2005
JUNE 29-JULY 5,2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
17
Take a trip to KCK
BY ASHLEY MICHAELS
If you feel like there is nothing to do in Lawrence this summer, take a 30-minute drive to Village West in Kansas City, Kan., and check out what it has to offer.
At first glance it might appear that the Village West area would better suit a weekend getaway for your mom and dad. Cabela's and Nebraska Furniture Mart don't seem that appealing, but for students with low funds and a weekend full of nothing to do, Village West offers a wide array of activities to fill an otherwise void day.
Great American Ballpark
Village West is located at the northwest corner of Interstates I-435 and I-70, in Wyandotte County. If you are looking to save money and the toll, take Kansas Highway 10 to I-435, but if you are trying to get there fast, just take I-70.
If you like baseball, but don't want to drive all the way to Kauffman Stadium for a Royals game, head to a T-Bones game. The Great American Ballpark is home to the T-Bones, an independent professional team based in Kansas City. They have games throughout July and tickets are available at the ballpark ticket office. Ticket prices range from general admission. $5. to prime. $14.
T-BONES HOME GAME SCHEDULE
July 12 7:05 p.m.
July 13 7:05 p.m.
July 14 7:05 p.m.
July 15 7:05 p.m.
July 16 7:05 p.m.
July 29 7:05 p.m.
July 30 7:05 p.m.
July 31 5:05 p.m.
July 28 - 7:05 p.m
Source: tbonesbaseball.com
Where to eat
If you spend your day at Village West you are going to have to eat eventually. Some of the restaurants include LongHorn Steakhouse, Bob Evans, Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que and Applebee's.
and Applebees'.
One of the more popular restaurants in Village West is Cheeseburger in Paradise. Every night the restaurant hosts live music and every Thursday night is karaoke night. The theme is that of an island paradise with a Tiki Bar serving frozen drinks and cocktails.
"It's more than just a regular restaurant," said Valerie Brandt, Wathena, Kan., se-
"The atmosphere is unlike other restaurants and it's a
ABOVE: Besides the merchandise, a fun and free attraction to Cabela's is the wildlife displays, like this scene of an African lion attacking a zebra.
RIGHT: The central display in Cabela's includes lifelike scenes of mule deer, caribou, musk ox, and several other animals. Several customers take a few minutes to walk around the display and capture a few snapshots of the animals.
nior. "The atmosphere is unlike other restaurants and it's a great place to go relax with friends, have some drinks and hang out."
Photos by Kerrl Henderson/KANSAN
To this day when I hear the word Cabela's, I think of long road trips with the family. We would have to stop at Cabela's so my dad could look at the fishing and hunting gear; activities that didn't interest me then and still don't. Recently I made a trip to Village West to eat dinner with my family and while waiting I stopped at Cabela's. The store has a big aquarium with native fish and in the middle of the store is a big display of stuffed, life-size wildlife. If you're still not interested, you and your friends can dress up in camouflage and play hide-and-go-seek. And remember, it's free!
They stay open later Thursday through Saturday and there is always a line, so get there early or be prepared to wait. Luke said the drive to Village West was easy and that it offered a "nice break from the normal routine of Lawrence."
Cabela's
Cheeseburger in Paradise is a popular choice among the restaurants in Village West. They offer outdoor seating and a full menu of burgers, salads, entrees, and sandwiches.