Jackie Burrell, Writer

Am I obsessed with the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush? Yes seems an understatement. Name the California or Oregon trail-related landmark and chances are good I’ve been there. Ghost towns? Yep. Gold mines? Oh, so many. Swales and wagon ruts, tailing wheels, blacksmith shops and more. I’ve panned for gold and sipped sarsaparilla in Columbia State Historic Park, a preserved 1850s Gold Rush town, where I encountered what I thought was a late night ghost in my historic hotel room. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.) I’ve even sent out Christmas cards — twice — with photos of my entire pioneer-cosplaying family at a living history camp in the California foothills.

But Missouri? Kansas? Nebraska? I finally explored the eastern end of the overland trail on a trip last September that provided not only historical background, rich atmosphere and incredible sights, but some great food, too. We spooned up ice cream sundaes at Clinton’s Soda Fountain in Independence Square — Harry Truman worked there when he was 14, btw — and ate our weight in Kansas City barbecue. I’m still dreaming about the Magee family’s Q39 and its mouthwatering burnt ends, crisp apple slaw and cucumber salad in a dill vinaigrette. (The smoky fare and incredible sides were so awesome, I named one of my characters after a server there, not for his charm but his swagger.)

You’ll find more details from that trip — the tallgrass prairie preserve, a covered wagon ride, bison sightings, Donner Party lore and a popped tire — popping up on Instagram, too, @jackieburrellwrites. Meanwhile, check out the food up top.