I’ve never spent so much time in a museum that I was the last to leave, but I had never seen something as amazing as Doc, a B-29 Superfortress.
The last of two remaining fly-worthy military bombers, Doc is displayed in a permanent hangar and education center in Wichita, Kansas. Boeing, located in my home city and is considered the Air Capital of the World, produced 1,644 B-29 Superfortresses for bombing missions during World War II. Currently, the only other air-worthy Superfortress is FiFi.
Doc was meticulously restored and returned to operational status thanks to dedicated volunteers — many of whom are past aviation workers, veterans, and active-duty retirees. Doc’s Friends volunteers spent over 400,000 hours working on it.
The mission of Doc’s Friends, a non-profit, is “to honor the men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others, including those who designed, built, maintained and flew the B-29 during and after WWII” and to “connect people with the rich heritage of the B-29 and allow aviation enthusiasts to experience the thrill of a B-29 up close.”
The B-29 was considered the most technically advanced aircraft of its time and was used primarily to drop bombs over Japan during World War II until they eventually surrendered. You can read more about its history here.
As a Wichitan, I was amazed to learn that Wichita did much of the work done by the B-29s in my community. The assembly line crew pushed out about four B-29s every day at the height of its production. The city’s population exploded during the 1940s-1960s during what was considered an economic boom due to the high demand for aircraft production.
During our visit, we met Doc’s friends, who told us fascinating stories about the bomber’s restoration and years in service. Volunteers spent over 16 years bringing Doc back to life after it was found in the Mohave Desert in 1987 by Tony Mazzolini. After 42 years of sitting in the desert, suffering from target practice and extensive weather damage, Mazzolini led the effort to return it to its original home in Wichita. You can read about the bomber’s final active mission here.
If you visit Doc at the hangar ($10 admission for adults), I highly recommend spending an extra $5 to climb into the cockpit and look around. A volunteer will lead the tour and describe each compartment of the bomber. Our tour guide typically sits in one of Doc’s gunner windows when in flight, and he was a wealth of information.
During the cockpit tour, I sat in the navigator’s seat close to a table covered in maps and equipment. While you can’t sit up front in the left or right seats of the cockpit, you get a very close view of it. I was amazed by the control panels, wiring (Doc did not operate on hydraulics), and what must have been thousands of rivets.
Over my shoulder, I spotted a Rosie The Riveter statue. The fictional pop-culture character represents the many hard-working women who worked on the assembly lines during World War II.
I’m so glad I finally carved out time to visit the hangar and learn the history of Doc and the men and women who brought it back to life after nearly 30 years.
Seeing the warbird up close is breathtaking, but witnessing it flying above Wichita is incredible. You hear it before you see it. Today, Doc flies to air shows and provides 30-minute rides to lucky passengers of all ages. Interested in visiting the education center in Wichita? It’s best to ensure Doc is at home before planning your visit. Can’t make it to Wichita to see it in person? Visit Doc & Friend’s website to view it via a live-streaming video.
Do you love aviation history? I encourage you to also read a post I wrote honoring National Aviation Day and Wichita’s contribution to the legacy of flight. If you are in Wichita and want to experience the city like a local, let me be your virtual tour guide. I’ve also crafted a post 3-1-6- Destinations to Experience in Wichita.
If you have questions about visiting Doc or want to learn more about Wichita’s aviation history, by all means, leave your questions below. I’m happy to answer them; if I can’t, I’ll direct you to the best resource!
I adore Weston for its abundance of shops and attractions, including wineries, distilleries, and unique lodging, which is why we’ve visited more than once. 
If you like to explore outdoors, the area provides stunning trails and an overlook you don’t want to miss at 
The town was established in Northwest Missouri in 1837 and sits near Weston Bend State Park, a must-stop for those who prefer to opt outside and enjoy tree-covered trails for walking or biking, overnight camping areas, or an off-leash dog park.
Founded by German immigrants, Weston Brewing Company has operated since 1842. The walls are covered in black-and-white photos from the past. 
The cellar pub was originally used to make lager beer and was built six stories underground. It closed during Prohibition and remains the second oldest brewery west of the Hudson River.
Sitting there, sipping a Guinness and admiring the stone walls covered in historic memorabilia, we felt transported to 1842, when the original brewery opened.
Expect a short wait if arriving at the Tin Kitchen for lunch or dinner on a busy weekend.
We enjoyed a wine flight in the tasting room, located on the top floor as you enter the outdoor stairs. I was impressed by the award-winning wine selection.
One of the white wines I sampled was poured from a can. They sell wine by the bottle, but three of the varieties come in 4-packs. You can also purchase wine by the bottle.
The supreme-style pizza was delicious, and the natural setting adjacent to Bear Creek made the experience spontaneous and fun. 
Sitting on the front porch, we enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of downtown activity. Weston Wine Company’s game collection will impress you if you like to play trivia or board games while imbibing. 
The ice cream is creamier than typical soft-serve and tastes richer in flavor, similar to a custard. We had already eaten lunch, so we skipped ordering a cheese sandwich, opting instead to buy a wedge of cheese to savor with wine at our vacation rental. 
We loved the concept so much that we returned for a second visit, and this time we joined others downstairs, where people watched a televised football game or played board games. 
PRO TIP: Look closely at the table lamps and furnishings. Some items are for sale. 
It’s a members-only space from Monday through Thursday, but opens to the public for tastings and pours on Fridays and Saturdays.
The following stores are some of my favorites along Main Street. 
I heard one woman exclaim how much she loved the store’s “pretty stained glass.” The store’s motto fits. It’s a place with “an eclectic faire.”
If you know someone of Polish heritage, they’ll likely appreciate any gift from the store.
Don’t miss the five-panel timeline outside that starts with the town’s establishment in 1837, noting tobacco farming and distilling milestone years, and ending with the town’s 175th anniversary in 2012.
Families love The Play Zone, petting zoo, ziplines, and two-acre corn maze. Other fall-only activities include Hay Mountain, Corn Crib, and an old-fashioned carousel. 
We kept our visit low-key, choosing to shoot fall-themed photos from the “big chair,” and ate cider donuts while sipping a flight of hard fruit ciders. A band played live music on the patio. 
The grounds at Holladay Distillery are expansive and stretch as far as your eye can see from the road. An outdoor patio and Adirondack chairs on the lawn are preferred gathering places. 
In the early 1800s, Ben Holladay purchased gallons of whiskey for 25 cents and then sold a sample shot for the same price.
You’ll pay a small fee for tastings, and a seasonal cocktail like the one pictured above costs around $15.
The current owners have upgraded this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home with modern luxuries and a country aesthetic. It’s the ideal, romantic getaway for a couple because the lack of distractions and patio conversations help you reset.
Memory foam mattresses are extra soft for those who want to feel enveloped while they slumber. You’ll feel spoiled, stepping out from the deep soaker tub to radiant heated bathroom floors.
