outdoors

Kansas Wineries and Tasting Rooms Worth Experiencing

January 31, 2022 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Updated May 23, 2023

Calling all wine enthusiasts! I have a treat for you.

After traveling extensively across the Sunflower State, I realized I had explored several Kansas wineries. I’ve compiled a guide for your reference if you’re searching for the perfect tasting merlot or flavorful fruit wine.

WINERIES & TASTING ROOMS

SHILOH VINEYARD & WINERY: WaKeeney, KS

Drive west from WaKeeney on KS I-70 to Exit 120 to M Road to get to Shiloh Vineyard & Winery (17079 M Rd.). I was told it was a popular stop for visitors searching for a relaxing place to sip wine and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. A family-owned winery founded in 2008 by the Johnstons, it features a tasting room and event space and is an official Harvest Host for overnight RV guests.

A popular venue for hosting weddings, receptions, and private parties, the barn below is available for rental. A nearby patio attached to the tasting room provides outdoor seating.

The winery and event spaces stay consistently busy, but they always welcome wine lovers who show up to sample wine.

Visit the tasting room to enjoy the winery’s long list of varieties, order a wine flight or ask about the Wine of the Week. I would highly recommend asking for a guided tour to fully appreciate the winery. Visitors can schedule an informative tour by appointment.

EMPTY NESTER’S WINERY: Lecompton, KS

Aside from hosting history seekers, Lecompton is home to several businesses, including Empty Nester’s Winery (338 Elmore St.). Owned and operated by a husband and wife team, they serve a variety of fruit wines. Surprisingly, the wines didn’t taste as sweet as I expected.

Opened in January 2021, visitors can choose from four dry wines and 12 semi-sweet wines for a tasting flight. Ask for a wine slushy!

When the owners are not busy making wine or socializing with customers, they also make preserves, jams, and jellies available for sale in the tasting room.

Empty Nester’s Winery focuses on quality wine and excellent customer service. They host game night on Thursdays and invite a food truck to park out front on occasion.

Z&M TWISTED WINERY & TASTING ROOM: Leavenworth, KS

Everywhere you turn in Leavenworth, a business or group proudly supports the military. Z&M Twisted Vineyard & Tasting Room (620 Cherokee St.) is no different. They partner with Homegrown by Heroes and Farmer Veteran Coalition Kansas to produce locally sourced wine.

The veteran-owned and operated winery’s tasting room is centrally located downtown across from Hay Market Square. They are open for wine tastings and retail shopping. I chose a seat at the tasting room counter and ordered the Tasting of the Month, a flight of five selections.

A flight lets you discover a wine you will appreciate the most – take home a bottle for your personal collection. They also sell jarred jellies and gifts for all of the wine lovers in your life.

Plan a visit to the tasting room by viewing their hours here. Call ahead to book group visits and reserve space for events.

PAISLEY PEAR WINE BAR, BISTRO and MARKET: Hays, KS

Another delightful space to relax and unwind after exploring downtown Hays is Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market (1100 Main St). Established in 2017, the wine bar has been serving beverage flights and wine slushies since 2017.

I chose a $12 wine flight of dry varieties during my visit from a long list of options. My favorite selection was a cabernet sauvignon from Skyfall Vineyards. Thankfully, my server was kind enough to provide me with cheese samples from Alma Creamery, which paired well with all of my choices.

ROWE RIDGE VINEYARD & WINERY: Kansas City, KS

As a Kansan, I’m still amazed that the state produces incredible wine considering the extreme weather we often experience in the Midwest. I was impressed with Rowe Ridge Vineyard & Winery (11255 Leavenworth Rd), a five-minute drive from my lunch stop. The tasting room offers vino enthusiasts a chance to sample flights of a large selection of wines (6 wines + logo glass $8).

Located on 10 acres, the tasting room is open Thursday-Sunday from 12 pm-5 pm or by appointment. Marc and Pame Rowe have operated the vineyard since 2005 and depend on volunteers to help them harvest grapes from over 3,000 vines.

The first vineyard in Wyandotte County produces 9 varieties of hybrid and American native grapes.

I recommend bringing someone with you to the tasting room, and each purchases a different flight so you can sample all of the wines. When in doubt, choose the dry to semi-sweet flight. Bottles range from $17-$18, and fruit wine bottles are $16. View the current list of wines available here.

GRACE HILL WINERY: Whitewater, KS

There’s no better time to enjoy Grace Hill Winery in Whitewater, Kansas (6310 S. Grace Hill Rd) than during fall. The weather is delightful for an impromptu charcuterie and tasting experience from the top deck.

We enjoyed Chloe’s Cuvée, a semi-sweet white, and then sipped in Beach Day Rosé. We brought snacks since it was my birthday, but they do sell goodies to nibble on. When inside the tasting room, use a map pin to mark your hometown, and don’t forget to say hi to the winery’s cute cat.

An indoor tasting room also serves about a dozen wine drinkers at a time. Bottles of wine are available for purchase. I recommend arriving when they open on the weekend to avoid waiting to be served, or you can book a tasting here. View their food and wine menu here.

There is always a fun event planned at the winery. Check this link to see what upcoming events are open to the public.

WANDERING VINE AT THE CASTLE: Shawnee, KS

What could feel more magical than drinking fine wine inside a castle? Visit Wandering Vine at the Castle (12401 Johnson Dr.) to enjoy a delicious chef-prepared meal and a wine flight. Open Wednesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, the castle welcomes locals and tourists seeking a sophisticated dining experience.

The building has been several businesses over the years but has always remained a memorable landmark on the edge of downtown Shawnee.

It’s owned by Kansas City residents who have enlisted the expertise of an executive chef and sommelier to celebrate food and drink. One step inside the castle, and you are transported to an exceptionally beautiful setting.

Reservations are highly recommended; however, I stopped by the castle for a wine flight during the late afternoon between meal times and was served swiftly in the bar area. I chose Reds of the World, a flight that included three pours from Portugal, Washington, and Spain ($16). Premium wine flights are $26. I loved them all.

KC WINE CO.: Olathe, Kansas

KC Wine Co. (13875 S. Gardner Rd.) is not just a tasting room next to a vineyard. It’s a winery destination located on five acres with a multitude of things for visitors to enjoy. You’ll love the famous wine slashes, traditional wines, and hard ciders.

The owners wanted guests to use all of the senses while visiting. Whether you’re noting the smell of fresh cedar inside the red barn or sitting on a swing and enjoying the view with a wine glass, you’ll get the full experience.

STONE PILLAR VINEYARD & WINERY: Olathe, Kansas

Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery (11000 S. Woodland St.) is nestled in the heart of Olathe. Well, technically, Olathe built itself up around the vineyard. It seems more like Olathe built itself around the vineyard, given that the property’s deed from 1865 hangs framed on the wall. The five-generations, family-owned vineyard, and winery produced wine, hard ciders, and wine slushies.

ROSEWOOD CELLAR: Great Bend, Kansas

Rosewood Wine Cellar (1901 Lakin Ave.) is a shop devoted to vino enthusiasts. Of course, you’ll find a wine-tasting bar (free samples!) and rows of handcrafted wine bottles for sale, but the store is much more than another retail store.

Rosewood Wine Cellar’s products are made or harvested by client-employees with disabilities. Each time you purchase at the shop, you sustain employment for them.

The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the award-winning wines. They carry two dozen wine varieties grown a short drive west of town.

WINE TRAILS

Die-hard wine enthusiasts will appreciate that a mapped wine trail is made especially for them. The Kaw Valley Wine Trail includes 16 Kansas wineries located in the northeastern part of the state. You should also check the Kansas Wineries map by KC Wine Road.

To get a glimpse of all of the wineries in the state, use Kansas Tourism’s interactive map to plot your course.

Can’t make it to a winery? Tune into the KNSS 98.7FM radio show, “The Good Life” with Guy Bower on Saturdays from 12 pm-1 pm, a Wichita-based wine expert who chats with guests about food and wine.

Enjoy the adventure and cheers!

5 Ideas for Exploring Wichita While Staying Active

June 23, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Updated May 2023

Calling all outdoor enthusiasts! If you live in the Wichita area and would appreciate new ideas for exploring the city while staying active, I have a treat for you. My good friend, Jennifer Strong McConachie, and I decided to collaborate on a blog post that outlines a summer itinerary that gets you up and moving.

Jennifer is a native Wichitan who has recently authored “Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life,” a book that provides an inspiring look at endurance sports and how they make us better, more successful people. Having grown up in the Riverside neighborhood, staying active on the Arkansas River was just one aspect of her lifestyle. Today, she is a working mom who gets her workout in almost daily by biking, rollerskiing, swimming, packrafting, or kayaking. You name the sport, and Jennifer is ready to try it.

Even though I don’t exercise much (she inspires me to get moving!), Jennifer and I share quite a bit. We’re native Wichitans, and our pride for the city runs deep. We both appreciate making the most of each day and seeking adventure in everyday life. It’s that inner spirit that drives us to make life more delightful.

We hope that our ideas for adventure are ones that you can’t wait to seek out when exploring the city. We’ll identify how you can get in a workout while exploring a destination for each excursion.

BIKE RIDE ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER

Jennifer:

Riding along the Arkansas River is one of my favorite places to get in an outdoor workout. The best thing is that you stay out of traffic! This makes the paved trails a great place to bring kids along for a ride in your bike chariot.

Vanessa:

The 10-mile peaceful and scenic path runs along the bank of the Arkansas River, giving cyclists a view of the city’s downtown skyline. Cyclists have access to parks and attractions along the route, including the Museums on the River and the Keeper of the Plains iconic statue.

I suggest planning your route to end at Milkfloat (535 W. Douglas), the historic Delano District west of the river. The cafe is known for its long list of specialty coffees and drinks. After a long bike ride, why not try a Blueberry Lemonade Milkshake or iced coffee? Better yet, sit down and enjoy your beverage with one of their delectable baked goods. I recommend the classic chocolate brownie or homemade strawberry Pop-Tart. Plan your visit by viewing the cafe hours here.

RUN WITH AN EXPANSIVE VIEW

Jennifer:

Running to Elderslie Farm on an early summer morning for a treat gets you out of the city and gives you a way to celebrate after sweating bramble-side.

Vanessa:

Locals appreciate Elderslie Farm’s Bramble Cafe (3501 E. 101st St. North, Kechi) for its beautiful surroundings, a hard-to-resist menu of breakfast items, and flavorful drinks. Feeling parched after a run? Consider ordering a refreshingly tart blackberry lemonade with a scone. If you have extra time before setting out for a return home, don’t miss interacting with the goats roaming the grounds.

Prepare for your adventure before setting out on your run, view the cafe’s hours, and pack a cold pack to bring home fresh cheese from the creamery near the cafe.

SET OUT ON A SCOOTER

Jennifer:

Channel your inner kid and scooter (not the electric kind, but the good old fashion kick scooter kind!) around downtown Wichita. Don’t have a scooter? Try rollerblades, skates, or any other form of wheeled fun. Stop in Cocoa Dolce for an iced drink and a sweet treat.

Vanessa:

You can always find something delightful on Cocoa Dolce’s (235 St. Francis) menu. The downtown location is the perfect pitstop to relax and enjoy flavored iced tea, artisan chocolates, or made-from-scratch cookie. The friendly staff will suggest menu favorites or tell you about their latest specialty drink offerings. If you have a few extra minutes, step over to the glass wall to view employees making chocolate in the nearby factory. Plan your visit by viewing their hours here.

CYCLING AND SANDWICHES

Jennifer:

Why not bike or run to the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine? You could pack a tasty sandwich from Tanya’s Soup Kitchen to take with you and enjoy a picnic under the trees. Go for live music, a program, or stroll the gardens. One of my favorite events is their annual croquet soiree.

Vanessa:

Tayna’s Soup Kitchen serves menu items made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients made from scratch daily. I love to order the City Chicken sandwich made with sliced chicken, bacon, provolone, romaine, and Caesar dressing on an onion kaiser. Jennifer’s favorite sandwich is described below: Delilah’s Light Lunch, made from sliced chicken breast, apricot relish, sharp cheddar, and romaine on an onion Kaiser roll. Ask about their seasonal soups. View their lunch hours here.

WATCH THE SUNSET FROM A KAYAK

Jennifer:

Another great idea is to take a kayak out to watch the sunset with cookies and snacks from J’Rae’s to nibble on while you’re on the water. Their frosted sugar cookies come in various festive shapes for any occasion.

Vanessa:

Always a supporter of dining locally, I recommend stopping for a sweet treat at J Rae‘s (2357 N. Maize Rd.). They make baked goodies ranging from cheesecakes and cupcakes to cookies and chocolate truffles. Whether celebrating a special occasion or simply rewarding yourself for a high-intensity workout, it’s a win-win! Don’t forget to pack chilled sparkling water for your dessert session on the river! View the bakery’s hours here.

Did we inspire you to explore the city? You must be hungry by now! Wichita is nestled between two rivers and linked by several bike trails. Building your own adventure and finding your favorite fuel around town is easy and fun. Enjoy the outdoors this summer, and don’t forget to order your copy of “Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life” for more ideas, global travel inspiration, and tools for living adventurously. My book, 100 Things To Do In Wichita Before You Die, is available in paperback or via Kindle on Amazon.

3 Ways to Stay Active After Work Even If You’re Feeling Lazy

September 10, 2019 by Vanessa 2 Comments

Do you ever find yourself wondering where the time went?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American works 44 hours per week, or 8.8 hours per day. If you’re like me, you spend most of that time staring at a computer while sitting at a desk.

After returning home from work, the last thing I want to do is to sit around some more. Yes, I’m tired. Yes, my brain is trying to tell me to binge watch another season of a Netflix flavor-of-the-month instead. But inactivity doesn’t improve my health, it only encourages self-isolation (I’m not nurturing friendships while watching TV!), and quite frankly my household begins to look the worse for wear. So, how do I stay active and make sure that I’m making the most of every minute of my life? I move! That’s right. I keep my body in motion.

If your evenings after work just seem to vanish into thin air or perhaps every day is monotonous, make a conscious effort to m-o-v-e. If you’re chasing kids around the house, you’re already staying active and I commend you for being a rock star parent. This post is written for someone who doesn’t have to keep up with active kiddos or perhaps simply wants to change up their routine after work.

Disclaimer: Everyone needs to take a load off and relax, and by no means am I suggesting that you not answer your body’s call for rest. Sometimes you need to chillax. But on the other days…

1. GO OUTSIDE

Whether you use your time after work to walk the dog or maintain your landscaping, the health benefits of exposing yourself to the outdoors are vast. For example, spending as little as 15 minutes outdoors in the sun will increase your level of Vitamin D, a nutrient needed to maintain strong bones.

Besides, even a short walk has a de-stressing effect and can improve your concentration allowing you to think creatively. By letting your mind wander, you may just return home from your walk with a renewed sense of curiosity for life and that is a good thing!

Devoting time outdoors, whether I’m walking or tending garden,
helps me destress and resets my mood. I may purchase a cruiser bike!

2. PREPARE FOOD

On the evenings when I’m the most tired after work, the last thing I want to do is prepare a meal. But I know if I take a few minutes to read a recipe and set out the ingredients and supplies, I’m going to keep my brain active. I could easily sit down on the couch with a microwave meal and veg out in front of the TV, and yes, I’ve done that many times. But cooking for myself has taught me about the science of food, keeps my brain actively engaged, and ultimately I eat healthier, more flavorful meals.

caprese salad — One of the easiest salads to prepare, I often enjoy a Caprese Salad or antipasti platter on the nights that I don’t have the energy or the time to make dinner.

Cooking your own meals helps your brain (and your body!) stay healthy. Not only are you saving money because you’re not ordering takeout meals, but it gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Need a recipe? Try one of these healthy dinner recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less.

3. DO YOUR CHORES

Mowing the overgrown lawn, doing laundry or cleaning a room of your home are not necessarily fun activities, but completing these tasks are a necessity and they keep you burning calories and moving! Imagine how rewarding you’ll feel once you sit down for the day only to realize that your to-do list is accomplished! Tackling those not so fun chores once or twice a week after work will afford you more discretionary time to enjoy yourself.

Need inspiration? Check out this household cleaning checklist.

There ya have it – a solid kick in the pants to keep you motivated! What activities make you feel alive even after a long day at work? Tell me in the comments below!

Tulsa, Oklahoma: A Must-See City

October 4, 2018 by Vanessa 4 Comments

Have you ever visited Tulsa, Oklahoma? If you’ve never been, you’re missing out! If given the opportunity to take in the city, I recommend making time to tour their world-renowned art museums and galleries, enjoy the local restaurants and breweries, and get outside to enjoy the city’s newest park. Again, don’t assume it’s another midwestern city. It has so much to offer for every traveler. It’s a must-see city!

ART

Philbrook Museum of Art

Having passed up an opportunity to visit the museum a couple of years ago, I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity to tour the world-class museum this time. Originally built by the Phillips family (as in the super wealthy oil family that owned Phillips 66), the 72-room mansion on 23 acres of grounds was constructed with the plan to eventually gift it as an art center for Tulsa. What a gift to the city!

Look closely. You’ll find markers like this one on the grounds that honor those who had a hand in building it.

The museum’s interior and gardens were nearly the same as when the Phillips family lived there. As you walk through all three levels of the museum, you can’t help but imagine the wealthy family entertaining friends in the parlor while the organist played, a room that now houses European paintings. I found myself gazing longingly at two Picasso paintings (that’s me below in awe of his work). Having never seen a Picasso, I was surprised how close to it (and all the other work in the museum) I could get to it. No velvet ropes. No security personnel. Just me and two Picasso paintings. It was amazing!

I was admiring a Picasso, and I was left without words.

While on a self-guided tour of the museum, we admired all types of original artwork, from African art to Contemporary works and Native American artifacts to American artwork. The museum has it all! If you’re moving quickly through the rooms, you can probably see the museum’s interior in a little over an hour. However, if you don’t view the garden behind Philbrook, then you may regret it later. Actually, while the artwork was breathtaking, the outdoor sitting areas and garden were my favorite space on the grounds. We spent about 2 hours in the museum and the gardens, so I recommend dedicating more time to your visit so you can enjoy it all.

Plan for extra time when visiting the museum to give yourself the chance to truly appreciate the immense art collection. Not all rooms provide benches for sitting, but each room’s artwork is worthy of your attention.

Despite the other small groups of tourists and two groups of high school students, we were easily able to navigate our way through perfectly pruned shrubs and around meticulously manicured flowers. I’m from the midwest so I thought I’d recognize all of the botanicals on the grounds, but I saw many types of flowers and shrubs that I had never seen previously.

View of the gardens from the museum’s back patio.

I know we’ll return to the museum again, but next time we’ll plan our visit during one of the museum’s movie nights hosted on the Film Lawn. All I can say is that you need to see the Philbrook for yourself. The artwork, the history, and the grounds are fascinating and worthy of your visit. Learn more about the Philbook Museum of Art and view its hours here.

Spectacular stained glass windows adorn the museum.

We visited the museum during its 80th anniversary so we took the chance to play vinyl 80s records. The station was located outside of the main galleries and near the gift store.

THE OUTDOORS

The Gathering Place

Before we arrived in Tulsa, we knew we were going to enjoy the outdoors at Tulsa’s newest park, The Gathering Place. Built entirely from $400 million in donations, the park’s 66 acres were constructed to attract a diverse cross-section of people, hence the name “A Park for Everyone.”

You can enter the interior of the park from all sides, which are well-marked with signage.

Others cities should take note of Tulsa’s beautiful park project. Its vast acreage spans include areas built entirely for kids (or adults at heart!), an outdoor music venue for concert-loving crowds, and is dotted with state-of-the-art sports equipment. Not feeling athletic? No problem! Many areas of the park offer moments for relaxing and serenity. Read my complete review of the park and see bonus photos here.

BREWERIES

If you’ve viewed my Instagram, then you’ve seen what a craft beer fan I’ve become over the last year. Somehow in 48 hours, we drank at 5 breweries (and one German Biergarten).

Hungry for dinner and a beer, we made our way to Growler City in Tulsa Hills, a center for big-name retail stores and restaurants. The bar/restaurant has a three menu that includes 100 draft beers! It’s a feast for the eyes. Luckily, the menu is categorized by types of beer, and if you are unsure what you want to order, the bartender is quick to give you a sample or three. Go there for the beer, not so much for the food.

We spent Saturday on a self-guided brewery tour. Having done some research, we knew which breweries served beers that we would enjoy and had the vibe we wanted. Our first stop took us to Cabin Boys Brewery “Crafted for the Community,” situated in a blue-color factory neighborhood outside the city’s downtown area.

The tasting room pales in size to the brewery space, but we easily found two seats at the bar and were served quickly by their friendly staff. Honestly, I could have had multiple beers there, but we had other breweries to try and so after several competitive games of Connect 4, we packed it in and made our way to the next stop.

Marshall Brewing Company Tap Room was our next brewery visit, a brewery that is considered the first production craft brewery in Tulsa and one that has seen steady growth since its launch.

The two-tiered tap room is a newly renovated space in the heart of the city’s blue collar district. If you’re looking for a spacious tap room with TVs in nearly every corner so you can watch the game and fun game spaces, this is a must-stop.

This photo was take just before I narrowly lost a game on shuffleboard. I blame the tilted table.

Don’t miss the hops wall that allows visitors to inhale that true hoppy smell!

Our last brewery tour stop took us to a another new tap called Nothing’s Left Brewing Company, a one time old school gas station. Our visit took place during the brewery’s grand opening weekend, and it was so worth the visit! Brewing since 2015, their craft beer menu has something for every beer drinker. I was so pleased with my go-to brew Yabba Dabba Brew, which tasted like Fruity Pebbles cereal (it sounds insane but it was delicious!), that a bomber (22 oz.) to bring home to Kansas. Bonus? The brewery also includes a pup-friendly patio!

Side Note: If you’re not a fan of craft beers, you may enjoy Fassler Hall located in the Blue Dome District. Constructed to resemble a German beer hall that includes an outdoor Biergarten, weekend goers can order a German beer served in a glass stein or take advantage of their elaborate bottomless Bloody Mary bar. They also serve a full menu of standard bar food but up the ante by offering German sausages and sides.

The Blue Dome District is made up of locally owned art galleries, restaurants, and bars. A little rough on the edges, but it is still worth the visit. In this downtown Tulsa neighborhood, brick-exposed buildings are covered in hand-painted murals, and visitors will enjoy a variety of entertainment options.

I recommend stopping at Andolini’s Pizzeria, if you’re looking for a quick slice of New York-style pizza or a decadent serving of homemade gelato.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is a city with a vibrant arts community, a beautiful outdoorsy area, and a place that offers countless options for any foodie. Traveling from the north, be sure to swing by The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Read about our visit there.

I was traveling with a part-time pilot instructor, so we also pulled the car over to check out The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Plantetarium. Aviation aficionados will fall hard for the museum’s gallery of notable pilots and restored antique planes. Make sure to nab a volunteer to take you inside the MD-80.

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s “The Gathering Place:” A Park for Everyone

September 24, 2018 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

On a recent trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma we made it a priority to visit the city’s latest project “The Gathering Place,” a riverfront park built entirely from donation dollars. The mission for the park’s construction was to build a park that not only beautified the area but attracted diverse populations to positively interact with one another while enjoying the outdoors. Tulsa nailed it.

The entirely free park sits on 66 acres near downtown Tulsa. Thanks to 80 corporate and philanthropic organizations, The Gathering Place was built with $400 million in donations starting in September 2014. The park opened to the public two years later.

We arrived just after the park opened (regular hours are 9am-10pm) and found a parking spot just outside the Chapman Adventure Playground, an interactive area devoted to children (and adults). Soon after our arrival we found ourselves immersed in the fun of the park. Every inch of the park provides a sensory experience!

Within the Adventure Playground there are areas devoted to testing your strength (and desire for fun) and teaching areas with interactive stations about nature. At one point, my boyfriend and I became so excited wandering around discovering new areas that we lost each other!

Speaking of the park’s vast size, I would recommend picking up a map or viewing the website prior to entering the park. Volunteers walking the park can give you one as well. If you don’t want to spend time climbing wooden fortresses or swinging from ginormous chairs next to giddy children, you should visit the other areas built with just adults in mind such as Peggy’s Pond or the restaurants.

You can climb to the top of multiple towers and look out on the park!

Looking out toward Peggy’s Pond. A relaxing space for adults to sit who are not with children.

As an adult, I think there’s something completely freeing and almost rebellious about living like a kid again. I took advantage of the opportunity to cross a suspended rope bridge that connected wooden castles, walked through the Mist Mountain, and explored the Sensory Garden with careless abandon and complete curiousity. Without any concern from time, I allowed myself to giggle inside a mirror maze and trample along the path beside man-made waterfalls. It was worth every moment.

Despite my crippling fear of heights, I crossed this rope suspension bridge! To be totally frank…I ran!

Parents toting children will enjoy interacting with their families and taking photos. We saw dozens of families snapping photos of kids playing joyfully at Swing Hill and areas like Slide Vale and Willow Beach. The backdrops for group photos are limitless.

Playing in the interactive water feature area of the park, one is easily reminded what it feels like to be a kid again.

After we took full advantage of the play areas, we walked to a glass enclosed, two-story ONEOK Boathouse located on Peggy’s Pond. Those interested in enjoying the water can check out paddle boats, kayaks and canoes from the lower level of the building. Although it wasn’t open yet, a fine dining restaurant called Vista at The Boathouse will offer affordable meals for all ages and provides alfresco patio seating on the second level.

You can check out canoes and kayaks free of charge at The Boathouse.

Later, we meandered our way to the oversized chairs on the dock of Peggy’s Pond. I could easily see myself enjoying a coffee while reading from this tranquil spot, if I had more time. While serene and beautiful, I wished we were there at night to view the daily light show that takes place at 9pm. The park’s designers have meticulously added rows of lights to illuminate the shore after dusk.

Bringing your pup? Dog owners should bear in mind that pups are not allowed inside the park unless it’s Wednesday. However, we several dozen dog owners walking along the trail along the Arkansas River just outside of the park. The concrete sidewalks are wide enough to allow for cyclists, runners, and dog walkers to co-exist easily.

Of course, dogs must be on a leash. Areas that don’t allow dogs are well marked.

At some point when we return to Tulsa, we’ll visit the park again since we didn’t see the entire area even after two hours. For me, I love that the park requires you to relinquish all sense of adult responsibilities and instantly gives you the feeling of pure freedom that comes from acting like a a kid again.

Interested in visiting? Plan your next trip here. If you have any questions about navigating the park or what else you can expect from your visit to The Gathering Place, ask me in the comments section below!

Want to see bonus photos and videos of the park? Check out my Instagram!

(no affiliate links in this post)

Garden House Showcase: A Special Place for Mom

April 18, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

My mom is quite talented at a lot of things. When guests come over she rolls out the red carpet with the some of the most delicious meals. Even if you’ve dropped by the house mid-day, she’ll serve you a delicious cheese and fruit platter and pour you a glass of Chardonnay. Yea, she’s that kind of hostess.

But don’t be surprised if you knock on the door and she doesn’t answer. She’s most likely outside in her custom built garden house doing what she does best…gardening. Make no mistake. This is no She Shed. She refuses to let people label it as such. This is a real-deal garden house where she spends time cultivating her craft – making her gardens flourish. Whether she is sitting in the screened in porch chair reading about rose bushes or potting plants in the stainless steel sink, her green thumb is at work.

Located behind my parent’s home, mom’s garden house often entices strangers driving by to stop and ask to see it.

It seems only fair that my step-dad, who has his own woodworking shop, would build a garden house for her, right? The 8’x12′ house (not including the 5’x12′ screened in porch) includes the same amenities that any home would have including running water and electricity. During the winter it houses plants she wants to keep alive from the outdoor elements and during the summer the sun beams in on oversized house plants.

I recognize quite a bit of my mom’s style in her garden house’s design from the upcycled screen door to the ceiling light fixture that she held on to for years until this house was built.

Mom’s garden house is an extension of her own home. The interior’s neutral colors, off-set by the bright white counter tops and trimmed windows, includes various green hues from decorative additions and dark black metal pieces. Having collected many of the sitabouts over time, she decorates in a style more sophisticated than rustic farmhouse but less stuffy than classic traditional. She has an eclectic sense of design style that is uniquely her own.

Once inside the screened in porch, glass French doors remain welcome you into a spacious window lit space.

Muted green wicker chairs flank both sides of the screened in porch to the east and the west.

When not busy nurturing plants, she uses the garden house as a quiet refuge to read or just watch her many bird feeders in the yard over a glass of wine. When friends visit on occasion, like her Bunco gal pals, it serves as a getaway space to venture to between games for a quick tour. You can hear the women audibly dote over each detail of the garden house. They want one too. Who wouldn’t?

A serious gardner needs a space to pour over the details found in gardening books. Always the humble student, my mom enjoys learning why some plants and flowers flourish and how she can attract or eliminate insects.

Mom’s appreciation of nature goes back as far as I can remember.

“It (gardening) feeds my soul in a way nothing else does. I’m connected to plants in new says every year,” she said recently.

My childhood was spent watching her in the yard with her hands in the dirt on weekends. After coming home from school we would drag around the hose to water thick, layered flower beds of all colors and varieties. Sunflowers towered over our heads and wildflowers nestled at our feet. She would tell me about butterflies that she adored and the grasshoppers that broke her heart.

Today, she still sees beauty in the colors of delicate flowers and enjoys the harvest of a vegetable or herb garden. Her accepted challenge each year is to learn about the needs of plant placement in her landscape while always attempting to attract birds, bees, and insects.

Antique pottery and her favorite pieces adorn a shelf above the door inside the garden house.

The east side of the garden house exposes an area behind it where she also pots plants and flowers.

The wooden table on the right was her only potting station at our old house.

Gardening is not easy. She admits that the challenge is to find the balance between what she wants to plant and what nature will allow. Admittedly, she says there are more failures to learn every season and enough small successes to keep her happy.

I love spring and wish it lasted longer, she says.

It’s true. She smiles the most in the spring (with college basketball season in a close second place). When the weather begins to warm up and the days spring forward, she is more outdoors than she is indoors. I often call her to wish her a “Happy Spring” only for it to go to voicemail because she’s outside playing in the yard.

While I love the outdoors, I’m not a natural gardener. I struggle to keep plants alive. I either over or under water them. Completely forget about them. I never installed the proper drip system. Can a person’s “green thumb” be learned? Maybe I just wrote it off as “mom’s hobby.” I should have really paid more attention when helping her in the yard as a teen. Just last week I called her seeking advice about our sad rose bushes. Before I knew it, I was at her house on my hands and knees pruning her rose bushes while she used wood glue on the stem ends to prevent bores for invading them again. Glue? Who knew!

A rusty garden tool serves as a door knocker on the exterior of the garden house.

I’m “foodie” thanks to my mom’s love of cooking. In fact, many of her garden harvests end up in her recipes. Ripe tomatoes are the star ingredient in her homemade gazpacho, a cool treat during a blazing hot summer day. Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme find their way into many of her savory recipes. This year she has decided to trade her tomato plants for perennials because it’s just less to have to worry about and each year perennials come back stronger when given the space to spread out.

I’ve have so much to learn from her wisdom about nature, about plants and birds. As I mentioned before, I’m at best a wannabe gardener. In fact, I’ve killed so many house plants over the years that if there is every going to be any hope for me, I’m going to have to spend more time with mom in the garden house. If you’re more like me, you’ll appreciate a post she helped me write last summer 10 Hard to Kill Houseplants You Can Leave While on Vacation.

But not every day can be spent gardening. Sometimes the body needs a day of rest between the hours spent digging in unforgiving soil and pulling weeds away from flowers. On these days, she takes time to let her body relax but we all know she is still thinking about her next outdoor project.

A water drip system was installed for her window boxes, which extends to the container pots near the garden house entrance.

What can we learn from mom’s garden house? Every woman, every person, needs a space to call their own. Where they can go to escape the chaos of the day and appreciate some quiet time or just enjoy their hobby.

What is it that brings you peace? What do you enjoy learning about most? Tell me in the comments section how you pursue your hobby or where you like to spend quiet time.