Smithville Lake is a 7,200-acre lake in Clay County with 175 miles of shoreline. The area also has 25 miles of paved walking/biking trails. One morning, we loaded up our bikes and headed out for a somewhat leisurely bike ride on the Cabin Fever Trail, which is 15 miles out and back. Neither of us had ridden more than a mile or two for the past 3 years, so our shoulders and thighs were screaming at us about halfway through. Despite the pain and achiness, we really enjoyed the trail because it was in such great condition. Much of it runs along the water, and there are ponds and campgrounds to see along the way. I personally have ridden on a number of paved trails in the Kansas City area, and I thought this was one of the nicest. We will definitely return to ride that one again and to check out some of the others.
For an amazing date night, check out New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park, which is the largest and most successful theater restaurant facility in the nation. They offer five shows each season, and there is always something for everyone. We especially enjoy the shows with lots of music. In addition to a great show, your ticket also gets you a wonderful dinner buffet. For an extra charge, be sure to try one of their scrumptious desserts. We recently got to see the incredible story of Buddy Holly ... for the second time. Zachary Stevenson, who played Buddy Holly, did a superb job. The overall storyline was similar to the show we had seen a couple of years ago but had some fun changes. So much music and so many feel-good moments! Look for The Buddy Holly Story to return again to the New Theatre. Or try one of their other great shows, such as The Million Dollar Quartet, coming in the spring of 2020.
For a farm-to-table dining experience, check out Black Sheep + Market, located on 39th Street in the Volker neighborhood. Black Sheep is from the same owners as the Farmhouse in the River Market. We recently tried them out for dinner, but we both decided on breakfast food since they serve it all day. We highly recommend the omelets, breakfast burritos and pancakes, which are more like Swedish pancakes than your typical fluffy ones. The entire menu is full of unique items and combinations of ingredients, including their desserts. The great thing about Black Sheep is that they source as much of their food items from local farmers as they can, and this also means their menu changes seasonally with what’s available. We also want to check out their market, which was closed when we visited. It carries locally-grown and sustainably-raised sundries, including dairy products, eggs, local meat, desserts, and more.
Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in Kansas City. They enjoy regular date nights and love trying new restaurants and activities.