VFV 2017: Hanging out in Kansas City

I missed the last two weeks because I was here but holding down the fort for our 11th Voboril Family Vacation.

Here's a list of where we've gone in the past:

2001: I chose to do a trip to NE that included the Great Platte River Road Archway (Kearney, NE)
2004: We all went to Iowa: Amana Colonies, Grotto of the Redemption, Pella, and LeMars
2007: Elk Falls, KS (Sherman House Bed and Breakfast) with day trip to Independence
2008: Cabooses at Two Rivers State Recreational Area outside of Omaha, NE
2009: None--Kidney transplant and 3 graduations took care of that
2010: Colorado for niece's baptism
2011: Wahoo, NE with trips to Lincoln and Omaha
2012: Cedar Bluffs, KS (cabins)
2013: Yankton, SD
2014: Fort Robinson, NE with day trip to Mount Rushmore
2015: Just a day trip to Omaha to save up money for...
2016: Door County and Wisconsin Dells with shorter trips to Chicago and South Bend, IN
2017: Kansas City with day trips to Jamesport, Weston, and Hermann, MO
2018: Burwell, NE (tubing, Ashfall, Gracie Creek Cabin)
2019: Door County
2020: St. Louis, MO (perhaps) (felled by coronavirus)

2021: None, Covid. Took Mom and Dad on Nebraska trip and moved brother from Arizona to South Carolina.

2022: None, Covid. Took family trip to Mammoth Cave and moved brother from South Carolina to Virginia.

2023: Family trip with Mom to Shenandoah National Forest, also saw VA brother. River trip on Niobrara for mom's 75th Birthday.

2024: Planning for Redwood National Park with Mom!


Who knows where next year will take us? We have not yet had a vacation with all of us on it, except for the two early trips for college graduations.

Our favorite food this year included:
Beethoven #9 in Paola, KS for schnitzel, sausage, and potato pancakes
Q39 for all things barbecue
The Wurst Haus in Hermann, MO for sausage
Gingerich Dutch Pantry in Jamesport, MO wasn't fancy but it was very tasty
Spin Pizza in Crown Center
Bolognese Sauce from my sister
Bob Evans (always a favorite for my dad)

Not so favorites included:
Green Dirt Farm in Weston, MO (they just weren't prepared for the number of people they had)
Frozen Lemonade at Worlds of Fun (it was really frozen, not just icy)