I will never forget the time I was talking to a friend when I was visiting Washington DC and I told her she should come visit me in Kansas City. She laughed and said, “Let’s meet anywhere else.” Shortly after, she asked me why I lived here and when I would leave.
As miffed as I was, I cannot entirely blame her. I didn’t even realize all that was here in the Midwest until I had been living here for about 5 years. I loved the vibe of Kansas City, the kind people, and the culture, but outside of the things in the city, I thought the Midwest was flat wheat fields as far as the eye could see.
Traveling is my absolute favorite thing to do, so my husband and I would save up each year to go to a big exotic location far, far away. This and a few small weekend trips each year were enough for me to continue to enjoy living here even if it was “flyover country.”
Then our world turned upside down when we had preemie 27-week-old twins that spent over 3 months in the NICU. We were slammed with medical debt and daycare expenses and medically complicated children, which made it much more difficult to jet set off to Peru once a year.
Traveling is a part of who I am. I remember looking at my dad’s National Geographics as a child and telling him I wanted to go everywhere. I studied abroad both for my undergrad and master's degrees. As soon as I graduated, I left the country to teach English in South Korea and then served in the Peace Corps in Bulgaria. We didn’t have the funds to do big trips anymore but I needed to go somewhere, anywhere.
I started researching places in the Midwest and couldn’t believe what I found. I stumbled across more and more interesting places just a couple of hours from Kansas City. For the first time, I started to question the flyover territory rhetoric and knew I wanted to change people’s perceptions. How did I not know how amazing the Midwest was? Everyone needed to know.
We began taking road trips around the Midwest and I was continually amazed with what we found. We camped on a remote island in a national park in Minnesota, canoed in a national lakeshore in Wisconsin, found the most incredible rock formations in Kansas, and went backpacking in Iowa. The adventures were endless. How had I not realized how much was in the Midwest before?
In 2022, I started sharing our adventures on Instagram under the handle @everydayoutdoorfamily. I wanted to help people find cool and interesting places and to inspire families to explore.
As my account started to grow, I realized I wasn’t the only one who previously believed the Midwest had little to offer. People started commenting things like, “I have lived here my whole life and didn’t realize this was here!” or “This is literally 10 minutes from my house and I never knew it was there.”
Since starting my account, I have connected with so many people and parents looking for fun and interesting places in Kansas City and beyond both online and in person. I have learned so much from my community and no longer feel like I am the only parent looking for outdoor spaces for our family. I have connected with a group of moms who make my adventures look quite mild. I love being inspired by them.
Embracing my city has changed my life. I feel happier being grounded in my friends, community, and local, accessible adventures. I hope I can inspire others to find that same joy in exploring as I slowly work to change the Midwest stereotypes.
Here are some of my favorite local and Midwest adventures, to inspire you to get out and explore:
Near Kansas City
Lake Olathe: This is one of our family’s favorite spots because there is so much to do in a small area. We love paddling to the Cedar Creek waterfall or viewing it from the paved trail. In the summer, there is a swim beach with a giant inflatable obstacle course, as well as kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for rent. The Lake Olathe Sprayground is unlike anything I have ever seen, with a river running through it and a waterfall at the top. My kids always love playing in the sand area as well.
Carl L. Chinnery Nature Trail: This trail is on the property of Unity Village in Lee’s Summit, but it is open to the public. It has a few small waterfalls and will take you past a dam and “hoboglyphs” or carvings in stone by hobos who traveled by train in the 1930s. My personal favorite spot on this trail is the rock bridge which looks like a cave, but it is open on both sides.
Around the Midwest
Lost Cave Canyon: This fun experience near Branson, Missouri, takes you through the Ozarks in the most unique way: on your own personal golf cart. You will drive past tons of waterfalls, through a cave (complete with more waterfalls and a bar for refreshments), and you can hop out at any point for photos or just to take in the view.
Arbor Day Farm: This cute lodge and vast property is only two hours away from Kansas City, in Nebraska City. The lodge is great for families looking for a pool and family fun and people looking for a relaxing vacation with a spa. The Tree Adventure has a series of tree houses connected by rope bridges which my kids loved. They have fun festivals and events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their calendar before you go.
Rail Explorers in Boone, Iowa: This was one of my favorite Midwest experiences. I took my three little kids on a 4-person electric-pedal-powered rail car. I loved the views and going over two suspension bridges, making it feel like even more of an adventure. If you’re in Boone, also make sure to stop at Ledges State Park and the Iowa Arboretum.
Minnesota’s North Shore: I think this is one of the most beautiful places in the USA. The North Shore is the stretch of Minnesota on Lake Superior from Duluth to the Canadian border. This area has beautiful pine forests and waterfalls on one side of the road and crystal blue water stretching as far as the eye can see on the other. There aren’t many big hotels here, so it still feels like a secret.
You don’t need to get on a plane to find an adventure. I hope the next time you hear someone say the Midwest has nothing to offer, you can share many stories about places you have been that prove it otherwise.
You can find more travel tips from Amy on Instagram at @everydayoutdoorfamily or on her blog at everydayoutdoorfamily.com. She also puts out a newsletter that you can subscribe to on her website.
Traveling is a part of who I am. I remember looking at my dad’s National Geographics as a child and telling him I wanted to go everywhere.
For the first time, I started to question the flyover territory rhetoric and knew I wanted to change people’s perceptions.