There are zillions of ways to do a weekend or short stay in Kansas City. But if you go on the first Friday of the month, you’ll encounter the First Friday Art Crawl in the Crossroads district. The art galleries ambience within an artfully architectural district is very fulfilling—aesthetically, visually and culturally.
After an amazing meal at Lidia’s Farmhouse Kitchen nearby, you can walk over to the art galleries. You’ll be both satisfied with the culinary experience and then the visually stimulating art crawl experience. Thought provoking art is the best way to digest fine cuisine!
KC is full of great dining. Since you’re allowed to have cheat days when doing the Keto diet—if you’re going to cheat, do it at Louie’s Wine Dive and get the beignets. OH MY GOD. My hubby and I don’t even like sweets but we devour the beignets with a controlled version of reckless abandon (if that’s possible). Meaning, we finish them off but slowly as if that makes it seem like we’ve practiced some kind of discipline. The rum butter sauce is the devil. 
I love art. I love, love, love how your mind doesn’t realize it’s actually being enriched while it feels like it’s just escaping. The art is piercing your psyche but you don’t even realize it. You question the themes later…and that means the art exhibit worked.
Look on your calendar right now and schedule a First Friday Art Crawl weekend in Kansas City. Go for even half an hour, an hour, whatever you can fit in. The food trucks around the corner, the live entertainment, the pedestrian vibe is so perfect for a Friday night escape. We walked, peered into windows and unplugged on a Fall night. Now, I’m going to have to try this trapeze swing gym. Look closely; I’m “reflecting on it.” Love it! THAT’S KANSAS CITY!
photos by Gina Kingsley
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Antigua is the ideal introduction into Guatemala. The architecture, cobbled streets and colonial charm was our time machine back into the 1500’s. Colorful buildings, vendors, artisans and Central Park with its twinkling lights was an explosion of “Bienvenido!” in our faces.
Strolling the streets to our dinner restaurant, we lined up single file to navigate the small sidewalks. My friend remarked on the inordinate amount of PDA (public displays of affection) going on in Central Park. It was true–the Guatemalan couples are passionate. They were perfect “props” for this idyllic and romantic landscape.
The streets and curbs have lights running along them and the roofs of the buildings did, too. How brilliant this idea is–it makes Antigua shimmer, sparkle and gives it an incandescence in the night. Antigua, like Athens and other cosmopolitan cities, doesn’t like to sleep. The weekend party seems to linger. Just when you think you’ve fallen asleep after the final sounds of the last partier, you’ll awaken to a rooster and church bells. They were sounds that make you cranky but not cacophonious ones; in fact, they were somewhat melodious.
Ascending to our hotel’s rooftop, we “consciously caffeinated ” to a mesmerizing sunrise. A couple of the thirty three volcanoes of Guatemala were shrouding us in a misty panorama. Posing for pictures left and right, our photographic- FOMO (fear of missing out) was a perfect way to wake up. 
We had the rooftop all to ourselves which was great bonding for our girls’ trip. I climbed over the rooftop wall of our hotel to get to another rooftop so there would be no photo-FOMO. 
On our returning night there, which was the night before departure, we went to the Chocolate Museum – a display of chocolates with the most unique fillings (Bailey’s Irish Cream, Tequila, rum, Oreo cookie crust, etc) and a chocolate fondue demonstration. Next door was a fabulous jade jewelry store. While Mexico has its silver, Dominican Republic has its larimar, other countries have their turquoise—Guatemala has is jade!- traditional jade, lavender jade, white jade, etc. We ooohed and aahhhed like young girls over our jade trials, selections, and purchases. The unique white jade won my heart, forever reminding me of the volcanic mist and marshmallow clouds of Guatemala. At a quiet and calm happy hour behind a walled courtyard of draping florals, we summarized our trip impressions over the freshest top shelf margaritas. With a slightly sombre tone to saying goodbye to this country, I think our bodies and minds were full and tired from a power packed itinerary.
© GIna Michalopulos Kingsley
The menu is divine and you can mix and match taco styles and fillings. Thai Chili Shrimp might be my favorite and the crispy tortilla complements it very well. My favorite thing on the menu is the Watermelon Mojito (served in a mason jar), I have to say. It’s a perfect way to start or end your morning or afternoon of strolling through the City Market. 
Head up to and buy a vintage cap now that you’re loosened up and satiated on mojitos and delicious tacos. What could be better than that? 
KC Taco Company at 520 Walnut Street in Kansas City
Itinerary: no required sightseeing, necessarily; no culture. What??? This is a travesty for a travel writer to suggest but it’s a possibility considering you may have done several intense cultural trips in the last few years. Sometimes you need a languid trip with girlfriends. If you’ve done the voluntourism trip, the altruism, slept on the bunk bed, immersed in culture, danced and participated in an Indian wedding, wore the henna, drank the hot cocoa in the Guatemalan tour guide’s village home, etc. ….now, you might just need a margarita and a novel on the beach. The only thing on your packing list is the following: bathing suits, cute cover ups, sunscreen, novels, a beach bag, a beach hat, a passport and some sunnies. You’re going to deeply analyze lapping waves on the shore, cotton-candy clouds and an endless expanse of sky and sea while enjoying witty banter with girlfriends. That’s right; no clients, no colleagues, no children who require motherly wisdom, no pets’ needs of the circadian rhythm world, no volunteer group good deeds….just you celebrating a milestone. LIFE.
What did this kind of trip format provide for me? It provided a respite from to- do lists, looming deadlines and details of a son’s college graduation, career goals, etc. No travel visas, no change in currency, no foreign language, just a destination that is both Caribbean and UK-owned. No massive jet lag and no list of desired souvenirs, other than that duty-free bling, maybe.
Caribbean islands like Cuba, Aruba, Grand Caymans, etc…are excellent choices for milestone vacays. Depending on what vibe you’re looking for: culture and arts immersion? voluntourism and history? or a beach vacation for rest, relaxation, total pleasure and bonding, boating and sea and marine life exploration. Domestic destinations for a milestone vacay can be a resort, something in your home state, a cabin at the lake or a resort spa and hotel for treats like massages, salons, yoga classes, great shopping, etc. For me, I’d rather save up for an experience than spend it on “things” at home. Some friends recharge with golf trips, others with painting + wine classes, yoga retreats, art crawls, jewelry making classes, etc. It doesn’t have to be expensive; get creative. But start jotting down what you want to do to celebrate your milestones in life.
On the outskirts of Xela, the city we were based in for much of our itinerary and volunteerism work, we drove an hour and a half away (approximately) to Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs resort for our much anticipated “bath”. The minerals, temperature and environs of this geological treasure were an exotic retreat from urban life and service. We dipped in, bounced along the bed of the pool and joined in the communal levity and exhilaration. Womb-like and mirthful, we mused on simple thoughts and questions like, “Is this a pumice-layer I’m feeling on the bottom of my feet.?” and “If we bounced over to the waterfall crevice, is it warmer over there?….”yes, it’s almost boiling!” Ahhhhh. The sensual hot springs experience with its medicinal sulphuric tinges and healing benefits is “just what the doctor ordered. ” I looked at my friends and said, “This is the most exotic spa we may ever experience.” Since it was a girls trip, too, it made it all the more appropriate for bonding.
© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley
The vendors’ items ranged from jewelry, textiles, wheelbarrows full of peanuts, watermelon spears, hackey sacks, tortillas, aprons and much more. We were followed by aggressive salesgirls determined to sell their lovely tablecloths and occasionally we could tuck away into a calmer booth to look at the jewelry. The labrynthine market was overwhelming and stimulating, all in one. I tried to pay attention to our “path” so we could figure out how to get back to our meeting point at the Santo Tomas Hotel for our lunch buffet. My friend and I luckily found some teenage boy vendors who were more interested in their cell phones and not as aggressive. Perfect! We ended up buying most of our shopping list items there where it was calm. Mission accomplished! We enjoyed the visuals of the food market but waited for lunch to eat.
As we found our path somewhat, we lingered on some placemats with matching napkins and aprons. The ceviche looked good, but again, we were not going to try street food since we had lunch plans. 
Just as we found a way back to the hotel (having to ask a few people for directions), we heard haunting music and commotion. There on the steps of the Santo Tomas Church, a crowd formed on every step of the historic white church. Incense, florals and chanting filled the landscape. Fireworks went off. Outside of all the chaos of the market, this spiritual ceremony and historic church balanced the energy of Chichicastenango in the most symbolic way.
Before getting into the lunch buffet dining area of the beautiful Santo Tomas Hotel, we had to bypass some more vendors. Vibrant and intricate textiles as far as the eye could see.
Lunch and live marimba music was a nice retreat from this hyperactive experience. It was different from what we expected but part of the Guatemalan journey a tourist should experience. The van ride on the way to Lake Atitlan would transport us to the calmest stop on our itinerary—the magical Mayan lake and its sleepy San Juan village. We experienced Chichicastenango and its chromatic culture, crafts and chaos. When I don my apron from there, I’l recapture some of its energy and smile.
photos by Gina Kingsley
This was an especially refreshing and effervescent (wink, wink) project for me because I’m typically not a beer drinker. So, when I like a particular beer—I really like it. The recent surge in Tulsa breweries has enlivened the social scene and I wanted to check them out on my own “brewery tour.”
I’m always intrigued by the cyclists who gather here. Exercise + beer afterwards. 
We’ve done it before, too, after a hike at Turkey Mountain. Our friends bought a calzone and pizza from the food truck on the property. I do love those pizzas from that truck. Highly recommended!
That’s also how I feel about the tiny, remote and authentic villages around the world but especially this particular one in Guatemala! I’m sure it’s because of the occasional summer time spent in my dad’s village in Greece. Big cities have their allure and we gravitate toward them but the pulchitrude of small villages affects me in other ways.
The dyed textile threads and corn drying on the rooftops of the homes are the only other colors you’ll see, at first. Then, when you ascend the steep, mile-high roads, you’ll encounter brightly painted doors and facades. At the top of the village, there’s a smaller replica of the church and a stunning panoramic view of the town next to a big blue cross. 
Lastly, we finished our tour sitting in the coral living room of Juan’s mountain top home, drinking hot chocolate and eating the fluffiest, lightest, air-filled bread roll with powdered sugar dusted on top. DIVINITY!!!!! His young son played with toys nearby as Juan explained more about this wonderful culture. San Andres de Xecul was a favorite for me—the coy villagers flirted with me about being photographed and played hide and seek out of windows and rooftops.
I spoke limited Spanish with some children and they tried out an English “Thank You!” on me when I gave them money to share among themselves. While walking down the hill to our tour van, my friend and I mused about how we hope that village always stays remote, private and rustic. “Que paiz?,” people asked me (What place are you from?)” to which I answered, “Estados Unidos.” It sounds easy –our states being united. With all the partisan issues that go on back home, it often feels divided. There’s no place like home, though, and I always appreciate it more and more when I travel.
© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley