Average Jane Expands Her Horizons

My husband and I have a terrible habit of forgoing outside entertainment because it's easier just to sit in the TV room and watch the stuff from the DVR. However, I've been paying special attention to low-cost opportunities to do more interesting things and we've been having a great time over the past few weeks.

It started with a trip to a local park to see the Kansas City Symphony play for free. We went with some friends, brought lawn chairs, and enjoyed a cool, late-summer evening of live music.

The next weekend we repeated the experience at a jazz festival. In both instances, we were treated to hours of entertainment and didn't spend a cent.

I did pay for last night's outing, but it was in the form of a donation to Habitat for Humanity. We got to tour the Clarence Sondern house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Thomas Hart Benton home, which is right next door. The administrator of the Thomas Hart Benton home happens to be one of my former high school classmates.

I loved the Sondern house, particularly the great room, which had windows on two sides looking out into the trees beyond.

SondernAdler-Searing
The deck and patio spaces outside were very pleasant as well. Unfortunately the house suffers from the curse of all the flat-roofed houses I've encountered: a musty smell that is almost certainly due to a leaky roof.

Next on our agenda we have trips to the Kansas City Zoo and Powell Gardens. I have a Groupon for Powell Gardens and another one for a Segway tour of the zoo, and we're looking forward to using both of them in the early fall while the weather is nice.

What have you done lately that's fun and free or cheap?

Comments

3 responses to “Average Jane Expands Her Horizons”

  1. Lisa Correu Avatar

    Take a book and lunch to the Kauffman Garden across from the Kauffman Foundation building. A beautiful, free two acre garden. Look for the cat. Go across Rockhill Road to the Anita Gorman Discovery Center and talk a walk.

  2. Angie Pedersen Avatar

    We did a Segway tour of the Plaza – not cheap, but I got a Groupon. 🙂 The tour was such a blast! You’ll have a great time at the zoo. 🙂

  3. Spyder Avatar
    Spyder

    I have the Powell Garden Groupon too! We haven’t seen the Big Bugs yet. Also haven’t been to the Zoo this year….

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