Kaw Pt and NA Museum of Art

Since I was off the past few days, Matthew and I decided to explore a little more of Kansas City. 

I snuck up on Matthew looking for some places for us to visit. We first chose to check out some of the local parks to check out some history.

We first visited Kaw Point, A point where Lewis and Clark rested while on their way up the Missouri River. It is also where the Kansas River terminates into the Missouri River. Kansas City was built up around this site where the two river met because of the economic opportunities that the rivers provided. IT was also a direct link to St. Lewis via the Missouri River. 

(The  historic Marker for Kaw Point)

(Matthew standing in front of markers signifying Lewis and Clark. Annie and Colby loved it there.)

 (I had a picture with the MArker of Seaman, the newfoundland dog that belonged to Captain Maeriwether Lewis)

(We were standing in front of the meeting point of the Kansas and Missouri River. I couldn't help but mimic the silhouettes of Lewis and Clark, lol)  

(If you can't tell, I have my foot (Shoe was on, it was WAY too cold to step in shoe-less) in the river connection point...2 rivers at once, awesome! ) 

 (Of course we had to get a pic of the two of us here)

 (A view of the Kansas City Skyline)

(Another picture of the Missouri River and the Kansas city Skyline

Matthew and I then Drove over the Riverfront Park which has a great overlook of the Missouri River as it flows through Kansas City. This park also overlooks a train station and industrial parks.

(A decorative block on the walkway of the park)

(Another historical marker signifying where Lewis and Clark camped on their way back from their expedition)

  

(An outlook of Kansas City from Riverfront Park)

(Another view of downtown Kansas City)

(This statue shows Lewis and Clark, and Sacajawea at their return resting point at Riverfront Park)

(The park had some interesting gates and I wanted a picture at this one)

(Matthew in front of the same gate)

(We're resting on some stairs)

(Matthew looking at yet another historical marker)

For New Years Eve Matthew and I decided to visit the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. IT was quite a beautiful museum with Art as old as ancient Egypt and Greece all the way up to modern day. We were there for 3 hours and didn't even leave the first floor. Definately planning a return trip. This trip we saw Egyptian art, ancient Greecian Art, and Rennaisance period art. It was so neat!

(The front of the museum)

(I'm standing on front of a birdie sculpture)

(Matthew standing in front of the Thinker)

(We're now in the lobby of the museum)

(Matthew in front of the Largest and most ornate nativity I've ever seen. More info below.)

(A view of us leaving. It was an awesome view so we had to get a picture)

(Another view of the outside) 

We made a quick trip so see some other statues.

(I had to pose with the tall grass)

(We can see the National Reserve Bank and below you can see the local KC Occupy Wall street Protest chapter) 

(More views of KC...the obelisk is the landmark for the WW1 museum )

(Another view of the KC skyline)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! More to come soon!

Getting to KC

Welcome back everyone!

Matthew and I finally made it to Kansas City with relatively no problems. Getting here was quite an experience though. I’ve never driven so far and so long in my life so I got a REALLY good idea of how big this country really is.

(Our first pit stop in Virginia as at the welcome center and of course I couldn't pass up a picture in front of the VA welcome sign.)

We took a rather unusual route for our journey which included a rather twisted 2-lane highway through the Appalachian Mountains via the Daniel Boone Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap.  We made a pit stop at the The Cumberland Gap National Park which educates it spectators about the first passable road through the Appalachian chain.  Once we finished there the road lead us through Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. While we couldn’t stop very long at the park but we are making plan on the return trip to stop and enjoy some Appalachian splendor including some beautiful trails and a guided cave expedition! Plus, while in Kentucky, we took some time to partake in some authentic KFC, lol!

(Matthew in front the the Cumberland Gap National Park sign. The pups LOVED being outside!)

(He loves Daniel Boone and was thrilled to get a picture with this mural depicting Daniel Boone leading a group of pioneers westward through the Gap)

( I enjoyed the mountain folk style decor all around the welcome center.)  

(Of course I had to get a picture in front the the sign as well)

After that our journey was relatively smooth, especially once we left the mountains. I mean, Great Plains are FLAT!!! Nothing but flat grasslands as far as the eye can see. I think the only things obstructing our view were the trees and barns. In between the cities there was nothing but plains and farms. Cows, goats, buffalo, and rams, very neat!  We decided to stop in Georgetown, Indiana (approx 500 miles into our trip) for a rest at the local Motel 6. Not the most fancy of hotels but clean AND they allowed us to bring in all the “Children”. Poor Annie and Colby were SO confused and full on energy. Colby was running in circles around the bed, lol. 

(We entered Indiana and found our welcome sign! I'd say we were just about half way there)

(I know these are not the best pictures but you can see how flat it was past the mountains)

The next day we drove through Illinois and I was surprised that there were no Welcome signs for us to get any pictures but other than that ours was an uneventful drive.

(We're in Illinois, but no welcome sign )

Once we reached St. Louis, we had to stop for a visit to Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park (or as I will always call it: Arch Park, lol). Thankfully the weather was beautiful and we could really enjoy the lake, walking under the arch, and walking along the Mississippi River. I’ve flown over it so many times but I’ve never actually seen the river so I was thrilled to death to FINALLY see it. We also found out that they have river tours and there is an entrance to the archway to allow people to visit the top of the arch so we are definitely planning a trip back. Matthew and I also walked a little downtown which was so much fun. I felt like I was back wondering the street of Chicago and it was so much fun!

(Welcome to the Arach, so COOL! PLus there were geese EVERYWHERE!)

(Colby and I in park around the Arch)

(We had to get a pic in fround the the Mississippi River. The PArk also has an access point where you could connect with tours and also kayaking and other expididtions...you can see the ship tours in the background!)

(I HAD to touch the water....you know me!)

(Matthew found a memorial to Robert E. Lee who was the engineer in charge of creating a canal to redirect the Mississippi back to St. Louis and reestablish it as a port town back in the 1840s) 

(A shot of the downtown St. Louis Skyline)

Finally we continued on to Kansas City and I was shocked once we got our first view! It looked as big as Los Angeles (which I’m sure it isn’t but, wow, it looked like it!). We ended up lost downtown for almost an hour before we finally found the right highway. I had no idea how many highways there were in KC but one highway we had to take had 21 exits, INSANE!

Anyway, our apartment is very nice and the bathtub is a garden tub, yay! We’re on the 2^nd level with a nice view of the lake. The first morning we woke up to Canadian geese swimming. It was so relaxing. The apartment complex also has a dog run, tennis courts, a gym, and exercise classes, as well as free Starbuck coffee and a Sunday breakfast two Sundays a month. 

(a view of the downtown Kansas City Skyline)

(Another skyline view)

(A view of the geese swimming around the pond outside our apartment balcony)

(A view of Children's Mercy Hospital)

I finished up my first day of orientation yesterday and I start my clinical orientation the next 2 night so I’ll update more on that as I work. Matthew and I are already planning several trips so look for more pictures as we travel more.

Hope you enjoyed the update and look for more to come! Merry Christmas!