{"id":9683,"date":"2013-06-07T22:00:46","date_gmt":"2013-06-08T02:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=9683"},"modified":"2024-12-04T17:53:06","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T22:53:06","slug":"favorite-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=9683","title":{"rendered":"My Favorite Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"07<\/a>Linda Burton posting from Topeka, Kansas <\/i>\u2013 \u201cI played golf.\u201d That was Ryan\u2019s answer to my question \u201cWhat did you do today?\u201d It was 5 PM and he was just getting the restaurant open; the hotel\u2019s complimentary hot wings were bubbling over the sterno flame; the afternoon crowd was drifting in and conversations were beginning to take shape. I asked about the golf courses in the area and he ticked them off on his fingers, Cypress Ridge, Lake Shawnee, Forbes, the private courses too. \u201cGolf is still my favorite thing,\u201d he said. \u201cand I started playing when I was seven. This is a great place for golfing.\u201d Favorite things<\/i>. A list was \"07<\/a>coming together in my mind; Lee and James had told me their favorite thing in Topeka was drag racing; two young men, both named John, said theirs was hiking. John and John and dog Aztec were standing at the back of my car in the parking lot at Cedar Crest the day I toured the Governor\u2019s Mansion; they\u2019d just finished their hike on the property\u2019s trail. We swapped stories; they wanted to hear about the Journey<\/i>; I wanted to hear about Topeka. One John had moved from Michigan; the dog-owning John was born here; both enthusiastically endorsed life in Topeka, telling me the names of their favorite trails and their favorite fishing spots. Lee \"07<\/a>and James had spotted my car in a parking lot too; they were working at Old Prairie Town the day I visited\u00a0there. They\u00a0happily posed for pictures as I answered their questions about the Journey<\/i> and they answered mine about Topeka; James told me the Heartland Race Track had the fastest drag strip in the world. \u201cIt\u2019s what Topeka is known for,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll be there Saturday night,\u201d Lee added. \u201cIt\u2019s my favorite thing to do.\u201d <\/p>\n

Back in my room I picked up the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Summer Schedule \"07<\/a>that Madge gave me the day I visited the General Store in Old Prairie Town. \u201cYou just missed Tulip Time,\u201d she\u2019d said, pointing to a picture of masses of bright yellow tulips in bloom. \u201cAnd you\u2019re too early for Cabin Meals,\u201d going on to explain about the hearth-cooked meals that were served at fire-side tables in the 1854-style cabin during winter months; the meals are cooked by costumed volunteers who also dish out a little history with the meal. \u201cSince they cook over an open fire, it\u2019s too hot to do it in the summertime. But my favorite thing at Old Prairie Town is the Apple Festival in October,\u201d Madge continued. \u201cThere is apple cider, and music all day long, and it\u2019s the perfect time to be out of doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Favorite things<\/i>. The Recreation Schedule is packed with things to do in Shawnee County, from Aquatics to the Zoo. The \u201cWorld\u2019s Largest Swimming Lesson\u201d is happening at aquatic facilities around the world on June 18 this year; swim lessons conducted simultaneously in an \"07<\/a>attempt to break the Guinness World Record on teaching water safety. It\u2019s scheduled in Topeka at the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center. The Lake Shawnee Swim Beach is not only a great place for people, with events like Sand Castle Saturdays (prizes for the best creation); it welcomes doggies too. Canine Capers Day, Dog\u2019s Day Out, and even the Doggie Olympics on August 25, when competition includes fastest dog, longest jump, and cutest doggie trick.<\/p>\n

What is higher on the cuteness factor than preschoolers at summer camp? At the Shawnee North Community Center on Iron Chef Day they learn how to create their own favorite foods (and then get to eat them); on Camping Coolness Day they set up their own tent and sing their favorite camp songs while picnicking in the woods (\u201cDown on the banks of the Hanky Panky, where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky\u2026\u201d). A special event for preschoolers at Gage Park is \u201cTouch-A-Truck\u201d day, when little ones are allowed to climb on, play in, and honk the horn of various vehicles. Older kids have special event days too; like the Dick and Dotty Kids Fishing Derby for 14 and under at Lake Shawnee Junior Pond. Old Prairie Town has Kids \"\"<\/a>Stampede Day for 10 and under; sing and dance and play all day. All ages are invited to the Summer Jam at Auburn Ball Fields \u2013 a city-wide garage sale and book sale, bounce houses for kids, live music on center stage, and food of course. The Topeka Fishing Rodeo is for people with disabilities; it\u2019s held at Westlake Pond in Gage Park and lunch and all equipment are provided, volunteers make sure everyone has fun.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more Special Event Days upcoming:<\/p>\n