Visual Traveler & Chocolate Blog

If you follow me on Facebook you already know I recently booked my first trip in about 20 years, to Sedona (with a good friend from Phoenix). During late March we'll stay in and explore Prescott, plus Jerome, on our way to Sedona.

But Arizona has drawn me many times before. As our older daughter, Jessica, attended Arizona State University the two of us visited Sedona and explored the university city of Tempe several times.

I also drove from Albuquerque to multiple Arizona sites while writing a AAA story about important places in the state for American Indians (see above photo from that drive). My other AAA stories described a Tucson dude ranch, and that city's designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

During every visit, the surrounding landscape has delighted me - from red rocks and ancient valleys to saguaro cacti and brilliant blue skies. See if you don't agree while viewing my slideshow, below. 

​Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complimentary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, I make every effort to report my experiences fairly and honestly.

Last year, the anniversary for when the beloved Peanuts comic strip began reached its 75th birthday. And I recently toured a display honoring the iconic 'strip,' at the Hallmark Visitors Center. 

​It was a must-visit destination for this girl whose Mom was a Peanuts fan from the moment the comic began. I had also recently found a 25-year-old copy of the final strip from the Kansas City Star newspaper, in a random drawer. When I donated it to the Visitors Center, they printed several copies for me to  keep.

But why was the Peanuts display created here? That's because Charles Schultz and Hallmark long worked together to create greeting cards, plush toys, Christmas tree ornaments, books, and other items reflecting Schultz's whimsical, loveable characters. The Visitors Center also sits near Hallmark's global headquarters building.

Even longtime Peanuts fans can learn something new here. For instance, did you know Schulz originally wanted to call his comic strip L'il Folks? And that the Charlie Brown character reflected many feelings and experiences of the creator, himself?

Open little doors in the Peanuts Gang Fun Facts area to pick up more interesting info about individual characters and the comic strip as a whole. More enlightenment lies behind doors in the Peanuts Family Tree display. Touring this exhibit provided me with plenty of 'warm fuzzies' and happy memories.

Although there is no specific closing date for the FREE Peanuts exhibit, it will likely run well into 2026. Additional exhibits that reflect Hallmark's creative history are also open. Call Hallmark Visitors Center before going, to verify current hours of operation.

​As part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition The Parthenon was created in Nashville during 1897 – echoing the city’s nickname, ‘Athens of the South.' By 1920 this full-scale replica of the original Parthenon had become a permanent local fixture. The building was – and remains – the world’s only full-size, fully detailed re-creation of the ancient Greek temple dedicated to Athena, which was built in Athens between 447 and 438 BCE.
 
In 1982, Nashville commissioned a replica statue of the original Athena Parthenos. Local artist and native, Alan LeQuire, created the massive white statue from gypsum cement and fiberglass. At 42 feet in height, it was the tallest indoor sculpture in the western world.
 
But this incredible statue received a major facelift during 2002, when LeQuire and master gilder, Lou Reed, oversaw application of more than eight pounds of 23.75-karat gold leaf to its surface. They also painted facial, wardrobe, and shield details, across the statue’s surface.
 
At 15 feet in diameter, Athena's shield depicts ancient battles of the era in ‘high relief.’ One painting depicts confrontation between Greeks and Amazons, and another image illustrates assistance Athena offered Perseus to slay Medusa. An image of Medusa also decorates Athena’s breastplate. Inside the shield, another painting portrays the supremacy battle between Olympians and the Giants or Titans.

​This is a breathtaking sculpture, inside an equally incredible building!
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Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complimentary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, I make every effort to report my experiences fairly and honestly.

In May 1974 renowned Native American artist, Blackbear Bosin, donated a steel sculpture standing atop a massive rock base, to the city of Wichita, Kansas. Dubbed Keeper of the Plains, this stunning 44-foot-tall statue crafted from Cor-Ten steel stands near the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers.
 
Long considered a focal point amid the city’s restored riverfront, the initial symbolism of this jaw-dropping sculpture was two-fold. It simultaneously commemorated the United States Bicentennial, as it honored The Great Spirit revered by many tribal people. Nearby plantings of sage, medicinal herbs, and prairie grasses, plus an information wall, further honor the Native American and Plains Indians way of life.

With waterfront renovation came a new pedestal for ‘the Keeper’ that raised it an additional 30 feet. Two, more recently created footbridges also provide easier public access to the site. 
 
Visitors are welcome to Keeper of the Plains at no charge, year-round. For a truly magical experience, stop by near sunset (weather permitting). That's when fire drums among surrounding boulders resonate for 15 minutes as a dramatic Ring of Fire springs to life.

This is a must-see installation when visiting Kansas’s largest city!   

In northeast Kansas - the Sunflower State - this iconic flower blooms for a short time each summer. One of the best places to see a remarkable annual display of these gorgeous plants is at Grinter Farms near the town of Lawrence - home to the University of Kansas.

At its peak, the farm hosts 40 acres of giant sunflowers, which typically bloom for a couple of weeks in late August to early September. And these fields are so widely renowned that visitors come from across the globe to see them.

Although the drive from my Overland Park, KS home to Grinter Farms takes less than 40 minutes, parking can be really challenging for all but the earliest visitors. So my friend Ellen, and I, departed our homes at 7:30 a.m. It wasn't a bad choice in terms of the hot weather, either! A short walk from the car put us amid thousands of these bright, cheerful flowers, with some plants soaring several feet above us.

However, we arrived too early to enjoy the Sunflower General Store. In season, the shop offers a broad selection of sunflower-logoed water bottles and jewelry to enormous wall art. You might also find luscious homemade cinnamon rolls, creamy body butter, and even some Kansas City Chiefs memorabilia.

Seeing these sunflowers was truly memorable and well worth the effort. Put this on your must-do list for 2026!

​Top photo: I made the pale blue ornament in this pretty lineup.
Lower photo: Crafted during my second visit, this paperweight has decorated my home office desk ever since it was cooled and shipped to me.
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I first visited this lovely glass blowing shop at Coastal Arts Center while enjoying a trip created by Geiger and Associates Public Relations, more than a decade ago. A second trip to the area - this time with Mindy Bianca Public Relations - provided another opportunity to flex my creativity under the direction of highly skilled staff at The Hot Shop. During both visits, I loved how my experiences here ignited the artistic side of my personality.

Opened in 2009, The Hot Shop's friendly and knowledgeable staff guides visitors during public weekday 'Make Your Own' sessions (fee required), resulting in ornaments to home wall displays. Additional opportunities include a Private Glass Blowing Class (the Make Your Own class is a prerequisite), a Sun Catcher Fused Glass Project, Glass Fusing, and Lamp Work. Because each completed piece must slowly cool for 24 hours before a guest takes it home, shipping is also available.

Safety considerations are paramount in this studio. Kids may participate from age eight with adult companions. Guests must wear closed-toe shoes, and cotton versus synthetic clothing is highly recommended because synthetics are more flammable.

The next time you visit Orange Beach, Alabama, set aside some time at The Hot Shop. You'll love the results.

​Above: The Coastal Arts Center

With thanks to Sara Martin, Director of Strategic Communications, Mindy Bianca Public Relations, for taking so many of these 'action photos.'

Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complimentary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, I make every effort to report my experiences fairly and honestly.

Welcome to Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. During multiple visits and thanks to several special experiences since 2009 I’ve fed lemurs on my lap, petted a crouching kangaroo and friendly rhinoceros, and watched giraffes loping across wide open spaces. 

With many decades of experience in the wildlife industry, Jim and Sherri Fouts operate this wildlife park outside of Wichita. It’s a fascinating story of helping this family-friendly destination to evolve and thrive, while educating visitors from across the U.S. and the globe regarding endangered species and conservation. In 2025, Tanganyika also achieved the number two slot on a Newsweek readers’ choice list of animal parks and sanctuaries across the nation. 
 
Tanganyika’s mission is to preserve rare and endangered species through 13 breeding programs. Forty exhibits feature 10 interactive stations, more than 400 animals and 37 successful breeding programs. Opened in 2008, the Park receives no local, state, or federal funding.
 
Accredited by the Global Humane Society and the Zoological Association of America, Tanganyika collaborates with more than a dozen conservation organizations, worldwide, working to protect natural habitats and support species survival – including planting trees and restoring rainforests.

See my slideshow, below, for a glimpse of what you may experience during your visit to Tanganyika Wildlife Park.