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An Alaskan adventure: Our second Postcard Jar Friends Cruise
Our second Postcard Jar Friends Cruise to Alaska featured snow-capped mountains, serene glacier bays, and so many new friendships. It was an unforgettable week-long adventure on the Celebrity Cruises Edge filled with breathtaking scenery and endless opportunities to...
70+ things to do in Pawhuska after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Searching for things to do in Pawhuska, Oklahoma? Look no further. You've come to the right place. We're Steve and Ann Teget. In 2017, we stopped in Pawhuska for lunch at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. We were intrigued by this unique place and a year later, we bought...
Things to do in Wichita on a wellness weekend
There are lots of things to do on a wellness weekend in Wichita, Kan.! Whether you need to relax and de-stress, or you're looking for ways to get active and healthy, Wichita has something for you. NOTE: Our visit to Wichita was hosted by Visit Wichita and this blog...
Things to do in Lindsborg, Kansas: A guide to the Swedish Capital of the USA
Things to do in Lindsborg, Kan., abound in this Swedish Capital of the USA. Whether you’re a lover of the arts, interested in Swedish culture, or need a relaxing getaway with welcoming locals, Lindsborg is an ideal Midwest destination. We are an active, empty-nest...
Taquería Pato Azul: Cocktails and tasty tacos in La Crosse
Taquería Pato Azul is a new cocktail bar and authentic Mexican restaurant in La Crosse, Wis. Located in the heart of downtown, Pato Azul is quickly becoming a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The vibrant restaurant is owned by Erik Kleven and Jennifer Lester...
Brewhalla Hotel in Fargo: The ultimate destination for beercations
Brewhalla in Fargo opened in summer 2023 and it's the perfect crash pad for craft beer lovers. In this post, we're sharing what you can expect when you stay at the Brewhalla Hotel, which is connected to Drekker Brewing Co. in Fargo, North Dakota. NOTE: Our stay at the...
Tips for your visit to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Planning a visit to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla.? We have a home in Pawhuska and have put together this list of tips to help you make the most of your visit. As local residents as well as Airbnb vacation rental owners, we’ve had lots of questions...
Honest review of Danger Charters Sunset Sail in Key West
The experience we enjoyed for this review of the Danger Charters Wind & Wine Sunset Cruise was complimentary. As always, the opinions expressed are our own. Our review of Danger Charters' Wind & Wine Sunset Sail As the sun slipped below the horizon in...
Things to do on a wellness vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Ala.
Things to do on a wellness vacation to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala., are plentiful. Here’s a guide to help you plan a wellness vacation, girls trip, or couples getaway on Alabama's beaches where you can truly relax and unwind. Note: Our trip to Gulf Shores and...
Things to do in Door County, Wisconsin
Our daughter, Meghan, and I first had the idea to take a father-daughter trip last spring. Because I came into Ann and Meghan's lives when Meghan was in high school, she and I have never really had time to do something just the two of us. After all, Ann and I were...
12 tips for The Pioneer Woman lodge tours
The Pioneer Woman lodge tours are a must-do when you visit Pawhuska, Okla. Ree Drummond and her husband, Ladd, generously open up their Oklahoma lodge on Drummond Ranch to visitors. You can drive 18 miles into the country to tour the lodge, which serves as a guest...
Why you need to plan for vacation in the Midwest
Did you know that people who plan for vacation are happier? In general those who plan for vacation are happier with everything from their personal relationships to their work/life balance, health, well-being and their job. It’s true. [gallery columns="2" size="large"...
Things to do in Jamestown, North Dakota
There are so many interactive things to do in Jamestown, North Dakota, that we didn’t want to leave. Trust us when we say that you’ll want to discover Jamestown on your next summer vacation. Located between Fargo and Bismarck on Interstate 94, Jamestown has a perfect...
Eight cool things to do in Grand Forks, North Dakota
With so many legendary things to do in Grand Forks, North Dakota, it might just be the coolest city you've never visited. When you roll into town, you're immediately greeted by a winky smile on the city's water tower - and the cool factor doesn't stop there. Grand...
20+ best things to do outdoors in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
We've compiled this list of the 20 best things to do outdoors in Pawhuska, Okla. Whether you're in town to visit the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile, learn about the Osage Nation, or get a glimpse of a Hollywood movie in production, there's plenty to do outside. So if...
11 reasons you must try Chaz on the Plaza in Kansas City
Forget what you think you know about hotel restaurants, because Chaz on the Plaza is different. While many hotels offer on-site dining that is just fine, Chaz on the Plaza in Kansas City's Raphael Hotel offers a true fine dining experience. With its upscale ambiance,...
9 ways The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City helps you relax and unwind
When you're ready to relax and unwind, the historic Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is the ideal place for a getaway. A sophisticated boutique hotel, it's just steps away from Kansas City's premier retail center, Country Club Plaza. Whether you're planning a couple's...
Why you should hike the Prairie Earth Trail near Pawhuska, Oklahoma
The Prairie Earth Trail system was a pleasant surprise that we found less than 20 miles from our home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The day after Christmas we found ourselves with a combination of free time and gorgeous weather. It was the kind of day that was so beautiful...
Outdoor activities in Wichita that will help you get in all your steps
Outdoor (and socially-distanced) activities in Wichita, Kan., were just what we were hoping to find when we ventured out to a new place for the first time in months. We've been working on losing weight and developing more healthy habits over the past few years. Now we...
Back to Mayo Clinic to jump start our healthy living plan for 2020
We are back in Rochester, Minnesota, this week and for the first time, it's not because of Ann's chronic illness. No, this time we're here to experience the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. Our healthy lifestyle journey If you're new to Postcard Jar, you may not...
Exploring Rochester, Minnesota, on our visit to the Mayo Clinic
We've been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, more than a dozen times in the past five years. In fact, we started our blog, Postcard Jar, from there in 2014, just before Ann was diagnosed with a chronic disease called cardiac sarcoidosis. Typically, our trips...
Why fans of “The Music Man” need to visit Mason City, Iowa
If you're a fan of "The Music Man" like I am, you are beside-yourself-excited at the thought of seeing Hugh Jackman bring Harold Hill back to life on Broadway in 2020. But before you head to the Big Apple to see the show, you should first visit Mason City, Iowa, where...
12 touches that make The Pioneer Woman’s Boarding House one of the best boutique hotels in America
The Pioneer Woman's Boarding House in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is booked solid and with good reason. It’s full of extra touches that make the eight-room boutique hotel one of the best in America. 1. Friendly staff Let’s face it, the open, welcoming, charming folks of...
Swim with whale sharks and other tips for your visit to the Georgia Aquarium
Founder of Home Depot Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi added depth to the phrase, “improving home improvement” when they gave $250 million to help create the Georgia Aquarium in 2005. Now, animals that would have perished in the wild live alongside others born in...
Surprise yourself with a vacation to legendary North Dakota
When we told people we were going on a 14-day road trip to “legendary” North Dakota, we got one of two responses: a blank stare, or a polite, "Why?" In all honesty, there was only one reason: We’d agreed to speak at a conference and that conference was in North...
We’re headed to Medora, North Dakota, for the musical and so much more
We’re turning our course northward to speak about building engagement with blog readers at the Midwest Travel Network conference in Medora, North Dakota. Ann and I have long loved the fact that we often hear from blog readers and that y'all feel comfortable reaching...
Tillamook Creamery, because ice cream and cheese
I love ice cream. And I love cheese. When Ann and I realized our trip along the Oregon coast would take us through a town named Tillamook, we wondered if God loved us so much that he put the factory of our favorite cheese right in our path. It turns out, He did! Of...
Seven tips for your visit to the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida
The Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida, is one of my all-time, favorite travel destinations. It has been since I was a kid. As you may or may not know, my family has had a home in the Florida Keys for as long as I can remember. My grandparents built it long...
20 Things to do in Kearney, Nebraska while you wait on the cranes
Sitting in the blind you're amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren't expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now....
The Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: A heart stopping start to the New Year
When Ann heard about an event in Orange Beach, Alabama, called the Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip, she thought it sounded like a great idea. Knowing full well which one of us would get to run headlong into the Gulf of Mexico on New Year's Day, (and who would stay dry to...
My return to Greenville, Mississippi, where I became a teacher
I called Greenville, Mississippi, home for six years, spending the formative years of my adult life in that historic city on the banks of the Mississippi River. My path there was simple. I had just graduated college with degrees in Spanish and anthropology and had no...
See what we learned (and drank) at Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock
Truth be told, I hadn't planned to do any day drinking when we rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas. But the federal government shutdown had shuttered the Clinton Library that we'd intended to visit so what's a boy to do? We needed a backup plan fast and happily...
Exploring Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas
When my mom told us we needed to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, I have to admit, Steve and I both felt a little skeptical. It was a museum we didn't know much about, nestled in a wooded area in a smaller city in northwest...
8 tips for your visit to The Walmart Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
There are a few things you should know before you visit The Walmart Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. When we road tripped across the South recently, Bentonville was the first stop on our 5,000-mile journey. We'd never been there, but knew that it was the birthplace of...
Yes, our marriage survived a 5,000 mile road trip
When we returned from our 5,000 mile road trip through the Southeast, we told you that we'd be locking ourselves into our house in Nebraska so we could write all about it. And, with the exception of a seven course whole-hog Valentine's Day dinner at The Pioneer Woman...
Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Coast in Gulf Shores
We celebrated a lovely New Year's Eve at Coast Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama this year. It was a great place to stop and spend the holiday while traveling from our home in Oklahoma to Florida for a cruise. The nice folks at The Beach Club Resort & Spa offered...
15 photo-worthy stops in Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa, is an active and artsy college town. It's also one of the most picturesque places we discovered on our weeklong road trip through the Hawkeye state. Whether you're returning for a class reunion, enjoying a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, be...
Pivo Brewery and Blepta Studios: Hand crafted beer and beer crafted art
When we sat down at Pivo Brewery, in tiny Calmar, Iowa, I was excited to taste a few craft beers at this new tap room. Then, owner Craig Neuzil came over to my table with eight (!) beers in sampling glasses. I was sure I'd told him it would just be me doing the...
An inside look at the world famous Buckin’ Flamingo
With a name like the world famous Buckin' Flamingo and a mooing yellow truck with Conestoga wagon cover pulling a saddled flamingo out front, there is only one way to satisfy your curiosity about this unique store. You simply must step inside. Our first visit to the...
Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins near Decorah, Iowa
I remember as a kid the excitement I felt at the start of fall. I loved jumping in huge piles of freshly raked leaves and taking in every moment of outside play I could before the snow of winter blew in. Every year I hunted for the ideal pumpkin to carve. I liked one...
A year after our first visit, we’re going home to Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Just more than a year after I quit my job as a middle school principal, we've made another big life choice. We bought a house in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. (No, we're not having a mid-life crisis, thanks for asking.) Regular readers of this blog know that we have absolutely...
10 things we love about Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow, Nebraska
Central Nebraska’s Kinkaider Brewing Company is quickly becoming one of the most popular destination craft breweries in the Midwest. Located at the edge of the rolling Sandhills in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Kinkaider was founded by four small-town Nebraskans, three of...
This Clear Lake, Iowa deli ranks #1 despite only being open 17 1/2 (ish) hours a week
Trip Advisor’s #1-ranked restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa, is only open 17 and a half(ish) hours a week. Might not seem like the best business model, but the sisters who own and manage Starboard Market have made it work quite well in this quaint Midwest town – for 19...
A guest post from Ann’s brother about his unplanned stop Sequoia National Park
[well]This is a guest post, written by Ann's younger brother, Robert Shrewsbury. Robb and his family live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[/well] By Robert Shrewsbury On a recent business trip to Fresno, California, I had a meeting canceled and found myself with some extra...
A very filling agritourism progressive meal from the Plains Safaris conference
I went on my first agritourism progressive meal today. Let me just say, I'm now a big fan. Ann and I are attending the Plains Safaris: A conference on tourism and conservation in the Great Plains in Kearney, Nebraska, this week. When I saw that one of the...
Our Route 66 stop at The Blue Whale of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sometimes when I travel, something catches my eye and an obsession is born. It usually doesn't take long to convince Ann to go along when I explain what we'll be doing. For instance, one of these obsessive desires took us to Tabacon Hot Springs in Costa Rica where we...
The Pioneer Woman Boarding House hotel in Pawhuska, OK, is stunning!
We were at the right place at the right time this week when we rolled across the windy plains of Oklahoma into the small town of Pawhuska for the seventh time in nine months, excited to see if there was any progress on the Pioneer Woman Boarding House. As you know by...
Fellow travel bloggers publish book about one of our favorite cities — Omaha
This week, we are helping fellow travel bloggers and friends, Tim and Lisa Trudell of The Walking Tourists celebrate the launch of their new book, 100 Things To Do In Omaha Before You Die. The book is a compilation of 100 vignettes covering a wide variety of things to...
Join us in Kearney, Nebraska, for the Plains Safaris conference April 18-20
We are excited to announce that we've been asked to speak at what is sure to be an incredible ecotourism symposium in April called Plains Safaris. That's right Plains Safaris. If you've followed our blog for any time at all, you know that we live in a small, rural...
Wichita, Pawhuska, Tulsa, and Pittsburg: Our road trip through Kansas & Oklahoma
We are on the road again through Kansas and Oklahoma for a variety of reasons. Earlier this week, we headed back to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to look for apartments for our daughter, Meghan. She was recently accepted into the accelerated nursing program at Oklahoma University...
What I love most about The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, OK
It's Valentine's Day and that gets me thinking about all the things I love. My incredible family. Our fantastic church. The privilege of blogging about midlife travel. My electric mattress pad warmer. And yes, Edna Mae's pancakes at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. I...
5 things to do in Omaha when it’s freezing
We planned an overnight trip to Omaha recently on what turned out to be one of those bone-chilling cold days we have here in the Midwest. The forecast called for snow showers, 30-mile-an-hour winds, and temperatures dropping to below zero that night. Instead of...
A parade, The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, and Pawhuska at Christmastime
Just after Thanksgiving, I received a text message from the Pawhuska (OK) Chamber of Commerce that said, "Kind of kidding, but if you Steve want to be in Pawhuska the first weekend in December, I have two judging spots left for the parade. We just miss you all!" It...
A gift from Nebraska Tourism and the most popular post from our home state
Yesterday we received a nice surprise in the mail from the Nebraska Tourism Commission Staff. As a thank-you for our help spreading the word about Nebraska's tourism industry, they sent us two beautiful calendars and each page included ... wait for it ... a postcard!...
Yes, Nebraska has a safari and I’m so glad we finally took the time to stop there
No matter where you live, there are likely tourist attractions nearby that you've driven past for years. You have good intentions of visiting, but never actually take the time to stop. At least once a month for more than 16 years, I've driven past a large, green sign...
![70+ things to do in Pawhuska [Part 2] after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile](jpg/pawhuska-part-2.jpg)
70+ things to do in Pawhuska [Part 2] after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Note: If you have not read #1-35 of the "70+ things to do in Pawhuska after visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile," click HERE first. 36. Get a refill on your pop at Handy’s If you’re working your way down this list, by now your cup is dry and you still have many more...
Our moms loved The Pioneer Woman Mercantile but we couldn’t get them on that swinging bridge
Both my mom and my mother-in-law are big fans of Ree Drummond and The Pioneer Woman cooking show on Food Network. We'd been to Ree's new Mercantile store and restaurant in Pawhuska twice this year, and when we returned home from our last trip, we could tell that both...
We brought our moms to Pawhuska!
That's right. It's only been a few weeks since we were in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to judge the National Indian Taco Championships, but we're back in town, this time with our moms, Carol Johnstone and Gayle Teget. Having been to Pawhuska twice already this year, we got the...
The secret to that good Handy’s fountain pop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
When we agreed to come to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for the National Indian Taco Championship, we asked locals what we should do when we got to town. The first thing anyone told us was to go to Handy's to get a fountain pop because it's really good, and because they, "have...
5 things we learned judging the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska
As you may have heard, earlier this month we were invited to be celebrity judges for the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We'd been invited by the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce to join six others (who had much greater celebrity status than we...
That time we got to hang out with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood in Vegas
Did we ever tell you about the time we met Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood? We had gone to a TeamMates mentoring program silent auction in November of 2012, and about half way through the evening, we noticed that no one had bid on a package that included tickets to...
Talking with Johnny and other things we did in Norfolk and Neligh, Nebraska
We'd been on the road for several days, now, and while Valentine marked the turn toward home on our Nebraska adventure with my folks, we were far from done with our trip. We set out from Valentine, our sights set on the Ashfall Fossil Beds, and made it east of town a...
TripAdvisor’s most hilarious manager responses from Robert J. at Peppermill
With more than 500 million candid traveler reviews, TripAdvisor has quickly become a go-to online resource for many travelers, including us. We often roll into a new city with cell-phones in hand, searching for a top-10ish restaurant to stop for dinner. We typically...
What’s not to love about Valentine?
Valentine, Nebraska is an easy place to love. And not just because of its name, either. When we took our trip around Nebraska this summer with my folks, we knew that one of our stops had to be Valentine. There is just so much to see and do in and around this city of...
How we drove 18 holes at Quarry Oaks Golf Club and didn’t lose a single ball
Yesterday, we drove carts through an entire 18-hole golf course and didn't have to stop once to look for a lost ball. Only because we didn't hit any. Not this time, anyway. This time, we didn't have to tee off once. My sister, Laura, works for a memory care residence...
Don’t judge Nebraska until you’ve gotten off of I-80 and seen the Sandhills
There is nothing quite like getting off the interstate to help you get to know a place better, and nowhere is that more true than Nebraska. Our state has a reputation for being flat and boring because the interstate used by hundreds of thousands of people each year...
Bull whips, the Wild West, and genuine hospitality – North Platte, Neb., has it all
Finally, I got to show my parents that 14-year-old me was right. On the second day of our trip across Nebraska this summer, we woke up at our hotel, mere steps from the place I'd wanted to go when I crossed the state with mom and dad 30 years earlier: Fort Cody...
Trains humping and other fun things we saw on our trip through central Nebraska
Day 1 of our Nebraska trip with Steve's parents began with a stop at The Village Pie Maker in Eustis, Nebraska. After learning the secret to making the best pie ever, we headed north to Cozad where we crossed the 100th Meridian. Having been on Interstate 80 a thousand...
The secret to The Village Pie Maker pies
Note: Since the publication of this post, Village Pie Maker was sold to a new owner, and the pies are now made at a facility near Omaha, Nebraska. We've tried the pies since the sale, and they are just as good now as they were then. I am the first to admit, I am not a...
A perfect fall day with family
Today was one of those cool, cloudy days when it starts to really feel like fall in Nebraska. The trees are starting to change colors and the corn fields are almost ready for harvest this time of year. Now that Steve has a more flexible schedule, we thought it might...
Headed to the Pacific Northwest
As you may remember, when Steve resigned as middle school principal this summer, one of the first things we wanted to do with our more flexible schedule was spend some quality time with our parents. We took his mom and dad on a week-long trip across Nebraska in July...
On the road again
When I decided to leave my full-time job as a middle school principal this spring, one of the things Ann and I wanted to do in this interim stage was spend more time with our families. For years, our jobs have dictated when we could travel and how much time we could...
Postcards from the Johnstone family
Ann's brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Carrie, took their two sons, Nathan and Noah, on a driving adventure last summer. They headed out across northern Nebraska, through Valentine, and up into the Badlands of South Dakota. They wanted to take a trip that felt...
Actually, it is rocket science! Our visit to Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston is just what the child inside you wants it to be. As you drive up to the entrance, your view is dominated by a 747 with a space shuttle on its back. I mean, what could be cooler than that? Earlier this summer, we took a week-long road trip south...
More than candlesticks: What we found at Clint Harp’s shop
No Fixer Upper fan's trip to Waco, Texas, would be complete without a stop at carpenter extraordinaire Clint Harp's design company. When we were in Waco last month visit Magnolia Market [read more about that HERE], we took a little jaunt about a mile down the road to...
My attempt at conquering a Vitek’s Gut Pak
When David Ridley of Waco Tours recommended the Gut Pak at Vitek's BBQ, I knew that was where I wanted to go for lunch. Sure, he had a couple other suggestions, but the name piqued my curiosity and after spending two days at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and Magnolia...
Explaining shiplap and shams to my husband at Magnolia Market
I’m still not quite sure how I convinced Steve to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and lodge as well as Magnolia Market within 24 hours, but I did. After spending two days in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where he waited in line almost two hours for a taste of Ree Drummond’s...
Seven things that surprised us about The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s lodge
This post is about our visit to the Drummond family lodge where The Pioneer Woman shows are filmed. If you'd like to read about our tour of the Pioneer Woman Boarding House, click HERE. The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond and her husband, Ladd, have been opening up the...
Finally home for the Fourth of July
After having spent the Fourth of July out of the country three of the past four years, we're excited to be home this year to celebrate our country's Independence Day. In 2013, we were in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2015 we celebrated in Barcelona, Spain. And last...
I like big buns and I cannot lie
Let me cut to the chase. One of the main reasons people visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla., is to eat. Sure, there are colorful serving bowls to admire, plates to purchase, and recipe books to thumb through. But for me (and I suspect many others)...
Haven’t been to Huntsville…yet
We recently received a postcard from the folks at Visit Huntsville, Ala. We have not been to Huntsville, but I qualify that statement with a big, "yet!" The Rocket City, as it's known, is definitely on our list of places to visit because if its rich history with the...
Six reasons to take your wife to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
I had my doubts when Ann told me she wanted to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla. For me, I couldn't see how this would be time well spent. I envisioned a crowded store with mostly middle-aged women roaming around, oohing and aaahing at spatulas and...
A Teshhamitroy family vacation
That's right -- Teshhamitroy. It's our new family name for the week and includes the first two letters of all of our last names. We are taking our daughter, Meghan, and four college students on a family vacation to ... wait for it ... Branson, Missouri! Steve and I...
Meg Kane keeps folks in line at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Within minutes of arriving at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a young woman with a cheerful smile and a gift for hospitality greeted us. Her name was Meg Kane. How Meg Kane got her job Meg’s job is to welcome visitors to The Merc and ensure they...
Our visit to The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s Mercantile
About 12 hours after Steve finished his last school board meeting and his ended his career as a middle school principal, we were on the road for a much-needed (and anticipated) vacation. First stop – Pawhuska, Oklahoma to visit The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's...
A postcard from San Diego
Our friends, Gary and Linda, recently headed west to sunny San Diego, Calif. I've known Gary and Linda for years, and even had the opportunity to travel with them on one of the school tours to Europe I led a few years ago. They are great travelers, always looking to...
Teaching your kids through travel
Travel isn't just for fun, it can also be a great way to learn something new. Our friends, the Bissons, took this to heart when they headed out on a road trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin from their home in Florida to see family. They decided that their two sons should...
2nd Annual Sine Die Adventure – Destination: Nashville, Tennessee
https://postcardjar.com/surprise-were-going-to-___________/Several years ago, our family of three started taking annual "Sine Die Adventures." [Read more about how the name came about here.] The first year, I had no idea where we were going until we got to the airport and was thrilled to travel to Chicago and essentially,...
Bringing back old-school family vacations
We are so impressed by our friends, Matt and Jennene Anderson, who still take their three kids on old-school family vacations. You know the ones - where you load the kids in the family truckster and drive across the country to explore new cities, visit National Parks,...
See where our parents have been
We thought we'd kick off this summer travel season with a series of blog posts featuring some of the postcards that we've received. We love going down to the post office, opening our P.O. box, and finding postcards from far-away places. It is so neat to think of all...
Our weekend getaway to Chicago
Sometimes you just gotta go. I know, I know. You'd like to travel more but feel like you never have the time. But trust me, you can pack a lot into a long weekend. Sure, the garage might need cleaning. But let's be honest. It can wait. Would you rather look back on...
Why we love Valentine, Nebraska
It seems like a fitting time of year to write about a place we love to visit -- Valentine, Nebraska. Meghan and I drove to Valentine for the first time on one of our annual Nebraska road trips when she was in middle school. We went to see Smith Falls, Nebraska's...
Sharing our Postcards from Nebraska
One of the primary goals of our blog is simply to inspire people to travel more. So, when we got a call from a nearby community college asking if we'd be interested in teaching a course on Nebraska travel, we jumped at the opportunity. And so, last night, we found...
Christmas in the Caribbean: Puerto Rico
I never sleep well the night before we fly out early for vacation. The combination of the excitement for the trip, along with a worry that I will sleep through my alarm and miss the flight, often conspire to give me a short night with lots of waking moments wondering...
A peek at this year’s new ornaments
For the past several years, we've decorated what we like to call our Christmas travel tree. [We wrote a blog post all about it that you can read HERE.] We had lots of help decorating for Christmas this year. Our daughter, Meghan, was home and we invited a couple local...
A postcard from Husker fans
We have had the privilege of having season tickets to Nebraska Cornhusker football games for the past five years. Every fall, we look forward to returning to Memorial Stadium, going through Gate 20, walking up and up and up to section 108, and squeezing ourselves in...
A sip of nostalgia in Hastings, Nebraska
Lots of interesting things were invented in our home state of Nebraska. Yes, we're the creators of vise grip locking pliers, frozen TV dinners, collapsable voting booths, and center pivot irrigation. Perhaps our biggest claim to fame, however, is the fruit-flavored,...
Leaving I-80 for a better view
In case you didn't know, I'm usually a get-there-as-quickly-as-we-can kinda guy. So when Ann told me that she and Meghan preferred to avoid the interstate on trips around Nebraska, I felt a little queasy. The thought of trailing long lines of cars and putting along...
Postcard from Rocky Mountain Natl. Park
Estes Park, Colorado, is a favorite vacation spot for our friends and neighbors, Matt and Linda Hanson of Crete, Neb. They have vacationed there for years and continue to rave about the Golden Aspens, the wildlife, and the variety of outdoor activities available for...
Inspiring the next step on your journey