The first night we descended upon Kansas City for the 2008 Travel Media Showcase we and the other attendees had the fabulous opportunity to experience the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
When we pulled up to this museum I instantly recognized a scene I had only seen in photos (see left). The museum grounds are home to the 22-acre Kansas City Sculpture Park, designed by architects Dan Kiley and Jaquelin Robertson. Over 30 sculptures are on display, but I have to admit the kid in me adores the over-sized badminton birdies. (What is it with my fascination of tiny towns and over-sized art? Does Alice in Wonderland come to mind?) It ends up that I am not the only one fascinated by the sculptures. You can see some of Sheila Scarborough’s stunning sculpture photos at Perceptive Travel. 
Once we were inside the museum, the evening started out with a wine tasting of local Missouri wines (did you know Missouri has a thriving wine industry?). After mingling, several exchanges of business cards and reuniting with old friends we headed over to the Roselle Court Restaurant. The 15th-century Italian courtyard took my breath away. Relaxing in such an exquisite location was a wonderful way to unwind from a long day of air travel and a lovely welcome to Kansas City.
SoCalGal and I were lucky to sit with our friend and fellow-writer Gary Singh from San Jose. Throughout dinner we marveled over the museum’s beautiful architecture and the fact that admission to this entrancing museum is FREE. Yes, free! I learned that evening Nelson-Atkins believes sharing exhibits with the public is as important as offering a public education. The Vacation Gals applaud Nelson-Atkins for their generosity and say “thank you” for a beautiful and memorable experience.
