Traveling with the Jones

Why would someone visit, or live, in Kirksville, Missouri?

A little city in northern Missouri whose small town atmosphere would seem a less than ideal place to live?

A place where visitor’s first reactions may not be impressionable ones?

Despite that first appearance on Route 63, the small city of Kirksville may prove to be an oasis among the plains of Missouri.

With many surprises that do not meet the eye, one must know that it is merely a shy town. It doesn’t shout out when it is hurt, or when it has done something extraordinary. It stands there quietly: delicate as a garden, but as stubborn as the soldiers who fought the Kirksville battle during the Civil War.

It has the potential to be one of the most sustainable places in America, and is consequently a very economical place to live.

Kirksville, Missouri makes the value of living in smaller cities much more appealing and is only boring to those who do not take advantage of what it has to offer.

I have lived there for four years and I’m just now discovering all there is to know.

Here are 8 Appealing Things in Kirksville, Missouri

1. Blueberry Picking: One of the many things that you would never be able to find living in a larger city is blueberry picking. Kirksville lies right on 63 highway, but before you enter the city when you are heading north you’ll see 6 East highway. If you take a right on Hwy 6 for five and a half miles, then you will see Lost Branch Blueberry Farm on your left. It lies behind a clearing of trees and rolling hills, and a small pond.

2. Local Wineries: If you want a special night out–0ne  where you can get dressed up, dance, drink the local wine, and listen to local bands play, then a visit to Jackson Stable Winery will be worth your while to make nights more special in Kirksville, Missouri.

 3. Skating and Bowling:  At Leisure World, one could take their family and enjoy a game of pool, go bowling, and skate. Overall, Leisure World in Kirksville offers a great time with the family or a group of friends.

4. Local Colleges and Universities: There are three institutions that deliver higher education in Kirksville: A.T. Still University, Truman State University, and Moberly Area Community College (MACC).

Many of the students at these colleges and universities come to Kirksville from Missouri’s three largest cities: Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis.

5. Local Gardens: Kirksville does, in fact,  have a very large farming community with 85 farms within a 40 mile radius. There is  a community garden at the local schools.
 6. The Thousand Hills State Park:  Here, you can go boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming on the beach, rent a cabin, and much more.                     My friends and I have enjoyed a few picnics at the park.

7. The Farmer’s Market: It runs from 7:00 a.m. -12:00pm Downtown on the square every Saturday during the Summer.

8. Local Homestyle Restaurants: Kirksville has some great local restaurants that have helped kept the real Midwest style alive.      

If you haven’t be to Kirksville, Missouri, you should take a road trip and check it out.

You might be very surprised.

Have you already been to Kirksville? Or perhaps you live there or nearby?  If so, please share with us your thoughts of this little town in comments below.

This post is written by Megan Bryde, a forever student of the world while also finishing up her bachelors in English at Truman State University this semester.

Involved in too many activities, she sings as loud as she can, writes, cooks, bakes, and drinks a lot of coffee. Check out her blog and LinkedIn page to see more about what she does.

Megan is currently completing an internship with VentureTime Travel and aspires to be teaching English someday.

 

Enjoy learning about little country towns? Or desire to know about others? Here are other rural towns to consider visiting:

• Destination Discovery – Granbury, Texas 
• Destination Discovery: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Steakhouse
• A Quick Detour Off I-35 to explore the Bridges of Madison County and John Wayne’s Birth Place
• 5 Unexpected Treasures of Northwest Arkansas
• 5 Must-see Places in Iowa

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Many writers give the  advice to “Be a traveler, not a tourist” to aspiring travelers.

What does that really mean?

Well, after reading Gretchen Rubin’s (The Happiness Project) post on her new Habits Manifesto last week, I was inspired to think about some of our core opinions and intentions related to traveling well.

I made a quick list and then consulted with Mr. Jones, who smiled in agreement as he read the quick notes. This was not a surprise, as we are compatible travelers despite the fact that we’ve both traveled independently as road warriors for more than 25 years.  We’ve also shared many travel adventures together during the past 17 years, including quitting our jobs and traveling Europe for five months in our 40s.

Here’s our travel advice in the form of a 16-point manifesto:

Take any chance you get to explore the world.

A short visit beats no visit.

Travel off-season or shoulder-season. 

Pre-planning research is half the fun.

Be loyal.

Never miss a mile or a point.

Minimize lines.

Chat with taxi drivers and bartenders.

Go with low expectations, and carry a mindset to maximize any experience.

Always carry clean underware, socks and a toothbrush.

Dress comfortably and presentably (they aren’t mutually exclusive).

Go with the flow; flexibility finds fun.

Never let yourself get too hungry, too tired,  or too grumpy.

Noise canceling earbuds are a traveler’s best friend.

When traveling, always carry: something to drink, eat, read, capture your thoughts and keep yourself entertained.

Accept that travel will alter how you see the world.

We will write more to explain the factors that shaped our opinions about each of these points in future posts. As we share more, we are likely to update and/or to add to our travel manifesto.

What advice would you include in your travel manifesto? Please share your thoughts (or your manifesto) in comments below. 

You may want to check out these other posts that share our thoughts on travel:

• Collecting Starbucks Coffee Mugs Around the World
• Photo Friday: Travelling
• A Quick Start Guide to Traveling With The Jones
• A Girl, A Guy and Their Travel Love Story

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Last summer on the 4th of July, we made the scenic drive from Portland to Astoria, Oregon.

We toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory, loved stunning views of the Oregon Coast, and ended our day at the historic Hotel Elliott in Astoria.

Situated in Astoria’s Liberty District, Hotel Elliott is centrally located for exploring Astoria’s riverfront and revitalized downtown.

The lobby is both comfortable and charming.

The elevator floor is marble, and promotes the hotel’s “wonderful beds.”

The hotel underwent a $4 million restoration in the early 2000’s, creating 32 spacious rooms and suites. We stayed in room 306.

The “wonderful bed” was comfortable, although the bed coverings seemed a little dated.

Room 306 featured a refrigerator and microwave, and a desk with a coffee maker and Wi-Fi.  There was also a large flat-screen television.

The bathroom was well-appointed and cozy, considering its tight quarters.

One of the best highlights of Hotel Elliott is the rooftop deck that overlooks the Columbia River where it separates the states of Oregon and Washington.

The rooftop deck offers a 360-degree view of Astoria, and makes a terrific spot to enjoy a glass of wine from the lobby wine bar.

We enjoyed the sunset view looking towards the Astoria – Megler Bridge that connects Oregon to Washington via Highway 101.

Our bottom line on the Hotel Elliott:

• We appreciated the hotel’s historic charm combined with some modern conveniences.
• The rooftop deck offered fantastic views.
• The downtown location was perfect for exploring the waterfront area of Astoria.
• The wine bar was poorly staffed during our visit – the bartender didn’t know the different between red and white wine varieties.

Have you stayed at Hotel Elliott?  What was your experience like? Please share in comments below. 

Other Oregon posts that you may be interested in viewing”;..

• Highlights of a Drive to the Oregon Coast from Portland to Astoria
• Weekend Wanderings: 7 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon
• A Peek Inside the Portland Marriott City Center Hotel
• Touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook, Oregon
• Destination Discovery: Dundee Hills AVA, Oregon
• Enjoying Delectable Italian Food in Downtown Portland, Oregon

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