South Dakota Trip - Day 12

Up at 0700L and I managed to get the family down breakfast at our hotel (Homewood Suites, located near I-229) - getting people moving is getting more and more difficult this late in the trip... To depart Sioux Falls, we took I-29 south into Iowa, where we stopped at the Sioux City Visitors Center, which had a great monument and museum dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition. One of the most interesting things there was a display (aboard an old riverboat!) centered on a member of their group (Sergeant Floyd) who died and was buried nearby. Scientists had reconstructed his appearance from bones they discovered. We also learned more about the riverboat industry from the 19th Century. Missouri river was VERY high, swelling over the banks in some places (including covering trees). Continued south and stopped for lunch (BK) in Council Bluffs. After that, kids had a great time playing with the BK Crown (there are rules written on the inside...). Started to see lots of Texas plates and signs on their windows saying "Omaha or Bust" and "TCU #1" (later learned that the College World Series games had started in Omaha and we had just missed seeing our Horned Frogs play!). Drove into Missouri and got off I-29 at St. Joseph (took I-229). After we got gas in town, drove down US-59 to the Missouri and crossed into Kansas. I had seen a note on the map about Amelia Earhart's birthplace, so we stopped and toured her family home in Atchison. Very interesting experience, especially for the kids. Saw more evidence of the river being over its banks - while trying to get back to Interstate, had to take several VERY rural detours (MO-116, etc.). BIG hills everywhere! Had wanted to visit Fort Leavenworth, but it was nearly impossible to access (major flooding, it turned out). Gave up and got back on I-29. Took I-435 and drove to our hotel (Holiday Inn Express Village West) in Kansas City, Kansas. I had wanted to go into the city, but the kids and Nicky seemed to be tired of "exploring" and decided to settle down where we were staying (Village West area). Turned out to be a good decision - we were able to enjoy the shopping area and had a great dinner at Wild Bill's Steakhouse. After dinner we enjoyed live music in the "square" and visited T-Rex (related to Rainforest Cafe chain) and built a Wooly Mammoth stuffed animal at "Build-a-Dino" (related to Build-a-Bear Workshop). Back at the hotel, watched some movies on TV until 2200L.