WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4.2008 News WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Patrons at The Powerplant Restaurant & Brewery in Parkville, Mo., enjoy some of the house-made beer. The brewery offers unique flavors including Southbound Nut Brown and Blackberry Wheat.
showcased underground rock and grunge before fading out at the end of the decade. Lollapalooza returned in 2005 as an annual event set in Chicago with a focus on delivering more diverse performers.
The 2008 lineup includes mainstream and under-the-radar artists from genres such as hard rock with Rage Against the Machine, hip-hop with Lupe Fiasco and acoustic with Iron and Wine.
If the Lake of the Ozarks, located in central Missouri about 170 miles east of Lawrence, has a problem, it could be the overwhelming number of activities it offers visitors. And that's not a bad problem to have.
Ask Jim Divinceen which Lake of the Ozarks area golf course he likes best, and he won't offer any recommendations. It's not that Divincen dislikes golf, but the Tri-County Lodging Association administrator can't name a favorite because there are too many he enjoys playing.
The lake, bordered by two state parks, is popular for all sorts of boating. Fishing is common in the morning, jet skiing is the most popular afternoon attraction and nighttime provides an opportunity to visit Party Cove, a mile-long stretch of the lake frequented by revelers.
Parkville, Mo.,summer events
Parkville Jazz and Fine Arts Jam Parkville July 4th Festival Parkville Acoustic Music Festival 40th Annual Parkville Days Riverfest
Though vendors are plentiful within the festival's fences, exit and re-entry are allowed at Lollapaloooa. Grant Park's central location provides the opportunity to stray from the music for sightseeing or eating in downtown Chicago. The park sits on Lake Shore Drive, seven blocks from the Sears Tower and is surrounded by dining and shopping opportunities.
Lake of the Ozarks: All summer
"Oak Street Beachstro is a favorite restaurant of mine," Bregar said. "It's right on the beach, and it's open to the outside.
June 13 and 14
July 2 through 5
July 19
August 22 through 24
"It's a pretty chill atmosphere," Matt Guerra, Wichita sophomore, said. "The coolest thing was how close everything was to the water."
The Lake of the Ozarks provides plenty of dining and entertainment choices for visitors on a budget. With 39 restaurants along the waterfront and more than 100 retail stores in the area, travelers have plenty of options. The green fees at the area's 16 golf courses aren't especially steep, either.
"Some of the biggest names in golf have designed the courses," Divincen said. "It's very affordable, coming from a big city where you might pay $100 to play."
Western Kansas has its fair share of wide-open spaces, but the miles between Lawrence and the Colorado border have more attractions than meets the eye.
Interstate 70 spans 422 miles across Kansas, from the urban sprawl of Kansas City to the flat fields near the state's western border. From Lawrence west, the highway is dotted with a day's worth of quirky and interesting locations.
Western Kansas: All summer
One of western Kansas' most
unusual structures is The Garden of Eden, a building erected to honor the 20th century populist movement. The home-turned-museum, built nearly 100 years ago by sculptor and social commentator Samuel P. Dinsmoor, contains more than 200 sculptures and oak, redwood and walnut decor.
"The biggest attraction is the architecture," Garden of Eden tour guide Brandie Stoneburgh said. "It all tells a story. Everything has some sort of meaning behind it."
Perhaps even odder than the building are its contents. Visitors can view Dinsmoor's decomposing body through a pane of glass. The sculptor died in 1932.
"It's really crazy and totally unique," said Kayla Regan, Wichita junior, who visited The Garden of Eden with her parents. "You're not going to find something that insane in the rest of Kansas."
The towns between Lucas and Lawrence also provide daytrips. The Cozy Inn, wedged into a small building in downtown Salina, serves tiny and inexpensive burgers. Abilene, a town of fewer than 7,000 residents, is home to the Eisenhower Museum and Library and the famous fried chicken of the Brookville Hotel, which was put on the map by traveling soldiers during World War II.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
Mindy Rickett/KANSA Sarah Buckhold and Nathan Aurski of St. Louis get a chance to practice their basketball commentating skills at the College Basketball Experience. The interactive museum also has several courts where visitors can attempt to make different tough shots.
road trip breakdown
What: Kansas City Power and Light District
Where: Kansas City, Mo; 40 miles east of Lawrence
When: Most bars and restaurants open until 3 a.m.
How much: KC Live area offers free weekly concerts; Entry to the College Basketball Experience is $10. Roundtrip gas estimate*: $15.
What: College World Series
Where: Omaha, Neb.; 207 miles north of Lawrence
When: June 14-25
How much: $10 per game or $70 for a 10-game pass. Roundtrip gas estimate*: $78.
What: Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, 566 miles northeast of Lawrence
When: August 1-3
How much: $190 for a three-day pass. Roundtrip gas estimate*: $212.
What: Lake of the Ozarks
Where: Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.; 167 miles southeast of Lawrence
When: The lake is busiest on weekends, especially Fourth of July.
How much: Fishing boat rentals run about $30 per hour, deluxe motorboats about $100 per hour. Roundtrip gas estimate*: $62.
What: The Garden of Eden
Where: Lucas; 199 miles west of Lawrence
When: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
How much: $6 for a tour of The Garden of Eden, Roundtrip gas estimate*: $75.
What: The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
Where: Salina, Kan.; 139 miles west of Lawrence
When: Open 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. every day
How much: $8 per adult, Roundtrip gas estimate*: $52.
*Gas estimates based on 20 miles per gallon at $3.75 per gallon.
Parkville, Mo: All summer
Parkville, Mo: All summer About 10 miles north of downtown Kansas City, Highway 9 sits wedged between the Missouri river and tree-dotted bluffs. As the busy thoroughfare becomes a quiet lane, Parkville, Mo., appears.
Parkville, home to Park University is a town of about 4,000 with the character of a mini-Massachusetts Street. The college sits on a hill north of the town, overlooking the several blocks of shops and restaurants that comprise downtown.
"Parkville is popular because it's such an eclectic area," said Gloria Heifner, an employee at Northland
Exposure Artists' Gallery in Parkville. "The stores offer unique experiences."
In two block space, downtown Parkville offers Argentinian, Italian and French cuisine in addition to the microbrews, pizza and sandwiches available at the Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery.
"There's an old, traditional hometown feel here," Power Plant owner Scott Gardner said.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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