Kansas Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series)

I purchased this before our trip. My husband was convinced that there was nothing in Kansas he could possible want to visit. Proved him wrong. I wish the book were arranged a little differently -- it can be hard to find the information you want without reading the whole section. One of the restaurants that they recommended as outstanding was just okay... but we found the lifesized T-rex, beautiful stained glass in the Catholic church and the fun Rolling Hills Zoo (we couldn't believe how close we could get to the rhinos).

This is an interesting book. The prose is great, and it will lead you to places off the beaten track. But it needs city maps! There are some highway maps, but you're on your own if you want more detail.

Also, the book ignores diners. My reason for visiting Kansas was to explore Valentine diners. Valentine diners originated and were manufactured in Kansas, but there is no mention of them in this book. I don't believe that the author recommends a single diner (Valentine or not) as a place to eat, which is disappointing. Fortunately, the Kansas State Historical Society website has plenty of information about Kansas diners.