Cragies and Snackies

This is not your typical Cragies and Snackies!  Normally we select the crag, and then find the most fitting local establishment for snackies!  Kansas of course is a beautiful state filled with wonderful and exciting things to do, rock climbing however, is not usually considered one of them.  With only 330 noted climbs in the entire state, we thought it might be better to locate some snackies and then attempt to find the nearest cragie.

Of the 330 routes in Kansas only 14 are sport routes, so when heading to The Sunflower State, you might want to pack a crash pad instead of a rope.

The crag we’ve selected to for your climbing trip to Kansas is a unique location that might not have a similar counterpart anywhere in the world.  The Arboretum Climbing Crag has only 16 routes, and most of them are V2-V3, in fact only one route is rated higher than a V3 and it’s a V4.  So, maybe not the most challenging day of climbing that you will ever face, but who cares it’s still climbing AND it’s located in The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.  How cool is that?

It’s super cool!

This place has over 300 acres of gardens and recreational areas.  There are several different garden themes including the Children’s Garden, the Monet Garden, the Iris Garden, and the Train Garden, which itself includes a working model train.  They also have workshops such as stained glass making, wine tasting, plant sales, and biergarten Thursdays!!!  All of this and it’s only $5!

That’s all great, but it when it comes to snackies, it gets even better!

Did you know that there is a Kansas culinary delicacy, that is almost completely unknown to folks not from one of the plains states?  In fact, it’s almost unknown to several within the plains states, but despite Kansas’ best efforts to keep this a secret, Carrot is here to break the story!

Bowls and Rolls! 

The Secret is out Kansas!

Folks from the Heartland have been pairing bowls of chili with cinnamon rolls for nearly 100 years.  How is this not the most well-known fact about Kansas?

In order the most well-known Kansas facts are as follows:

1. Kansas hosts the geographical center of the US.
2. Pizza Hut and White Castle first opened their doors in Kansas.
3. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is from Kansas.

How are Bowls and Rolls not on that list, and why does chicken and waffles dominate the hearts of Americans?  I mean, sure, it’s a great combination, but chili and cinnamon rolls deserves recognition on the national stage too!

The combo started as a Friday lunch special in school cafeterias around the great state of Kansas during the late years of The Great Depression.  Children would look forward to a bowl and a roll, and nostalgia would eventually set in.  Nowadays that classic lunchroom special can be found all over the plains including the popular Nebraska fast-food chain Runza.

But we’re not talking about Nebraska, so for today’s snackies we’re digging into the celebrated Ladybird Diner in Lawrence Kansas!

It’s important to note that bowls and rolls are a seasonal nosh, so you may want to wait until the colder months to plan your trip, but if you are more of a summer roadie, worry not!  Ladybird still has you covered.

They offer all the diner fare that you have come to know and love, from corned beef hash to double cheeseburgers and from French fries to cheesy grits.  If it’s not bowls and rolls season, I’d recommend something light, like the banana nut oatmeal.  Not because the other entrées don’t look delicious, but because they offer so much pie that you are going to want to try them all!

I have no idea what an Oatmeal Scotchie Pie is, but I want it.  I also want the Raspberry Rhubarb Pie.  And potentially a hand-dipped milkshake.  And probably a side of cheesy grits…maybe a biscuit for good measure!

No matter what you order, it’s bound to be delicious, and even more so if you get a chance to experience a bowl and a roll!

So, that’s it!  Check out the garden, smell the roses sunflowers, climb 16 routes, and get yourself a bowl and roll.  Also, can we please embrace this marvelous depression era idea that chili and cinnamon rolls belong together?  Spread the word.  Kansas lunchrooms from the 1930’s until now have been keeping this union quiet for far too long.  I know it’s pretty cool to be the geographical center of the USA, but bowls and rolls should be what puts Kansas on the map!

Location: Lawrence, Kansas “Ad astra per aspera”

Crag: The Arboretum Climbing Crag

Restaurant: Ladybird Diner

Distance: 42 Miles