tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170640062024-03-13T19:32:51.695-07:00FLINT HILLS OF KANSASThis BLOG exists to promote the FLINT HILLS OF KANSAS as a tourism destination for experiential tourists who seek a new place to visit, a place to enjoy and appreciate nature, history and culture while maintaining the environment unchanged for the enjoyment of those who come after us.
Rural economic development to sustain the Flint Hills environment, heritage and culture is a direct benefit of being a tourism destination.Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.comBlogger487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-82113538218004785282015-05-14T22:35:00.002-07:002015-05-14T22:35:36.623-07:00Update...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Update...</span></div>
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Catch up on what I've been working on these past five years...<br />
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<a href="http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/">http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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Dr. Bill ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-11159699016991785102012-04-11T20:41:00.005-07:002012-04-11T20:41:53.661-07:00Flint Hills Discovery Center - Grand Opening, April 14<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Flint Hills Discovery Center - Grand Opening, April 14</span><br />
<br /><br />Saturday, April 14, will be a free day of admission for the Grand Opening of the <a href="http://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/">Flint Hills Discovery Center</a> in Manhattan - it will officially open to the public.<br /> <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D9J154LSa2o/T4ZO3JiuINI/AAAAAAAAETw/moUwlNlj2wo/s1600/image004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D9J154LSa2o/T4ZO3JiuINI/AAAAAAAAETw/moUwlNlj2wo/s1600/image004.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Grand Opening ceremony will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in
the heart of Blue Earth Plaza near 3rd and Colorado Streets. <br />
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:<br />(785) 587-2729, ext. 213<br /><a href="http://www.flinthilsdiscovery.org/">http://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/</a><br />@DiscoverFHDC<br /><br /><br /><br />See you in the <a href="http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/">Kansas Flint Hills</a>! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-84109368970923781302012-03-30T11:28:00.001-07:002012-03-30T11:28:30.831-07:00The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs</span></div>
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<a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=qpgnpceab&v=001o1NWE3yaJ-q5O0s8N5O3Hq2hCz026edOzyQBF5k8uAeNJ8nB6OVuWdG8VZLe3Vh8_jtCvxO0wYaDn1MW9oJlS1DllkQbBoo8pkzIqfNupBJ2e9dlgz-lNoQKwokbl1MGguBKGtYKIMjVspQokUWvx2WhttfoR30V">March 31, 2012</a></div>
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To see the <a href="http://pioneerbluffs.org/gallery/">Gallary at Pioneer Bluffs, on line Click here</a></div>
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Enjoy your visit! ;-)</div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-83058195827581654212012-03-27T21:53:00.000-07:002012-03-27T21:53:24.449-07:00Kansas Flint Hills Tourism Coalition<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kansas Flint Hills Tourism Coalition</span></div>
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See the Kansas Flint Hills Tourism Coalition website at: <a href="http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/">http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/</a></div>
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It is still there, with a lot of background information. Some goes back before 2009, but still good.</div>
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Check it out! ;-)</div>
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-31898616821299222192011-09-08T13:21:00.000-07:002011-09-08T13:21:16.640-07:00Giveaway posting<br />
For my long time readers that may have missed this Giveaway Posting:<br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_2098673543"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/treasure-chest-thursday-my-memories.html">http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/treasure-chest-thursday-my-memories.html</a><br />
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-47139892493982910622011-06-30T03:33:00.000-07:002011-06-30T03:33:00.662-07:00The View from the Flint Hills<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The View from the Flint Hills</span></div>
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For the latest news and events in the Kansas Flint Hills, sign up for '<a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-View-from-the-Flint-Hills---June-2011-Edition.html?soid=1102647720712&aid=NHHPgrSvCVA">The View from the Flint Hills</a>' newsletter via email from the Kansas Flint Hills Tourism Coalition. Click the signup box at the top of the page and get this monthly update sent directly to you. Everything about the 22 county Kansas Flint Hills region is summarized and available for you.</div>
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div>
Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-32339302706993480202011-06-28T17:30:00.000-07:002011-06-28T17:30:55.080-07:00Jan Jantzen on Agritourism at Pioneer Bluffs<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jan Jantzen on Agritourism </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Your next cash crop?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">at Pioneer Bluffs at 2 p.m.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">on Saturday, July 2, 2011</span></div>
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Jan Jantzen, one of my favorite speakers, will talk and tell stories about the fast-growing industry of Agritourism. Guests from all over the country are paying to for authentic rural experiences.</div>
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And, of course, Saturday, July 2, is also the monthly volunteer workday. Workday will begin at 8:30 a.m and end after lunch.</div>
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For all Piorneer Bluff activities, go to their website at: <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=qpgnpceab&et=1106267479455&s=22&e=001T-OI0xjXel2bXPz_RdjaZ0Ll6TOO2ANa5WvpYEqnzsaHt7t4grRJgpoZsRTSvmZ8RBzvlVtP4Npi9phzCgnVx_pip2Hy4inmc-raeaz7rNtdUDfpL2VEsg==" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">pioneerbluffs.org</a></div>
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div>
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Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-84189427722451013282011-06-07T11:58:00.000-07:002011-06-07T11:59:58.714-07:00See you in Emporia on June 18, 2011, at the Town Crier<div style="text-align: center;">See you in Emporia on June 18, 2011, at the Town Crier</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">See Details: <a href="http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/2011/05/5th-annual-author-extravaganza-june-18.html">http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/2011/05/5th-annual-author-extravaganza-june-18.html</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-89927042827511773092011-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:002011-05-17T16:17:11.438-07:00Guest Post - Greg A. Hoots<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Flint Hills: Real Cowboys and Cowgirls, too!</div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the highlights of the new pictorial history book, “Flint Hills” by Greg A. Hoots (Arcadia Publishing, 2011) is the chapter about “real cowboys” who worked on Flint Hills ranches back in the day. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The image and caption below shows that it wasn’t just the boys who knew their way around the ranches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YnL0awS87Vw/TdMBtqepZKI/AAAAAAAACyg/o4RVLYRoivg/s1600/LauraG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YnL0awS87Vw/TdMBtqepZKI/AAAAAAAACyg/o4RVLYRoivg/s320/LauraG.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">Sometimes, the real cowboys are not boys at all. This view of Laura Gnadt (Barthuly) dates from the 1940s. Laura’s brother Martin Gnadt donated this photograph, saying, “She was really good on a horse, she could ride as good as all of the guys. And, she was good handling cattle, too.” Indeed, she was. She married Winston Barthuly, and the couple operated a dairy farm at Paxico, Kansas, for decades. (Courtesy Martin Gnadt.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Excerpted from “Flint Hills”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">There’s more to the story, as Greg A Hoots, the author of the book (available May 23) describes below:<span style="font-family: Goudy; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The most rewarding part of writing this book is found in sharing photographs. I had 41 contributors to this project, a record for my publishing efforts. People brought me photos wanting to share them with others. I found it very rewarding that I could provide a platform for these historic images to be made available to the public in a single collection. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">When I happened to see Laura Barthuly of rural Paxico, Kansas recently, I told her that her brother, Martin Gnadt, had given me a photo of her with her horse on the family farm while growing up. I explained that I was going to use it in my new book. Ms. Barthuly, now in her 80s, was visibly excited about being featured in the chapter, “Real Cowboys of the Flint Hills. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know the picture,” she said, “but, really, I almost always rode bareback.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Sharing stories like Ms. Barthuly’s is the most rewarding part of writing these books.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7OcbJoa4uI/TdMB0e0MuMI/AAAAAAAACyk/Bx6GaoFbQKA/s1600/Flint+Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7OcbJoa4uI/TdMB0e0MuMI/AAAAAAAACyk/Bx6GaoFbQKA/s200/Flint+Hills.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">Greg A. Hoots, a noted photograph historian and author of the new book Flint Hills (available May 23), has produced a volume of over 200 historic images of the Flint Hills. Other books by Hoots include Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America: </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Goudy-Italic; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy-Italic;">Wabaunsee County</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;"> and Images of America: </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Goudy-Italic; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy-Italic;">Topeka</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">. Hoots resides in Kansas City, Kansas, with his wife, Cheryl. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">For more information visit </span></b><a href="http://bit.ly/hFwPhR"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">http://bit.ly/hFwPhR</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Goudy; mso-bidi-font-family: Goudy;">. Save 20 % on the new book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Flint Hills</i>, by entering FLINTHILLS at checkout.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-37253488168853640022011-04-19T14:23:00.000-07:002011-04-19T14:24:19.340-07:00Preview of the Symphony in the Flint HillsIn June 2010, students from Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication covered the 5th annual Symphony in the Flint Hills, just outside of Matfield Green, Kansas.<br />
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Part of their effort covering the event, exploring the culture of the Flint Hills, and interviewing the people who live and visit the region, resulted in a 27-minute documentary<br />
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Here is an 8:48 min <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMtgdD0akDk&feature=channel_video_title">Preview of the Symphony in the Flint Hills</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Symphony-in-the-Flint-Hills/199818699593">Visit Symphony in the Flint Hills on Facebook</a>.<br />
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-49046138668692324692011-03-19T17:23:00.000-07:002011-03-19T17:23:54.999-07:00ideas to images in the Kanas Flint HillsA new (to me) blog in the Kansas Flint Hills, in Chase County, by Kay Gregory-Clark:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ideastoimages.blogspot.com/"><i>ideas to images</i></a></div><br />
Check it out! I did! ;-)<br />
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See you in the <a href="http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/">Kansas Flint Hills</a>! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-87075559597575784722011-03-10T09:37:00.000-08:002011-03-10T09:37:51.200-08:00It's Happening at Pioneer BluffsFor the latest at Pioneer Bluffs, see their <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=qpgnpceab&v=0016MrkiGIOG--zFE_0iUHX5yE7asMbc-1m2NNhNy_Xfo_FkpVPdE6q1h8fYXMhil5k7Du43g82Gmf0dwivPppVjAyiZ7jEXHqtVK3g-XZtgb0piVu_Cm3GOELRsPw9FJt1">March Newsletter</a>.<br />
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There is always something happening. Volunteer if you can. Donations are always welcome.<br />
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-26853971463642525092011-03-09T09:45:00.000-08:002011-03-09T09:45:25.708-08:00New Kansas Flint Hills Image ProjectI am pleased to share with you today the new Kansas Flint Hills Image Project by Photographer James Nedresky at: <a href="http://www.jnedreskyprairie.com/" target="_blank">http://www.jnedreskyprairie.<wbr></wbr>com</a><br />
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I always enjoy great photography of the Kansas Flint Hills. This site includes many distinctive photographs. Enjoy! Welcome, James!<br />
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See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-7533944377673428212011-02-26T18:03:00.000-08:002011-02-26T18:10:45.045-08:00Guest Post - An Unforgettable Flint Hills Vacation<span style="font-size: small;">To<span style="font-size: small;">da</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">y we welcome a guest post by Joe Laing. We hope you find it useful and interesting:</span><br />
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<center><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></center><center><b><span style="font-size: large;">An Unforgettable Flint Hills Vacation</span></b></center><br />
Kansas' 150th anniversary of statehood (2011) is the perfect time to plan a vacation in one of the state's<br />
most scenic areas: the Flint Hills. Take the Flint Hills Scenic Byway, and you can learn about Kansas'<br />
history while also enjoying one of the most beautiful drives in the country, through rolling prairies and<br />
hills.<br />
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<b>Council Grove</b><br />
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In the 1800s, Council Grove was a gathering place for settlers who were organizing wagon trains to continue their journey west. The city was named after the council in which European American settlers and the Osage Nation agreed to allow settlers to pass through the area. Many settlers had just come west to Kansas from Missouri via the Santa Fe Trail, where they negotiated safe passage with the Comanche Nation and traded with the Comanche along the way. Council Grove is still an ideal place to begin your trip.<br />
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Before you leave the area, be sure to visit some of the town's historic sites, such as the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archive/safe/fnl-sft/photos/kspages/pooak.htm">Post Office Oak</a>, where travelers used to stash letters, hoping they would later be picked up by someone traveling the right direction, and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/archive/safe/fnl-sft/photos/kspages/lastchan.htm">Last Chance Store</a>, which was once the ìlast chanceî for travelers on the Santa Fe Trail to buy supplies to use on their way to New Mexico. Post Office Oak and Last Chance Store are both on US Highway 56 (which becomes Main Street in Council Grove).<br />
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<b>Historical Sites You Don't Want To Miss</b><br />
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You can find a <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/%0A/www.roadsideamerica.com/set/madonna.html">Madonna of the Trail</a>, one of 12 statues erected by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1928 and 1929, at the northeast corner of Union and Main Streets. You can also visit the <a href="http://www.kansastravel.org/%0Akawmission.htm">Kaw Mission</a> at 500 North Mission Street.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=17064006&postID=753394437767342821"></a><br />
On your way out of town, exit US 56 by turning south onto Fifth Street. Follow Fifth to Walnut, turn left onto X Avenue, and then left onto K-525, and you will come to the Allegawaho<a href="http://www.kansastravel.org/allegawahopark.htm"> Heritage Memorial Park</a>, dedicated by the Kaw Nation in 2002. Here, you can see the huts that the federal government built for the Kanzas in 1862 ' the Kanzas opted not to live in the structures, but used them as stables for<br />
their horses. Later settlers used the same huts as outbuildings for their farms.<br />
<br />
<b>The Great Outdoors</b><br />
<br />
If you would like to explore the nature trails, get a map at Kaw Mission in Council Grove before you leave ' you can hike the two mile long Kanza Heritage Trail and then the Flint Hills Nature Trail (the two are connected).<br />
<br />
Returning to K-177, you'll want to take your time. K-177 will take you through a tallgrass prairie full of wildflowers. You can stop to visit the <a href="http://www.byways.org/%0Aexplore/byways/2095/places/58876/">Lower Fox Creek School</a>, a historic one-room school, and enjoy the beautiful <a href="http://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm">Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve</a>. This prairie used to cover 140 million acres, but most of what is left is here in the Flint Hills region of Kansas. If you stop to do some hiking in the preserve, you may be lucky enough to see a few bison (be sure to stay at least 75-100 yards away).<br />
<br />
If you prefer not to hike, you may want to take a prairie bus tour, which takes about an hour and a half and is led by National Park Service rangers. The bus tour is free and is a wonderful way to learn more about the native plants and animals. On your return, you might want to take a historic house tour. The preserve also makes three of its ponds available for catch-and-release fishing.<br />
<br />
<b>Strong City</b><br />
<br />
Continuing south, you'll come to Strong City. There, you can visit the <a href="http://www.chasecountyks.org/attractions/chasecountycourthouse.htm">Chase County Courthouse</a> , the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas, which was built in the 1870s. The limestone courthouse was built in the style of a French Renaissance chateau. You'll want to take some time in Strong City, where you can also visit the Chase County Historical Museum, the First Chase County Jail (a historic jail built before 1873), the Fiber Factory (where you can watch a weaving demonstration on an antique<br />
loom), and the Roniger Memorial Museum (which houses a large collection of Native American<br />
artifacts).<br />
<br />
If you're a football fan, you might like to know that the Knute Rockne Memorial is located here, on K-177 (but the memorial is on private property with no public access). While you are visiting, you might want to park your RV at Swope Park, just off highway 177.<br />
<br />
On your way out of Strong City, the byway will take you down into Cottonwood Falls. If you'd like to stop and do some hiking, try the <a href="http://%0awww.skyways.org/towns/StrongCity/trail.html">Chase County Community Connection Trail</a>, which runs north back to Strong City. (The trail was built in 2003 to provide a safe walking and biking trail between Strong City and Cottonwood Falls.) From this trail, you can, if you wish, reach the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Bottomland Trail. The trail will also take you across the historic Cottonwood River bridge.<br />
Continuing south, you'll come to a scenic overlook. Stopping here, you'll be able to enjoy an unrivalled 360-degree view of the grasslands. As you continue south, pay attention to the historic limestone fences, originally built for ranching purposes.<br />
<br />
<b>Cassoday</b><br />
<br />
In the grasslands surrounding this small Butler County town, expect to see cattle dotting the countryside. They are brought in cattle trucks from all over the country to ìgo to grass.î If you happen to be here on one of the first Sundays of the month between May and October, you can stop by the Cassoday Cafe to enjoy brunch with motorcyclists who gather there before heading out to tour the Flint Hills Scenic Byway.<br />
<br />
From Cassoday, take US-400W/US-54W toward Wichita. If you are in the mood for a big city experience after your drive through the prairie, take some time in Wichita. You can visit the <a href="http://oldcowtown.org/">Old<br />
Cowtown Museum</a>, an open-air living history museum where you can ride in a covered wagon and watch reenactments of gunfights. You may want to visit the<a href="http://www.scz.org/"> Sedgwick County Zoo</a>. But if you're looking for more of Kansas' beautiful nature or wildlife areas, you can find that here too, at the <a href="http://%0awww.gpnc.org/">Great Plains Nature Center</a> or the <a href="http://www.rivertrail.org/">Arkansas River Trail</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Cheney</b><br />
<br />
When you get to Cheney, you are in for a treat. If you are looking for peace on earth, you've found it. It could take you days to explore <a href="http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/%0Anews/State-Parks/Locations/Cheney">Cheney State Park</a>, whether you choose to concentrate on the portion of the park at the west or east side of Cheney Reservoir. The park is RV-friendly, includes two beautiful<br />
nature trails, and some world-class fishing (channel fish, white bass, crappie, striped bass, wiper,<br />
and walleye). Cheney Reservoir, often called the windiest lake in the country, is also an excellent place for sailing and occasionally hosts sailing regattas. Adjacent to the park is the <a href="http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Region-4/Cheney">Cheney Wildlife Area</a>, with 5,439 acres of wilderness lands and 4,109 aquatic acres.<br />
<br />
Oh! And when you are in the Flint Hills region, be sure to take time to go out and do some stargazing at night. This is one of the best places in the country to observe the night sky.<br />
<br />
<b>About the Author</b><br />
<br />
Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for <a href="http://www.elmonterv.com/">El Monte RV Rentals</a>. For other great RV camping vacation ideas see the <a href="http://blog.elmonterv.com/">Monty's Musings RV Camping Blog</a> or the new <a href="http://blog.elmonterv.com/photo-gallery/">Monty's RV Vacation Photo / Picture Gallery</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-6090962256299626442011-01-28T20:24:00.000-08:002011-01-28T20:24:35.903-08:00Springtime in the Kansas Flint Hills Prairie<div style="text-align: center;">Springtime in the Kansas Flint Hills Prairie</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"<a href="http://blog.jamesnedresky.com/?p=138">Springtime in the Kansas Flint Hills Prairie</a>" is the title of a fine blog post that recently came to my attention. It has some spectacular photos of the prairie burning period coming up in a couple of months.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the <a href="http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/">Kansas Flint Hills</a>! ;-)</div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-77931408622950411542010-12-10T14:55:00.000-08:002010-12-10T14:55:20.609-08:00Another convert...Read this article by Greg Henderson through to the end, please...<br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1097753870"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://www.drovers.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=8251">http://www.drovers.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=675&ed_id=8251</a><br />
<br />
See you in the <a href="http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/">Kansas Flint Hills</a>! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-26249083531822204332010-12-04T18:58:00.000-08:002010-12-04T18:58:45.878-08:00Really nice Flint Hills article on Yahoo!Thanks to Contributing Editor, Robert Pfroom, for great Yahoo! article: "<a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6072410/day_trips_from_kansas_city_missouri.html?cat=16">Day Trips from Kansas City, Missouri: The Flint Hills of Eastern Kansas</a>." Great publicity piece. Check it out!<br />
<br />
See you in the <a href="http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/">Kansas Flint Hills</a>! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-75024870925282423622010-11-10T18:06:00.001-08:002010-11-10T18:06:57.489-08:00Last Flint Hills Cattle DriveMost of you have probably seen this story, but it is worth mentioning, if you have not. Check it out in the Eagle: <a href="http://www.kansas.com/2010/11/08/1578551/on-a-flint-hills-ranch-tradition.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">http://www.kansas.com/2010/11/08/1578551/on-a-flint-hills-ranch-tradition.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter</a><br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-14733906375810625832010-09-22T19:52:00.000-07:002010-09-22T19:52:38.723-07:00Do you know "Flintknapping"?The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve will focus on the history of the Flint Hills in a program this coming <a href="http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2010/sep/22/flintknapping-among-activities-offered-preserve/">Saturday during a series of special events</a>:<br />
<br />
American Indian<br />
<br />
Bison<br />
<br />
Flintknapping<br />
<br />
Check it out, and maybe you will learn something, as well! <br />
<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-20992588054569678412010-09-14T18:59:00.000-07:002010-09-14T18:59:33.435-07:00Visions of the Flint Hills Art Benefit and SaleThe <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/%20http://pressreleases.kcstar.com/?q=node/40345">Visions of the Flint Hills Art Benefit and Sale</a> will be held at Buttonwood Art Space, 3013 Main, Kansas City, Missouri, which opens the first Friday weekend, October 1, 2010, and a second show on Friday, November 5, 2010.<br />
<br />
Check the link for a lot more detail, if you have not yet seen it!<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-91244501161308263932010-09-13T05:39:00.000-07:002010-09-13T05:39:00.143-07:00Pioneer Bluffs activities on Sat, September 18<div style="text-align: left;">From <a href="http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/2010/09/sep-oct-pioneer-bluffs-newsletter-must.html">Lynn Smith news email</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Prairie Talk on rural revitalization, "Small Town, USA," at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 18.<br />
and,<br />
Art exhibits with focus on nature will open at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, September 18.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>See link, above, for contact information, if needed."<br />
<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-40942095987933959752010-09-09T05:46:00.000-07:002010-09-09T05:46:00.512-07:00October 9 Hog Roast at Pioneer Bluffs - Plan to attend!<div style="text-align: center;">HOG ROAST</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">From <a href="http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/2010/09/sep-oct-pioneer-bluffs-newsletter-must.html">Lynn Smith news email</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">"HOG ROAST: A Celebration of Community and Local Food, October 9.<br />
This annual festival will be extra-special this year, with live music by<br />
FOUR bands, demonstrations such as solar cooking, an arts and crafts fair,<br />
and of course, delicious local food! All this for only $10 for adults, $5<br />
for youths. All the details included."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">See link, above, for contact information, if needed.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-54594943483355045662010-09-07T05:32:00.000-07:002010-09-07T05:32:00.366-07:00At Pioneer Bluffs on Saturday, Sept 11: Addie returns!<div style="text-align: center;">Addie returns!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">From <a href="http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/2010/09/sep-oct-pioneer-bluffs-newsletter-must.html">Lynn Smith news email</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">" Addie returns! Adaline Rogler Sorace and her daughter, Deborah<br />
Prutzman, will be guests of honor at a Pioneer Bluffs reception from 1:30 to<br />
3 p.m., Saturday, September 11. They are visiting Kansas to accept a Kansas<br />
Notable Book award for "Addie of the Flint Hills." Join us in congratulating<br />
this great mother-daughter author team"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">See link, above, for contact information, if needed.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-54332642517844280702010-09-04T12:22:00.000-07:002010-09-04T12:31:01.114-07:00Sep-Oct Pioneer Bluffs Newsletter a "must read!"Just received my "News from Pioneer Bluffs" email - are you getting it?<br />
<br />
Attached was the really neat Sep-Oct Pioneer Bluffs Foundation newsletter, including great photos of past and upcoming events. I hope you support the Foundation programs.<br />
<br />
<b>A timely item:</b> "Return to PrairyErth" to air on Wichita PBS on Sunday, September 5 and on Topeka PBS on Thursday, September 16.<br />
<br />
To keep current on Pioneer Bluffs activities or make a donation, contact:<br />
<br />
Lynn Smith <lynn@pioneerbluffs.org><br />
<br />
Executive Director<br />
<br />
Pioneer Bluffs Foundation<br />
<br />
620.753.3484 office<br />
<br />
785.393.1569 cell<br />
<br />
<a class="weblink" href="https://gwweb.emporia.edu/gw/webacc?User.context=np3kmfXo2fjcdl2Nm3&merge=linkurl&Url.linkText=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2epioneerbluffs%2eorg" target="browserView">www.pioneerbluffs.org</a></lynn@pioneerbluffs.org><br />
<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17064006.post-83380441714780069522010-09-02T20:59:00.000-07:002010-09-02T20:59:27.905-07:00Third Annual Flint Hills Film Festival in Geary CountyBe sure to check out the <a href="http://cjonline.com/life/2010-09-02/flint_hills_seeks_videographers">Third Annual Flint Hills Film Festival</a> in Geary County on Sept 10-12 in Junction City, KS. The link has detailed information and contact information for interested persons.<br />
<br />
See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)Dr. Bill (William L.) Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04857619677138020430noreply@blogger.com0