The summer of 2016 flew by! We decided to cap it off by taking a few days away from work and becoming tourists in our own town. Staycation 2016 began at The Doughnut Lounge in Westport. Credit to Adam for discovering this restaurant that incorporates doughnuts into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yum!
Next, we checked into our accommodations for the weekend. It will always be the Hyatt Crown Center in our hearts (throwback to the Summer That Couldn't Be Funner) but is now technically the Sheraton. The kids are luggage cart riding machines!
We requested an as-high-up-as-possible floor and were not disappointed.
Upon arriving in our room, the kids quickly spotted the hotel pool - and became jealous of everyone who was already there!
We took what felt like a long and winding road but ultimately arrived at the rooftop pool.
The kids weren't in the mood to pose, but Daddy rocked those floaties. ;)
By the time Mommy was the holder, they were in photo shoot mode.
We watched the sun set over the city and then retired to our room for some typically off-limits cartoons (Disney Channel - gasp!) and fluffy beds.
In the morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at Mommy's favorite Panera and strolled by the fountains on our way to Legoland.
In short, Legoland was a blast. Perfect for kids and adults alike!
Loved the hat-tips to St. Louis and Kansas...
My brother was a Lego aficionado growing up, and I couldn't help but think of him as I saw Andrew immerse himself in the Lego pit. :)
"Hello? Hello? Hellooo?"
After lunch, we deviated from the official itinerary (!) and enjoyed the free Potato Head exhibit.
After a brief nap back at the hotel, everyone was feeling refreshed. Thumbs up for escalator rides!
Our staycation events took place right next to Children's Mercy, so we made a quick stop at Mommy's office on our way to dinner Friday night. I wanted the kids to see where I spend many of my days - and to view their beautiful artwork on display!
We took a leisurely stroll through the elevated walkways (made famous by Rose Ball 2004) and Union Station...
...ultimately landing at my favorite Jack Stack location in the Freight House. We all know how much AL loves baked beans, and she took it to the house this time. We sat outside on the patio so the kids could watch the trains come in and out of Union Station.
That night, it stormed like crazy. It definitely did not result in early bedtimes, but the view of the rainfall and lightning was pretty spectacular.
On Saturday morning, we again strolled along the walkways toward our Panera breakfast. (Feel like I've walked these same paths a million times, but it so much more fun with kids!)
The kids and I hiked it up the massive hill to Liberty Memorial. I have to say that, sweaty stroller walk and all, this was by far my favorite part of the trip. Despite the overcast day, the views were fantastic, and the kids had a blast hamming it up.
I would have been content to call it a day after this, but Adam wanted to forge ahead. We drove an hour southward and found ourselves in Louisburg, at Adam's favorite Somerset Ridge Winery. This time we discovered a magical new area just up the hill from the main store and patio - beautiful vineyards and plenty of room for the kids to roam.
The kids starting getting goofy, and AL even got behind the camera to snap a pic of Mommy and Andrew.
The staycation ended on a somewhat surreal note. From our perch at the edge of the vineyard, we noticed some horses nearby. The kids instantly took off running. I followed close behind, while Adam documented the event. The ponies came right up to the fence, even allowing AL and AJ to pet them. It definitely was one of those "life is good" moments!
Looks like an amazing time! The goat whisperers expand their repertoire to horses!
ReplyDelete