It’s TULIP TIME in Topeka, Kansas and Bodie and I found the most glorious blooms in dog-friendly Old Prairie Town – part of the Ward-Meade Historic Site. We visited mid-week and had 2.5 acres of gardens all to ourselves…
Human treats can be found at the Potwin Drug Store – a vintage soda fountain with old-fashioned candy in glass jars and ads for curious tonics like Beef Iron & Wine. Seeing as we were in Kansas (fresh from the Oz Museum in Wamego) I felt compelled to order the Dorothy & Toto Sundae – a combination of vanilla ice-cream with cherry topping and chocolate ice-cream with matching syrup. Not at all sickly.
Bodie got his rather more pure refreshment at the cool stream…
The tulips are magnificent – so vibrant and grouped in bold color clusters…
The Candystriper tulip matched the two-tone stripes on Bodie’s tongue!
It really is a lovely place to meander – start off with a stroll past the Ward-Meade Mansion (circa 1874), perhaps drop into The Mulvane General Store for Victorian-inspired and Kansas-themed gifts then sit on a shaded bench or try for a photo opportunity with your dog who is more interested in watching the fish in the water garden…
IN CONCLUSION: Dog-friendly Old Prairie Town is well-worth the detour – we relished this picturesque peace after days on the gray freeway. Talk about color therapy – this burst of red and yellow was particularly invigorating!
ADDRESS: 124 NW FILLMORE, TOPEKA KS 66606 (Plenty of parking.)
Set in a residential neighborhood between the Kansas River and downtown Topeka.
PHONE: 785-251-2989
ENTRANCE FEE: $5 for Adults $4 for Seniors $3 for Children 6-12 (5 & under free)
OLD PRAIRIE TOWN HOURS: 8am to Dusk
STORE HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday noon-4pm.
TWO OTHER KANSAS ATTRACTIONS FOR DOG-LOVERS:
THE GREYHOUND HALL OF FAME (Abilene: 90 miles west of Topeka) is a delight for Greyhound aficionados. You will be greeted by two retired racers and could spend hours reading all the exhibits taking you through the breed history. Only Greyhounds are permitted inside but your dog can hang out in the racing pen outside. Here Bodie attempts to induce the sleek cheekbones of the Greyhound…
OZ MUSEUM in Wamego (40 miles from Topeka). Technically this museum is not dog-friendly but they were kind enough to let my outsized Toto tour the exhibits on behalf of all the Cairn Terrier lovers!
