Light yellow graphic Header designed for Elementor or WordPress sites, featuring “Shea Oliver” on the left, a hiking boot print in the center, and “Hiking CEO” on the right. Stylized mountain peaks in olive green appear above “CEO.” The background is pale gray.

National Treasures

The Last Chance Store is a historic stone house with a gabled roof surrounded by lush greenery. A stone walkway leads to the entrance, and a red brick path is visible in the foreground. A greenhouse in the background sits under a partly cloudy blue sky, with trees providing shade around the scene.
Last Chance Store
Unfortunately, the store was locked up, and I couldn't get inside, but at least the windows weren't too bad, and I could see inside. Maybe it'll be open next time.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A paved road curves alongside a forested area with tall green trees, guiding travelers to the intriguing Hermit's Cave. A brown sign reads "Santa Fe Trail, Hermit's Cave" next to a wooden post and rope barrier. A stone pathway leads to an information board surrounded by rocks and grass. The scene is calm and natural.
Hermit’s Cave
Giovanni Maria de Agostini, often called "The Hermit," was an Italian mystic and healer who lived in a cave in Council Grove, Kansas, during the mid-1800s. I had to check out his home.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A small, stone schoolhouse with a bell tower sits atop a grassy hill under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. An American flag waves on a pole to the left of the structure, reminiscent of scenes at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The foreground shows dry grass and vegetation.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – Schoolhouse
I love visiting old one-room schoolhouses that have been restored. It's always interesting to see how kids learned so many years ago.
Read Journal Entry ➔
Historic two-story stone house with a red roof, surrounded by trees and tallgrass prairie, accessed by a stone staircase and gate under a clear blue sky, stands as a tribute to the beauty of our national preserve.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – Home and Outbuildings
The historic Spring Hill Ranch House located at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve showcases the ingenuity and ambition of the 19th century.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A gravel path curves towards a stone barn with a round silo beside it, surrounded by a fenced field and green trees under a clear blue sky.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve – The Barn
A few miles north of Strong City, Kansas is the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The barn was the biggest limestone barn in Kansas in 1878 on the Spring Hill Farm.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A row of old Western-style storefronts and businesses with a wooden sidewalk at Boot Hill Museum, under a partly cloudy sky, with a grassy area and a concrete pathway in the foreground.
Boot Hill Museum
Enroute to Wichita, I had to make a stop in Dodge City. While I've been to the Boot Hill Museum a few times, it's still fun to take a step back in time and see what's new.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A blue Kansas Historical Marker sign titled "Santa Fe Trail Ruts" stands in a grassy field under a clear sky. The sign describes the trail ruts left by 19th-century wagons. A gray mailbox is on the left, and tall grass and brush fill the background.
Charlie’s Ruts on the Santa Fe Trail
Walked in the ruts from the wagons that rolled along the famous Santa Fe Trail. It's crazy to think that people walked all the way across the American Plains.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A Kansas Historical Marker titled "Chouteau's Island" stands on grass under tall trees. This historic site offers details about the island’s role along the Santa Fe Trail, surrounded by park-like green grass and welcoming, scattered shade.
Chouteau’s Island
Right by some very well-maintained baseball field and a municipal golf course without a single player on the course.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A paved path leads to Bent's Old Fort, a large, rectangular adobe structure with high tan walls and small windows. A flag flies over the entrance, while open grass fields and trees surround the fort under a clear blue sky.
Bent’s Old Fort
I spent a few hours wandering this amazing national Park service. Reconstruction was very educational and fascinating. Absolutely worth the visit.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A grassy field with a sign in the middle advertising the Picket Wire Trail - Dinosaur Tracksite.
Picket Wire Trail – Dinosaur Tracksite & Dolores Mission and Cemetery
Spent a wonderful day hiking into the Picket Wire Canyonlands to visit the largest dinosaur tracksite in North America.
Read Journal Entry ➔
A jeep parked next to a camper in Comanche National Grasslands.
Comanche National Grasslands (Withers Canyon Trailhead Campground)
The first major off-grid test of my nomad life, plus some glorious camping and hiking!
Read Journal Entry ➔
Load More Posts