Earlier this week Cutest and I drove south from downtown to 8909 W 179th street in Overland Park, Kansas. What was there you ask? It was the Overland Park Arboretum’s annual lighted walk along the park’s trails, illuminated with thousands of Christmas lights and luminaries. In total the grounds make up 300 acres. This annual event is held on Saturday nights during the month of December, weather permitting. Weather didn’t permit our original night, so here we were, last chance.
Shuttle buses ran from nearby school parking lots and deposited us at the entrance of the arboretum. After showing the staff our online tickets, we paused by the refreshment counter. Coffee, hot cider, hot chocolate and a few alcoholic holiday beverages were available for purchase.
With drinks in hand, we stepped outdoors and began our trek, and so did the rain. A pouring rain it was not, but a heavy mist interspersed with heavier sprinkles it was. However, Cutest and I were in the holiday spirit mode, so on we soldiered, wondering where my umbrella might be.
Many a fellow walker joined us on our multicolored lighted tour. Along the damp paths we encountered a barber shop quartet bellowing out Christmas carols, a hot cider stand and a quasi contemporary band, protected from the elements by a tent, performing a variety of tunes.
The highlight for me was the large outdoor model train exhibit, chugging through the mist, donned in holiday lights. Although the rain was an occasional nuisance, it did help add a reflectiveness to the surroundings.
After about an hour we found ourselves back to where we had begun. Although our coats were dampened, our spirits were not.
As a special note for those thousands of you who regularly read our blog, Cutest and I will be migrating south for the month of January. But we’ll check in now and then, once we are settled, writing the blog from some beach in Florida. Yep, just trying to make you jealous. (Unless you’re in Tahiti, in which case Cutest will be joining you.)
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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