Middle-of-nowhere was my immediate thought when I arrived in Miami County, Kansas. There were fields for miles and miles and I thought there was surely going to be nothing to do for the entire week. Thankfully, I was wrong and I had some very enjoyable experiences here. It may not have been the most exciting location, but I found some hidden gems that I would love to share with you!
Paolo, Kansas
I had been stuck inside for the past week due to the blizzard I was caught in while working in Indiana, so I was thrilled when my clients told me that there was a nearby town square that I could walk around with cute shops and restaurants to explore. I decided to check it out one day after work to get some fresh air and exercise. I will start by saying that this looked like your quintessential town square straight out of a Hallmark movie. It was quaint and quiet, and I enjoyed being outside and exploring the streets a but. I will follow that by saying that many of the businesses were boarded up and unoccupied. It left with me little to do, but walk around and explore the two boutiques that did happen to be open.
I was able to pick up a small gift for my mom and some handmade wax melts for my Scentsy! But after about an hour of looking around I had pretty much covered the entire area, and there wasn’t much else to do. With that being said, I highly recommend checking this area out if you have time and are passing through Paola. It would be a great place to stretch your legs and get a bite to eat.
El Potro came highly recommended by every local I spoke to. I am a but hesitant with getting Mexican food outside of Texas, but this place really was fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised. I had a long drive back and did not want to sit at the bar, so I placed a to-go order through their online ordering service. I thought I would eat on my drive back to the hotel in Ottowa, KS, so I ordered a bean burrito thinking this would be a great handheld option. To my surprise, it looked more like an enchilada on a plate with rice and black beans. I definitely was not going to risk eating that while driving so I enjoyed it upon returning to my hotel. It encapsulated the Tex-Mex flavors I was hoping for and paired greatly with chips and queso. I have actually thought about how good this place was since leaving Kansas if that say anything!
Paola, KS is not a destination to go out of your way to see, but if you find yourself in this area, definitely spend some time exploring and walking around.
Louisburg Cider Mill
Now I really found a hidden gem when I decided to checkout the Louisburg Cider Mill. I am so glad I didn’t listen to the locals about not going because it wasn’t Fall. It was still a great place to visit even in the Winter/Spring. I decided to stop by on my way to the Kansas City Airport before heading home to Dallas. If you didn’t know it was there you would definitely drive right past it without looking back. It a simple Cider Mill and Store located right off a country road.
I did not have long to spend here before I needed to get back on the road, but I spent some time looking around the store. They had a wide selection of homemade candies and treats, and I couldn’t resist the small bag of mini buckeyes that I found.
I also couldn’t stop at an Cider Mill without getting a cup of hot apple cider for the road. They also serve freshly baked cider donuts. I am not a huge donut fan, but these were so tasty. It was warm, fluffy and not to sweet! I definitely recommend pairing one (or a dozen!) with your apple cider. There is some outdoor seating that you can lounge at to enjoy your treats or take it with you to go. There is also a beautiful vintage barn that is great for a picture spot!
The staff was incredibly friendly, and I was told that they have events throughout the year, especially in the Fall. I would love a chance to go back and visit during that cozy time of year! I am still snacking on my mini buckeyes; savoring them before they are gone!
I hope you have found some interesting places to see if traveling through the open fields of Kansas!
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Traveling by Nature 