In June our family spent a few days together in Kansas City, staying at the home of my sister and her husband.

I love Kansas City. We all went to a Royals baseball game in beautiful Kaufman stadium. (Pictures here.) While both the baseball and football (Chiefs) stadiums ( pictures ) were built in an era when tacky was in, they instead have graceful lines, eye-pleasing features, and have held up very well.

My Dad and I toured the Liberty Memorial, which I had not seen since the mammoth renovation project. The Liberty Memorial is a museum and memorial honoring those who fought in World War 1, and is our nation's official World War One museum. Well worth a visit.

We also listened to some good jazz music. Kansas City has a great jazz tradition, honored in the American Jazz Museum (which I have yet to visit). Have I mentioned that Kansas City is a great jazz town? Even the happy-hour live music in the hotel lobbies is good.

We also had to eat: Kansas City is a great place for steaks, barbeque, and chili.

Not on this summer's list, but also in the metropolitan area are: The Harry Truman Presidential Library and The Steamboat Arabia Museum and The Nelson Art Gallery.

Throw in the amusement park and water park and it's a great vacation city.

Also in and around Kansas City are historical sites dealing with Westward Expansion (the Santa Fe and other trails started here), Mormons, Jesse James, and north in St. Joseph the Pony Express Museum.