maybe bar hopping.  Take Photos of Rainbow Falls A visit to Rainbow Falls was one of my favorite sites in Hilo. The falls was a short drive from where we stayed. We liked Rainbow Falls so much we came twice. The second time around I had to try and get some long exposure shots of the waterfall and I think they turned out pretty good!  Rainbow Falls is an 80ft waterfall above a lava tube. Like the Boiling Pots it is located in the Wailuku River. Visiting Rainbow Falls is as easy as it gets. There is a nice parking area right by the falls. Visitors have to walk just a couple of feet to get a nice view of Rainbow Falls. Each time we went, it wasn’t crowded.  Walk Coconut Island Coconut Island is a small island in Hilo Bay. It is connected to land by a pedestrian bridge. It’s not a major tourist attraction, but a visit to Coconut Island makes for a nice morning walk. The island has a few tiny beaches, picnic area, and restrooms. The views from the island are great, you can see Hilo and the surrounding area. It was here where we saw a huge Dogue de Bordeaux. My parents have one back at home, one of our favorite breeds. His owners were very friendly and he was having the best time swimming and digging in the sand.   My Recommended Restaurants I’m not sure if Hawaii is known as a foodie paradise, but we managed to find some pretty good restaurants around Hilo. Hilo had a nice variety of restaurants from your typical dive bars serving burgers to cafeteria style places offering local dishes. I’m no expert in dining around Hilo but below are some of the restaurants we tried while in Hilo. I’d have to say every restaurant we went to was very good!  Ken’s House of Pancakes  Every since living in Japan, I’ve been craving the American Diner. After all, the American Diner is one of my favorite things in America. We stopped at Ken’s House of Pancakes for breakfast, not once but twice while in Hilo, it was that good. We visited once on a Sunday and there was a waiting list but the second time we visited during the week and were seated right away.  Ken’s House of Pancakes serves up typical diner food like omelets, pancakes, etc.. First time around I had a three egg omelets with hash browns and pancakes, it was fantastic! The second time, I had their homemade corn beef hash and it surprised me.  They have a menu they call Sumo for those with a huge appetite. I believe everything is doubled in size. So my omelet would have been made with 6 eggs and twice the hash browns and pancakes. I love to eat and can put down some food, but I didn’t even attempt the Sumo, maybe next time!  Kuhio Grille As their site states, “Home of the Famous One Pound Laulau.” This was perhaps my favorite meal on the Big Island. Both my dad and I were searching for Laulau, and Kuhio Grille came up. Laulau is a dish that originated in Polynesia where the meat is cooked in taro leaves. Traditionally the meat consists of shredded pork. I had the Hawaiian Laulau that came with poi, lomi salmon, and pickled onions and haupia. The poi which is a paste made from taro root was interesting. I wouldn’t say it was amazing but it was alright, it didn’t have much flavor. But the laulau was fantastic! The meat, even the leaves was so flavorful. Easily one of my favorite meals I’ve had in a while. The staff at Kuhio Grille was awesome as well, they were very informative and told us all about the origins of the dishes and how they are made.  Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine was never on our radar until we went grocery shopping. This restaurant was across the street from where we were. It was jam packed and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves,

Waipiʻo Valley, is perhaps one of the most stunningly beautiful locations in the Unites States. Dramatic cliffs with waterfalls give way to the blue ocean, below is a lush valley with access to a remote beach. Unfortunately, for visitors, access to the bottom of the valley is prohibited after a geotechnical assessment was done deeming the narrow road unsafe. Just because access to the valley is off limits, does not mean visitors should skip out on visiting this natural beauty. There is a lookout that is free to the public that offers incredible views of Waipi’o Valley. If staying in Hilo, it is highly recommended to take a day trip and drive to Waipi’o Valley and take time to explore other sites and attractions along the route.  The Drive to Waipiʻo Valley from Hilo The drive to Waipiʻo Valley is an easy one from Hilo. It’s just under 50 miles and takes about an hour to reach by vehicle. Hawai’i Belt Road (Hwy 19) is the main road between the two destinations. Hwy 19 follows the coast the majority of the way, there were so many overlooks, waterfalls, hidden valleys along the road. I wish we stopped alongside the road to grab photos of the waterfalls and valleys along Hwy 19, but there was never really any good place to park so we managed to push forward and stop at other designated attractions, beach access locations, and food stalls along the route to Waipi’o Valley.  Places Worth Stopping Along the Way You could spend days visiting all the attractions, hiking trails, and exploring the east side of Hawai’i. But in reality, we only had a day to explore the sites between Hilo and Waipi’o Valley. Other then a stop at Akaka Falls and Donna’s Cookies, we didn’t have a set itinerary. Our goal was to drive to Waipi’o Valley and make random stops along the way. Below is an itinerary of our drive to Waipi’o Valley and the stops we made along the route. These attractions are in order departing from Hilo. After a visit to Waipi’o Valley, we drove west toward Waimea before making our way back to Hilo. I say we because I was with my parents along with Jill and her parents. We rented a minivan, big enough for six and made multiple day trips throughout the week we were on the Big Island.  Onomea Bay Cruising along Hwy 19 just outside Hilo we spotted  a sign that said Scenic Drive. We decided to veer off the major highway and take the scenic bypass. The road name for the scenic road is Old Mamalahoa Hwy. Yes, the scenery from the road was beautiful but the road itself was in poor condition. The scenic road was 4 miles long, full of potholes, tree branches touching the roads, and tight corners. But we came across a trailhead that looked intriguing. The trailhead was for the Onomea Trails. The trail was only 0.6 miles, so we decided to hike to the bottom. It was worth it, the views of the coastline were incredible. The black rocks, jagged cliffs, palm trees, and black sand beaches were all well worth the hike. For the most part the Onomea Trail was easy, the beginning was a bit steep and there were slushy spots, but nothing to difficult.  *Both photos I took of Onomea Bay were taken using a Long Exposure shot with a Neutral Density Filter.  Akaka Falls State Park If you only had one attraction to visit on the Hilo side, then I’d recommend visiting Akaka Falls State Park. Akaka Falls is the second tallest waterfall on the Big Island at 442 ft. If you are curious Hi’ilawe Waterfall is the tallest waterfall at 1,450 ft. Unfortunately, Hi’ilawe is difficult to access. Akaka Falls on the other hand is easily accessible.  There is a fee to access Akaka Falls State Park, but it’s worth it. The fee is $5.00 per person and the park is open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.  To fully appreciate the beauty of Akaka Falls, visitors need to hike a short 0.4 mile loop trail through rainforest. No need to worry, you won’t need a machete to clear a path. There is a well maintained concrete path. There are stairs along the trail, unfortunately it is not wheel chair friendly. Those that are able to walk, it’s a beautiful hike. Along the hike there are small waterfalls, glimpses of other tall waterfalls in the distance, bamboo forests, and lush green rainforest. The first half of our hike was wet as we walked through the cloud forest. But it only makes sense that it was raining in the rainforest.  When arriving at Akaka Waterfall, there is a platform with an overlook and a roof covered rest area. Once we reached the overlook, the views of the waterfall were blocked by thick clouds, this just added to the experience. About ten minutes of waiting, the clouds cleared and we were rewarded with incredibly clear views of the waterfall and the lush greenery surrounding the falls.  Laupahoehoe Beach Park One of the more unexpected stops along our drive to Waipiʻo Valley was Laupahoehoe Beach Park. As I was navigating Hwy 19 I saw this beach park pop up on Google Maps. It was a slight detour from the highway but well worth. Laupahoehoe Beach Park has several things going for it. It is a campground, has stunning coastal views, fascinating trees, and a very big dog!  We basically came to this beach for the views but stayed longer then expected because we met a friendly resident. This resident was a 220 lb. English Mastiff. At first, we saw him and thought he belonged to a nearby camper. But we got to talking with a local and he said no one owns the poor guy, he doesn’t even have a name. He’s been living on the beach for at least 4 years. He was well fed, I bet he gets a lot of grilled treats from campers. He was happy playing in the sand, swimming in the ocean, and begging for food. I mean does life get any better than that? Apparently, a vet came by at some point to check up on him, they weighed him at 220 lbs. found him to be healthy, he wasn’t hurting anyone so they released him back to his beach!  Other then petting the beautiful English Mastiff, we wandered the coastline a bit. The ocean views here were gorgeous. Waves crashing over the jagged rocks, made for great photos!  There was also a huge Banyan Tree at the park. The banyan trees in Hawaii are so much larger then the ones I’m used to seeing in Okinawa, they were fascinating.  Donna’s Cookies Continuing along out drive to Waipi’o Valley, we stopped at a small road side bakery called Donna’s Cookies, that specialized in homemade cookies.  Jill has been to the Big Island before and she raved about Donna’s Cookies. Needless to say we were all thrilled to try them as a mid day snack.  Because of Covid, Donna’s Cookies was only doing take out. They had a service window where you could order the cookies you want by bags, jars, and even containers. They sell your typical cookies: shortbread, chocolate chip, macadamia nut, almond, and the list goes on.  After sampling more cookies then I’d like to admit, I’d have to say the cookies were just alright, sorry Jill!   Waipi’o Fruit Shack How can you visit a tropical island without sampling tropical fruit and drinking coconut water straight from a coconut?  On the way o Waipi’o Valley, there were several fruit snacks. One that really caught our attention was Waipi’o Fruit Snack. It was somewhat perched on a hill and consisted of a small fruit shack surrounded by hammocks, benches, and a duck that would walk around the grounds. The atmosphere definitely had a chill and relaxed vibe.  We shared a fruit platter with fresh mango and pineapple. For myself, I got a coconut. I find coconut water to be refreshing. After sipping down the water, the individual working the stand chopped it in half, gave me a leaf as a spoon, and showed me how to eat the meat of the coconut. All in all, it was a fun experience and the fresh fruit just fit perfectly with our day!  Waipiʻo Valley As the saying goes, “It’s all about the journey and not the destination.” This was most definitely true in regards to our drive to Waipi’o Valley. The journey from Hilo to Waipi’o Valley was incredible. The waterfalls, driving the coastline, huge dogs, and amazing landscapes all made this day trip one to remember!  For visitors, Waipi’o Valley is just a lookout, but the views from here are out of this world. Standing at the lookout and seeing the valley with the steep cliffs, blue ocean, rugged terrain, lush vegetation, it was so picturesque.  Earlier this year, 2022, the Waipi’o Valley Road leading to the valley below has closed permanently to visitors due to safety, this includes both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.  One recommendation I have is that the weather on the East Coast of the Big Island changes rapidly. One minute, you are blessed with blue skies and sunny weather, the next minute a storm can roll through with heavy rain and thick clouds. When we first arrived at the lookout the skies were gorgeous with perfect temperatures. 15 minutes later, clouds rolled in, the temperatures dropped, and it poured rain. I was lucky enough to get a few decent photos of Waipi’o Valley before the low-lying clouds swept through. Below are two photos I took, probably within 10 minutes of each other. On the other hand, if the weather is not ideal, wait a few minutes and hope the weather clears.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store.  Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! 

Kansas the Sunflower State or the state that everyone wants to drive by as quickly as possible when cruising along I-70. Kansas gets a bad reputation since most people think of Kansas as being flat, boring, agricultural, and having no nature or attractions. I to had the same misconception regarding Kansas until I actually moved and lived there for nearly eight years. That’s right, I moved to the Kansas City area for work right after college and have a lot of wonderful memories of this state.  If looking at a map of the United States, Kansas is pretty easy to identify as it is nearly in the center of the Continental United States. It is a long rectangular state bordered by Nebraska to the north, Oklahoma to the south, Missouri to the east, and Colorado to the west. The capital of Kansas is Topeka, and other notable cities include Wichita and Kansas City, KS. For the most part Kansas is relatively flat and covered with a mix of agricultural lands and high plains. About one third of eastern Kansas is hilly with a surprising amount of forests and water. I was fortunate enough to live in eastern Kansas near the Missouri border and it was a beautiful area. By living in Kansas for almost eight years, I made an effort to explore the state as much as possible to show others that Kansas does have a lot to offer and isn’t as boring as we all make it out to be.  For starters, Kansas is a big state, so driving is a must. Like most US States it lacks any decent public transportation, so expect to drive and drive a lot. The towns are spaced out, so distances between cities/towns and any sort of attraction tend to be quite far. With all this in mind, I want to share some of my favorite cities/towns throughout Kansas, ones I feel are worth visiting and a few other attractions related to nature. My hope is that this post will motivate anyone driving through Kansas along I-70 to not just rush through the state and take some time to explore some of the sites that are not well known throughout Kansas.  Topeka Lets start with the Capital City of Kansas, Topeka. Topeka is a decent sized city yet is not really known for anything. Most people in the Kansas City area have never even been to Topeka. To be honest, I’ve driven by it a dozen times and never really stopped until one day I decided to take a day trip to Topeka and see the Capitol Building. While doing research, I found that Topeka is home to the Brown V. Board of Education Museum and the Evel Knievel Museum.  Kansas State Capitol – Construction on the Kansas State Capitol began in 1886 and ended around 1903. Today, you can visit the capitol building and walk up 296 steps to the top of the dome. Although the tour is a guided one, the entrance is free.  Brown v. Board of Education Museum – 1954. Brown v. Board, was a U.S. Supreme Court case decision stating that it was unconstitutional to segregate children in public schools. The museum was free to enter and explore. The staff working here was very intelligent and informative.  Evel Knievel Museum – Who knew that Topeka hosted the Evel Knievel Museum. From a local radio station and others, I heard this was a really good museum and well worth a visit. To be honest, I’ve never really been an Evel Knievel fan, but my wife’s family seemed interested in it so we went. I am glad we did because I found it to be fascinating. The museum was two floors and was full of fun information and authentic memorabilia that belonged to Evel Knieval. The museum has “Big Red,” some of Evel Knievel’s original helmets, bikes, merchandise, and an interactive display  showing all of his injuries. In his lifetime he had 433 fractures and other injuries. I wouldn’t say I am a big fan of Evel Knievel after visiting the museum but I do have a lot of respect for him now and find his stunts, personality, and lifestyle fascinating.  Norseman Brewing Company – After spending a day sightseeing, a beer is always necessary. I love Vikings and Norse Mythology, so I was stoked that Topeka has a brewery named Norsemen Brewing Company. Why the name in Topeka and not some place in Norway? Who knows. Either way, this brewery lived up to it’s name. I felt like I was drinking ale in a long house. The beers were all satisfying!  Wichita Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, about a three hour drive from the Kansas City area. While on a mission to see as much of Kansas as possible, I had to visit Wichita at some point. I was actually quite surprised by this city. It had quite a few attractions that were really memorable and quite a few good breweries. I would say a weekend in Wichita is plenty.  Tanganyika Wildlife Park – This wildlife park or zoo is actually in Goddard, KS but it’s close enough to Wichita. What makes this zoo unique is that you can have small interactions with selected animals. Some of the interactions included feeding the giraffes, tossing carrots into a hungry hippo’s mouth, and Jill’s favorite, giving cranberries to the lemurs.  Museum of World Treasure’s – I have a weird fascination with oddities and historical events and heard this museum had the scalp of George Custer’s nephew, Henry Armstrong Reed. Other then a scalp, this museum has a large collection spanning multiple floors. Other items on display include Ivan the T-Rex, shrunken heads, Egyptian mummies, American President signatures, Roman coins, and much more!  Hopping Gnome and Central Standard Brewing – My first night in Wichita I stopped at Hopping Gnome brewery. I like this brewery mainly because their name and logo. A short walk from here is Central Standard Brewing which might be my favorite brewery in Kansas. Their beers were all strong and flavorful!  Kansas City, Kansas and the Metropolitan Area I lived in the Kansas City metro area and greatly enjoyed my time here. The Kansas side does not have the attractions and entertainment like the Missouri side of Kansas City but there are quite a few things to do. Indian Creek Trail – The Indian Creek Trail is a 22.5 mile urban trail that follows the Indian Creek in Olathe, Kansas. There are many trails that branch off the main one. The trail is primarily wooded and goes by the occasional park and neighborhood.  Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden – The Botanical Garden in Overland Park is quite nice. I went here a few times and really enjoyed how they incorporated the gardens with the surrounding nature. There is a large pond here with beautiful walkways and flowers/plants scattered throughout. Outside of the actual gardens there are nature trails where you can walk for miles. I highly recommend bug spray though during the summer as I always got bit by mosquitos here.  Shawnee Mission Park – This urban park consists of 1,250 acres of nature, trails, and other fun outdoor recreational activities. Shawnee Mission Park has a 150 acre, visitors can access the lake for fishing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and they even have a beach for swimming. Shawnee Mission also has a 44 acre off leash dog park with trails and access to a dog beach.  Lawrence A 30-40 minute drive west of Kansas City, is the college town of Lawrence. Lawrence is most known for being home of the Jayhawks. I’ve been to Lawrence several times, it is a nice escape from the KC metro area. Massachusetts Street –  or Mass St, is the main street in Lawrence where you can find all the shops, restaurants, and bars. It’s fun to walk up one side and down the other and pop into a couple local stores.  Watkins Museum of History – This is a free museum and is located in a beautiful historical building. There are three different floors, visitors can freely walk around. The information and exhibits are primarily local to Lawrence and Douglas County and range from Civil War artifacts to local sports memorabilia.  Free State Brewery – Free State is supposed to be the first brewery in Kansas and is very popular amongst locals. This brewery is two stories and serves tasty beer and fantastic food.  Grinter’s Sunflower Farm –  Just outside of Lawrence is Grinter’s Sunflower Farm. This farm has become a very popular attraction in the area and visited by many people come August time frame when the sunflowers are in bloom.  Lindsborg Lindsborg’s claim to fame is their connection with their Swedish heritage. Every other year the town of Lindsborg hosts the Svensk Hyllningsfest. The Svensk Hyllningsfest is a town festival where people gather to eat traditional Swedish cuisine and participate in traditional events. I came to Lindsborg for the fest and I felt a bit underwhelmed. Another nearby attraction is Coronado Heights which is a small castle perched on a hilltop. It is said that the Spanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado ended up here before returning to Mexico.  Hutchinson Hutchinson Kansas is a typical farming community located about an hour north of Wichita. For being in the middle of Kansas, Hutchinson has a few surprising attractions that are well worth a visit. Strataca – This is America’s only underground salt mine that is open to visitors. I’ve been to salt mines in Europe (Sondershausen, Germany and Wieliczka, Poland), and this one was just as impressive. You take an elevator 650 feet below the surface and then can freely wander the mines.  Cosmosphere – The Cosmosphere is a space museum and is a pretty amazing museum. It has 13,000 items on display. Some of the more noticeable items on display are a SR-71 Blackbird, Mercury-Redstone 4, the Command Module Odyssey from Apollo 13, and many more.  Dodge City Dodge City has a wild reputation with the Wild Wild West. Fort Dodge was established here in the 1860’s to aid and protect travelers from local Indian tribes. Since then, it’s been known as your typical western town. “Get the Hell out of Dodge.”  I took a road trip from the Kansas City area to Santa Fe to meet family there and stopped in Dodge City for lunch and to see some what this town had to offer. Since I was in Kansas, I have wanted to visit Dodge City. I remember reading one of those travel lists of the best small town in every state and Dodge City was the representative for the state of Kansas. In all honesty, it did not live up to my expectations. There was a fun museum and brewery in town. But other then that the down town was less then desirable and there was not a whole lot else going on. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend visiting Dodge City from I-70, but if you find yourself a little farther south then visiting the Boot Hill Museum is worth an hour of your time.  Boot Hill Museum – This is an open air museum replicating Dodge City during 1876. There are a few buildings to enter like a jail, saloon, and a school.  Dodge City Brewing – This was the highlight of my stay in Dodge City. This brewery at the time was fairly new. The inside was nice and open and their beers were very good. The best part of this brewery is their logo, it’s a little cowboy with a hop as his beard.  Nature and State Parks Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark –  About 25 miles to the south of the town of Oakley, KS is Monument Rocks. Technically, the park is on private land, but the owners are kind enough to open it to visitors during the daylight hours. So definitely treat the area with respect and leave no