Longview Campground, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. ~ Proverbs 29:22
Today, we were blessed to enjoy our very own personal driving tour guide! Uncle Nick took us all on a tour around the Kansas City area, showing and teaching us about the things we passed by. He’s a great guide!
Of all the places we drove by, the Country Club Plaza was my personal favorite. Because I don’t have the ability to remember all that Uncle Nick taught us about it, I located the following on the web, which was pretty much as Uncle Nick and Aunt Sherri shared with us:
Built by local real estate developer JC Nichols, Country Club Plaza opened during the height of the Roaring Twenties with a distinct theme: Seville, Spain.
Named for the surrounding Country Club neighborhood, most know it simply as The Plaza, and the buildings have remained almost unchanged since opening in 1923. In addition to the architecture, there are more than 30 statues, murals, and tile mosaics that add to the Spanish flavor, and the blocks are anchored by several major architectural reproductions like the Cathedral of Seville, and even San Francisco’s Path of Gold Streetlights.
The Plaza was the first shopping center in the world designed specifically to accommodate the auto-centric shopper. By including a number of semi-concealed parking garages, several gas stations and, eventually, even drive-thru banking, motorists could be shoppers, and vice versa. Everything you needed was one short drive away. There was a grocery, a drug store, even a bowling alley. And the developers made sure to include both mid-level retailers like Sears and Woolworth along with more high-end shops.
Country Club Plaza was an immediate hit.
In 1930, almost by accident, the Plaza hit on what’s become one of Kansas City’s longest standing traditions. The “Season of Lights” begins on Thanksgiving Night with a two-hour televised lighting ceremony, and every night through mid-January the entire 55-acres shines bright, drawing tourists from all over the world. As impressive as the light show is, in the 1950s and 60s it was even more elaborate, with the massive street-level store windows displaying an enormous collection of Christmas-themed animatronics.
This one’s the Horse Fountain.
Too bad that car drove by just as I snapped the picture! : (
He also took us by his workplace high-rise (the BMA Tower – Business Men’s Assurance) where we got out to stretch our legs and visit “Scout”. Scout was dedicated in 1922 as a memorial to local Indian tribes and depicts a Sioux Indian scout on horseback, and unfortunately, someone(s) decided it could use some additional graffiti on the base. ☹ I don’t know why I didn’t take a picture of Uncle Nick’s former building . . . but it’s now being converted into exclusive apartments.
And KC, Kansas – which is out of frame to the left of the picture.
Then we drove by Union Station. There’s a giant dinosaur out front (wearing a mask, of course) that was placed there for their temporary dinosaur exhibit that’s running from July 3 – January 6 (Fee required). Who knows? Maybe we’ll get to check it out while we’re here!
A drive through the city, and then a hop over to check out the front of their oldest son, Matt’s house. We’ll see Matt and Mike in a couple of days when we go to Mike’s place for a family get-together.
but I didn’t get a picture of that.
And it’s much bigger than it looks from the road.
For lunch, we dug our chairs out of the back of the car and sat under the shade of a large tree in one of their local parks. Much cooler in the shade! 😊
Back in the car for a bit more touring.
Last but not least, we came to State Line Road – the one that divides Kansas from Missouri.
At the house, we talked and played a great game called “Doubles”! It’s easy and very fun! And as we were thinking about heading home, Uncle Nick says, “I have an idea. (We’ve grown to love his ideas!) How about we order pizza?” So we did! And it, and the wings (from Minsky’s), were really good! And we got to stick around and visit longer. 😊
However, we’ve been informed that tomorrow, we’re totally on our own for the day. We should be able to manage that, but it won’t be nearly as much fun.
with the half moon nestled in the midst of the clouds!