Once in a while, I like to take my girls out for an "extra girly day" to do things that "Daddy wouldn't enjoy." Lately, I haven't been feeling my best, so once I had a break and began to feel a little better, I thought it would be fun to take the girls to lunch at Madame Hatter's. We visit Madame Hatter's about once a year and the girls thoroughly enjoy it every time.
Madame Hatter's Tea Room (228 Oak Street, Bonner Springs, KS. 913.422.8800. Tues-Sat 11am-3pm. Prices range from $8-15/person) is a tea room with hats and parasols and teacups, where girls, both the young and the young at heart can play for a day. We love
to visit Tea Rooms, especially with Grandma, but Madame Hatter's is our #1 FAVORITE of all time (with Shabby Hattie's in Parkville running a close second).
For lunch, my girls ordered their own food (this made it "extra special" according to my oldest). They reminded me that at a tea party you are supposed to speak properly at all times. Emily ordered, "Yes, I think PB&J would be lovely today with some sweet Pink Lemonade." Following suit, Kayla ordered, "Oh, I would like some lovely PB&J also." They were served pb&j on croissants (turkey and cheese are also offered for kids) with pretzels, fresh fruit, and applesauce. And, of course, Pink Lemonade in their very own special tea pot with tea cups and a decadent slice of chocolate cake with whipped cream for dessert. I ordered a pot of hot tea and a salad and sandwich. The food was delicious and the girls adored being treated like little ladies with the full "Tea Party Experience", but the real fun came right after we ordered our food!
Madame Hatter's provides a special nook for guests decked out with vintage hats, purses, shawls, boas, gloves, wraps, and jewelry where ladies of all ages are encouraged to "play dress up." My girls were thrilled to play trying on all the accessories overflowing from the trunk! The other ladies having lunch that day encouraged their "fashion show" with many oohs and aahs and my oldest declared it a "Fancy Nancy Day!" We can't wait to visit Madame Hatter's again and the girls are already begging to come back with their friends.
While we were in Bonner Springs, we also made a visit to one of the most unique toy stores we've ever encountered, Moon Marble. Moon Marble Toy Store (600 Front St, Bonner Springs, KS. 913.422.1432. Open Tues- Sat., 10am-5pm. Demonstrations of the Marble Making Process given on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (and Sundays during Holiday Hours) providing they have a glass artist available.
From your first step inside Moon Marble, you discover a magical toy store overflowing with the coolest toys around! Like Alice slipping through the rabbit hole, you'll discover gizmos and gadgets all around labeled, 'Try Me.' Moon Marble is filled with marbles, toys, and games. You'll find great vintage toys, modern toys that are a bit unique and out of the ordinary, family games, and more. They even have a room just for guests to take a break and play with wooden marble tracks, magnetic marble chutes, and large games. There are hundreds of toys for purchase, but the "treat" is to fill a tube with marbles ($3-5 depending on size) specially selecting your favorite colors and designs to create your own set, then reaching into the mouth of the "Marble Genie" to choose the perfect shooter to cap off the set! We visited on a Friday and loved watching as a glass artist made amarble (decorated with a frog on top) right before our eyes. The girlswere fascinated and eager to tell Dad all about it at dinner that night.
It's always fun to take a break from the ordinary and do something extra special with the kids from time to time... I know this was one Mother/Daughter Day the girls won't forget!
What are some of your favorite places to take your children on special outings?
Written By Kristina Light