Welcome to your last Creative Adventure email of 2020! Time to wrap this year up, amirite?!Ā š
Recently we sent a survey asking about your activities during the pandemic. We loved reading your responses and were so inspired by your ideas, we're writing an extra Creative Adventure just to share them.Ā š
A majority of you are playing it safe by staying home š or sticking to outdoor activities, and most of you arenāt yet comfortable returning to normal life just yet.
One-third of respondents havenāt been to a bar, restaurant or in-person event since March. ā And a whopping 81% of survey respondents say they arenāt at all comfortable going to a bar, while two-thirds of you arenāt rushing to dine indoors anytime soon.
So, if youāre staying home, wearing your mask, and doing everything the CDC recommends to keep yourself and your community safe, we hope you can find some comfort in knowing that youāre not alone. š·š¤ Hereās what your fellow Adventurers have been up to, along with their suggestions.
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Itās no surprise that outdoor recreation dominated our readersā list of activities during the pandemic.
Hiking and walking at local parks were the most popular mentions in our survey, as well as biking, gardening, picnics at the Nelson-Atkins and kayaking. Here are some other reader suggestions:
š„¾Ā Elaine Bilyeu recommends: āHarry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail! We've done it with our dog, in the snow, in the sun, on our bikes, alone, socially distanced with friends, and love it every time. It's often great people watching and showcases some classic KC history and neighborhoods. End it with a beer at KC Bier Co. and a well deserved outdoor bratwurst.ā
šļøĀ Another reader says: āI've been amazed to find out what the Johnson County Parks have to offer. The Ernie Miller Nature Center has a scavenger hunt in the park for families. There are miles of trails in the parks ā some for horseback riding, some for bicycles, some to share with a pup, and some that are strictly for walking.āĀ
š“Ā Sarah Hemme suggests: āMountain biking on local trails in KCMO!ā
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While the pandemic certainly put a damper on most travel plans this year, it didnāt stop our readers from exploring locally and in nearby states like Colorado and Arkansas (see more travel tips in our NW Arkansas Adventure).
š Jamie Paget wrote in with a local day trip suggestion. āOne of our favorite day trips is to Excelsior Springs. We love touring the fascinating and unique Hall of Waters, eating brick oven pizza at Van Till Winery, and visiting the unique shops around the square including The Mercantile.ā
šĀ One reader says: āIn early October a friend and I visited St. Joseph, Missouri, viewed the exhibitions at the Albrecht Kemper Museum, and then went to pick three varieties of apples in a nearby orchard.āĀ
š£ļøĀ Other readers suggest day trips to Flint Hills, Weston Bend State Park and Fort Osage.
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Maybe, after nine months of being stuck at home together, youāve run out of ideas for how to spend quality time with family. Hereās what some readers suggest:Ā
š½ļø If youāre aching for a night out at the movies, one reader told us they rented a full movie theater for just 15 people ā which might be a safer way to spend time with family and friends in your ābubble.ā You can rent a theater through AMC for as low as $99, Alamo Drafthouse for $150 or Screenland Armour for as low as $100 (for 10 guests).Ā
š½ļø One brilliant reader wrote to us with this excellent date night dining tip: āMissing going out to dinner, we have started paying our teenage son to work as our server for date nights. I make the meal, which he sometimes has to put the finishing touches on, and he has learned how to be an excellent server. He even came up with the idea of naming the restaurant and printing menus.āĀ
š§ Another Adventure reader has discovered the joys of on-demand audio: āI have never really listened to podcasts, but have started listening now with my family. We've enjoyed Spooked and 1865.ā Might we suggest A Peopleās History of Kansas City? Or My Fellow Kansans, perhaps?
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You can make a social gathering safer by wearing masks, social distancing and keeping gatherings small ā but virtual gatherings are the only way to be 100% safe during the pandemic. Here's how our readers are doing it:
š· Lisa McCamy wrote in to tell us about a virtual wine tasting she attended. āThey sent 4 bottles of wine, with suggested food pairings. Then we were on a Zoom call where they walked you through each wine. So much fun!ā
š» Lisa also shared what we think would make an excellent Zoom party. āMy parents once held a French wine party. People brought their own wine and my parents provided the cheeses. Then they provided some history. I know some people can't invite many people over, but I really love this idea of a shared experience via zoom.ā We love this idea, too!
š§ Sarah Hemme has been enjoying virtual yoga classes with local instructor Sally Urdang, who offers daily yoga classes on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. āSomething anyone can participate in from home ā including elders and people of varying abilities ā for free or with Patreon membership! ... her instruction is so laid back, so relaxing, and the positions are very accessible for most people.ā
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āØ A note to readers: Thank you all for sticking with KCUR's Creative Adventure email through 2020. From the arts team at KCUR, we wish you a happy new year ā and cheers to a much brighter 2021! š„Ā š„³Ā
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