Wamego, Kansas & Denver, Colorado: Our Epic Summer Road Trip Continues

After leaving Branson, Missouri, we headed back west with stops in quirky Wamego, Kansas, and our former home of Denver, Colorado!

Wamego, Kansas: Welcome to Oz!

This charming 5,000-person town in eastern Kansas (about 20-30 minutes from Manhattan) has fully embraced The Wizard of Oz theme. We first discovered Wamego in 2017 when Nathan ran the Wicked Marathon, and we've returned five or six times since—it's perfectly positioned between Denver and Branson.

What We Did in Wamego

Wamego Historical Museum & Village - After years of bad timing, we finally caught it open! The $3 admission gets you access to relocated historic buildings (cabin, general store, jail, chapel, school) and an incredible collection that feels like exploring your grandparents' attic. Well worth it!

Wamego City Park - Impressive for a small town! Features the iconic Dutch Mill windmill, a miniature train for kids, a beautiful lake, playground, and great facilities.

Oz Winery - We enjoyed wine tastings with cheese. They occasionally have an amazing dessert wine that's only available every so often!

Paramore Coffee - Our go-to breakfast spot. Delicious espresso drinks and amazing breakfast sandwiches on flaky bread.

The Camper Waterfall Incident

We planned to camp at Calvin's RV Camping ($25/night, great facilities), but after getting set up in 100+ degree heat, we returned from dinner to find our AC drip tray leaking into our bed. We decided to stay at a local hotel instead for both nights rather than troubleshoot in extreme heat. We've since fixed the issue!

The Journey to Denver: Turtle Mode

About two hours outside Denver, our SUV went into "turtle mode"—limiting us to 20-25 mph to prevent damage. In 105-degree heat, towing a camper, this was scary! We called the Volvo dealer who advised: turn off the car, wait 15 minutes. If the light goes away, you're good. Thankfully, it did! No more issues the rest of the trip.

Travel Tip: Plan for hiccups. Your mindset and adaptability make all the difference!

Denver, Colorado: Our Home for Five Years

We lived in Denver from 2017-2022, and trying to pick favorites is nearly impossible. Here are the places we always recommend!

Where We Stayed: Motooke House Airbnb

This beautiful two-bedroom Airbnb on Denver's west side features a massage chair, African-themed décor, outdoor space, and perfect location next to the Sanderson Gulch Trail. Our friends own two Airbnbs in Denver—check our show notes for links!

Our Denver Favorites: Food & Drink

Pig and Sprout7oi gin.  (LoDo) - Genius concept with separate menus for carnivores and vegetarians. Full bar, two-story space, walking distance from Coors Field.

Watercourse Foods - Plant-based restaurant that doesn't taste like "vegan food." Nathan's country fried steak (seitan) and Alicia's COVID-era shaved seitan with pretzel buns are legendary.

Ester's - Perfect pizza! Try the Bliss with potatoes, vegetarian hot sausage, arugula, and olive oil. Half-price wine bottles on Wednesdays. Nathan needs three sittings to finish their carrot cake slices.

Birdcall - Huge chicken sandwiches with plant-based options featuring the SAME specialty toppings. Alicia loves the Southern with pimento cheese and coleslaw. Crispy tater tots and amazing milkshakes.

Syrup (City Park) - The mini pancake flight with multiple sauce options is adorable and delicious. Great brunch spot right across from City Park.

Breweries & Distilleries

Woods Boss Brewinglowry (Five Points) - Friendly atmosphere, creative beers, kombucha on tap, community events.

Lowry Beer Gardenstran - Tap house with full food menu, outdoor space with heaters and fire pits, comfortable year-round.

Stranahan's Distillery - Nathan's favorite whiskey! Beautiful space, tastings available, near our Airbnb.

Things to Do in Denver

City Parknike trails denver

 - Huge park with the Denver Zoo, running trails, and those famous Denver skyline-with-mountains photo views.

Walking & Biking Trails - Miles of dedicated paths throughout the city. We could ride from the far east side all the way downtown and into the foothills!

Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge - Free 11-mile driving tour where bison get RIGHT next to your car. Perfect for extreme weather days. Stay in your vehicle!

Red Rocks Amphitheater - Famous concert venue that's FREE to visit for sunrise, hiking, or fitness classes.

Gaylord Rockies Sports Bar - Entire wall of TVs that can show one game across 20+ screens or different games on each. Amazing atmosphere.

Day Trips from Denver

Rocky Mountain National Park via Estes Park (90 min) - Drive Trail Ridge Road to Alpine Visitor Center. Estes Park has great restaurants and shopping.

Garden of the Gods & Pikes Peak (1 hour south) - Stunning red rock formations and famous high-altitude donuts at the Pikes Peak summit. Even Alicia loves these donuts, and she doesn't like donuts!

Georgetown Loop Railroad (1 hour) - Historic train ride with mine tours and gold panning options. Beautiful lake nearby.

Breckenridge (90 min-2 hours) - Famous ski town worth visiting year-round for hiking, shopping, and mountain atmosphere.

Boulder - Home of University of Colorado, Celestial Seasonings Tea factory tours (the Peppermint Room!), and Pearl Street Mall.

Marrying Your Passions: Our Takeaways

From Alicia: Play tourist in your own area! Check out local recommendations and pretend you're visiting for the first time. Then ask yourself: where could I get in 90 minutes? Go try something new!

From Nathan: Plan for things to go wrong. We had camper and car issues within 48 hours, but our flexible mindset made all the difference. Picture the turtle and keep moving forward!






















What's Next?

Next episode: We're interviewing Ben and Jess Wiederholt, owners of the Motoke House Airbnb, who'll share Denver insider tips and the story behind their nonprofit Crazy Love Africa!

Connect with Us:

Have favorite Denver spots we didn't mention? Comment on our Facebook page!


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