After tasting ice cream in many locations, we may have found the best ice cream we have ever had! Located in Downtown Port St. Joe, Florida at 319 Reid Avenue, this brand-new cold treat restaurant is cooling off residents and tourists like in the Gulf Coast town. We visited on the day of their grand opening and were so excited to get a private tasting thanks to Jae Glass and Jera Horton, the sweet ladies that own the place and Adrianne Glass with Gulf County Florida Tourism. After introductions were aside, we were able to taste whatever flavors our hearts desired. We could not help but taste ..read more

When we were first invited to the Blast on the Bay Songwriters Festival, we did not know what to expect! However, within just five minutes of the opening act, we were hooked and knew this would be an event we forever wanted to be attend. We unfortunately could not make it for the Thursday night opening event that was held at Windmark Green. At 6pm, the VIP attendees were invited to a dinner that was followed by the 7pm Kick Off Party featuring Vinyl Radio. We started at KrazyFish Friday night watching Sherrie Austin, Brooks Huntley, Will Rambeaux. Sherrie’ was discovered at age 14 and went on ..read more

On October 7, 2018, a Category 5 storm ravaged Mexico Beach and a huge portion of Gulf County. Fifty-nine people in the United States lost their lives in the furious winds, rain, and surge of the water but even in the midst of one of the worst storms on record, a group of people came up with a plan that was sure to make a huge impact on those that were suffering. Moved by the overwhelming need for assistance on the Florida Gulf Coast, a group of Atlanta business leaders stepped up to make an impact on those that were hurting. What resulted was a racing event that has raised more than $50 mil ..read more

Did you know that Great Bend, Kansas has the Kansas Oil and Has Museum there? If you did not, then sit back and let us tell you why this is a must stop, a bucket list museum, for you to visit! The Kansas Oil and Gas Museum was founded in 1990 by a special group of individuals who wanted to do everything in their power to preserve the history of the oil and gas industry and to be able to tell the first of how this industry shaped economic opportunities for many of the residents of the Sunflower State. The museum, located at 5944 10th Street in Great Bend has a unique collection and regularly ..read more

So many times, the expo centers in towns throughout the country are not utilized like the they should be. However, there are not many months that come around that the Great Bend Expo Complex is not hosting some amazing event. In addition to the SRCA Dragstrip and its plethora of activities throughout the year (mentioned in a previous blog), the expo grounds also hosts the Barton County Fair. Held every July for an entire week, pre-fair events include many 4-H events including judging in foods, arts, rabbit, and poultry. The second day includes more judging of 4-H and a concert. On one of the ..read more

The Forgotten Music Festival in Port St. Joe Florida has been bringing local and national acts to the stage since 2018. This year’s event will be October 9-10 and promises to be a special one! Joe and Sara Whitmer had been vacationing on the white beaches and frolicking in the clear Gulf of Mexico waters for more than a decade when they decided that this was the perfect place for the Forgotten Music Festival. Even though it is now one of the most popular music festivals in all of the southeast, it is important to understand this is not Joe’s first dance. He has worked in the entertainment ind ..read more

Located on a former B29 Army Air Force Base and its former life being a runway for these historic planes, the City of Great Bend acquired this location in 1946 when the military declared it surplus. The first race was May 12, 1953, and the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association was formed on January 19, 1954. Just a year later, history was made when they joined the NHRA in 1955. Soon after the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to NHRA found, Wally Parks requesting that Great Bend be the first NHRA National Event. With a resounding yes, Great Bend’s SRCA Dragstrip would be responsib ..read more

What if we told you that in Downtown Great Bend, Kansas there is a display of 24 multi-cultural Santa’s on display, sharing their Christmas traditions from around the world. This life size Santa’s were created by Great Bend artist Loretta Miller. Originally the Santa’s were set to appear in various downtown retail stores. The Santa’s were donated to the Rosewood Roots and Wings Foundation in order of the St. Nick’s to be maintained. Santa’s Around the World have found a permanent exhibit space at the corner of Main and Larkin and are available to tour throughout the holidays. The 24 lifelike ..read more

We were first introduced to Rosewood Services when we were visiting the amazing central Kansas city of Great Bend. Our first impression was how delicious their wine was, but it was not until we did a little research that we realized that Rosewood was impacting Kansas in so many ways. Rosewood Services was founded in 1998 as an agency that “fostered independence, inclusion and productivity through education, work, recreation and housing for people with developmental disabilities.” They have done that and so much more! Their services are true life changers for so many people in central Kansas ..read more

Located just north of the Arkansas River in the plains of central Kansas, Cheyenne Bottoms is a natural geographic depression that makes up the largest marsh in the interior of the United States. In 1998, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands named both Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (also in Kansas), were declared Wetlands of International Importance. The bottoms are considered the most important shorebird migration point in the western hemisphere, where more than 45% of the North American shorebird population stops off here during the spring. The marsh also contains racco ..read more