Fun things to do in Wichita

Museum of World Treasures
(info from AAA TourBook) A variety of exhibits contains pieces from forty collectors. The Hall of the Ancients has 3,000 year-old mummies, rare bones and fossils from prehistoric animals, including a Triceratops skull. Among the museum's 10 dinosaurs is a Tyrannosaur Albertosaurus skeleton. Crown Royal jewels dating from 1200 can be seen in the Hall of Royalty, which depicts the grandeur of European monarchs. The Hall of America presents an extensive collection of weapons and uniforms from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War, while the Karpeles Historic Manuscript Library features historic letters and documents. Other exhibits contain frontier-era, music, sports and celebrity memorabilia.

Jamie & Shelby stand by an actual piece of the Berlin Wall


This museum had scavenger hunts for the kids to complete with questions about exhibits from the entire museum. They had different age levels so Jamie's was different from Shelby's. One of the things on Jamie's scavenger hunt was to rub the laughing budda's belly...something that everyone should do anyway.


Shelby working on an answer to a question about Egypt on her scavenger hunt.


They had a kid's play area with costumes and props. Shelby was the queen and Jamie was a knight.

When the kids completed their scavenger hunts, they received souvenir shark teeth.

After the Museum of World Treasures, we dropped mom off at an antique mall and Bill, Jamie, Shelby and I went to The Exploration Place.

The Exploration Place
(info from AAA TourBook) Has hands on exhibits exploring flight, Kansas and imagination. Exploring Flight and Design traces aviation history since the Wright brothers' historic 1903 accomplishment. Exploring Our Only Home looks at the state's geography, beginning with it's prehistoric days. A miniature display about mid-1900's Kansas architecture and exhibits about tornadoes and meteorology are other highlights. A three-story castle in the Kids Explore area sparks the imagination of children.

We all had a great time at the Exploration Place. There were lots of hands-on exhibits and geared to kids and adults. We watched "Chirpie's Amazing World Adventure" in the Cyberdome Theater.


Jamie soaring over the dunes & shorelines of Kitty Hawk, N.C. on the horizontal flight simulator.


Shelby using the full-motion flight simulator to try and land a plane.


Leaf rubbing


and more leaf rubbing


playing and exploring in the three story castle


The castle was fun, they even had costumes for the kids to dress up. The interior of the castle was a series of mazes. There was also an insect and reptile exhibit that I thought was neat, everyone else rushed through it so either they weren't impressed or they were tired and hungry. Actually we were all tired and hungry.


Shelby, Jamie & Bill stopped to play with these building sticks while I went to the gift shop to scope out items that would be in the kids' price range for souvenirs. We bought souvenirs and went back to pick up mom at the antique mall. We ate a late lunch/early dinner at Granite City Food and Brewery. We were so hungry and the food was yummy. We were disappointed, though, that they didn't have fresh brewed root beer.


After eating, we headed back to the hotel and the swimming pool. The water felt so good!

We went to Jan & Leon's house after swimming to help them light fireworks. They hadn't been able to light them until now because they, too, had received lots of rain. Shelby & Jamie had a great time with the fireworks!! Oh yeah...we ate ice cream and watermelon. We'll be back through Wichita towards the end of our trip and will actually stay at Jan & Leon's house. It's so fun to connect with old friends!

Kansas Here We Come

Here we are...ready to hit the road and head to Wichita, KS. It has been raining excessively in Oklahoma so the temperatures have been cooler than usual but the humidity is off the charts. That's why we look so exhausted in this photo, even though it was taken at 11:00am. This photo was taken at Julie's Uncle John's & Aunt Jean's house in Ada, OK.

We, of course, had to stop for the obligatory photo of the state sign. We'll be doing this a few times on this trip.

This is our first hotel (of many) on this trip and it's nice. It is a suite with a separate bedroom and a full kitchen. And the swimming pool is right out the door. We'll be staying here for two nights. We found a Papa Murphey's nearby and brought a pizza back to the room to bake for dinner. Uncle John sent this yummy watermelon with us.

Happy Independence Day!!

Dressed in our patriotic best, we started the day with a heated game of "May I?" We had hamburgers with all of the fixin's for lunch...you can't get more American than that.

After lunch, Bill, Julie, Jamie & Shelby went to the swimming pool at Wintersmith Park in Ada. It was so hot & humid and the water felt SOOOoooo good!!

The city of Ada's big fireworks display was to be held at Wintersmith Park so when the swimming pool closed, we walked across the street to the park and found lots of things to keep us entertained until the big show.

Jamie & Shelby rode the train...

...and the carousel.

Bill, Jamie & Shelby played mini golf. We ate snowcones and found a grassy spot near the pond where Julie's mom & aunt Jean met up with us to watch the fireworks.

Jasmine Moran Children's Museum

WHO KNEW that, in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma, there is this great Children's Museum??

I'm not even sure how we found out about it...maybe we saw a sign or something and then checked it out on the internet. It was a very nice museum with lots of cool things for the kids to do.

the infinity mirror

the mirror that gave Julie the long legs she's always wanted...

the levitating mirror

Jamie riding a bike with a skeleton

OOPS! Looks like Shelby has hurt herself...

This was actually a very cool display about having a physical handicap. They had wheelchairs and then had the kids try to do everyday activities from the wheelchair (drink from a water fountain, get mail from the mailbox, etc.). It gave a fresh perspective to being disabled.

Shelby & Jamie in a bubble...

the Castle maze...Shelby found all four corners!