2022 Aug 18 – Hannibal, MO to Kansas City, MO – Kelly

State Count – 8

Hitting the road early in search of some “better-than-third-rate-hotel-lobby” coffee we found ourselves in Macon, MO. This small town (2-4 blocks in the middle of the plains) is nicknamed “Maple City” because a long time ago there was a guy who owed $150 in taxes but didn’t have the money to pay, so the tax collector made him plant 150 maple trees instead. The coffee shop was charming and recently opened by a young man who renovated it himself and roasted his own beans. His dad owned the kitsch and antique guitar shop across the street and he invited us (and Pasha!) into his store to hear him strum a few chords on a vintage 1929 Martin, then sent us on our way with some of his “home grown” honey. Mom poked her head in from her antique shop next door to say hi, too. It was a very Americana morning!

We really liked Kansas City. You could almost track the evolution of the city from the different buildings that made up the eclectic and pretty skyline. We had a great view of it from the WWI Memorial, had a great beer in the Electric and Light District, and then headed to our hotel in the outskirts of town… but not before having a look at the Arrowhead Stadium where the Kansas City Chiefs play and the Royals’ ballpark. We felt like the Griswold’s pulling into the giant empty parking lot to take a quick picture, only to come across a couple of other cross-country tourists doing the same thing. Sports.

For dinner – what else? – BARBEQUE (and a lot of it)! And it definitely lived up to the hype.